Becoming the Horse Person we Imagine

"You become what you want to be, by consistently being what you want to become each day." Richard G Scott

I think the above quote is so true when it comes to our own personal journey of Horsemanship.

Lately I've been working on putting together projects and have been including interviews from students past and present.

None of the students heard each other's answers to three simple questions about their learning experiences with me. Yet there was a consistency in how they evolved in their own personal growth from our sessions working together.

Most commented on realizing that at some point, they had reached a mental shift in their approach and Horsemanship from their initial, "I want," to the supportive, "What my horse needs..." This created such an availability in themselves, that they then could see and hear their horse without judgement, in turn leading to emotionally satisfying experiences with their equine partners.

It is VERY hard in today's extremely critical society, including the equine world, to be able to have the courage to create your own journey for you and your horse.

What may work for one person and their horse, may not work for you.

What may work with one of your horse's may not work with another horse of yours.

What may work with your horse on one day, may not work the next.

Someone else may have more talent, skill or riding history, but it is irrelevant to your own journey.

Whether you have the "fanciest" horse in the barn, or someone's unwanted rescue, the future is unknown, and there are no guarantees.

Some horses, just as with people, can come into your life for a short time, or their entire life time, and we never know what will come in the potential joys and heartbreaking twists and turns that we may experience with them.

But if every moment we spend with them, we prioritize that we are mentally present, emotionally available and physically quiet, we can learn to appreciate the littlest tries, the quality moments and the connection where it seems we have become one for a precious time.

I think we all can agree the euphoria one feels after a particularly "connected moment" with our horse can last for hours or days... and it makes all of the other effort and energy worth it!

So the next time you head out to your horse, be sure to check in with yourself for a moment, and offer the best possible version of you for your horse!