This post was inspired by a conversation with a dear friend about an entirely non-horse-related topic, but as with so many things, I find it applies here too.
I believe that we need to be willing to invest quality time and effort into our horses before we can expect better results.
We have to remember that we are the ones that asked to get the horse, do the training session, go on the ride, etc. The horse didn’t. He was just being in the moment, hopefully content with food & friends.
This boy here is Salt Wells, WY Mustang gelding Tiny, one of the Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy Ambassador Mustangs. Lacy’s injury made him my main riding horse and we’re figuring things out. He’s goofy, watchy, insecure and has a busy, ever-wandering mind.
When I’m riding Tiny it’s far from a walk in the park, because I haven’t yet built a strong enough foundation with him that would enable me to just let him be for even 20min during a ride.
He needs me to be focused on him if I want him to be focused on me. He needs me to be confident if I want him to mirror that. Otherwise we’re both distracted, scared and nervous, and then what?
Our horse is only going to improve as much as – or possibly a little less than – we are. If we want a more refined horse, we need to learn to become more refined in our cues.
If we want a horse that’s mentally with us, we can’t just be chatting, gazing into the distance or texting.
If we want our horse to make progress in any area, from gentling to advanced level riding, we need to be willing to put in time and effort before we can see results. Including changing our approach and learning something new if what we’re doing is not working.
This should go without saying (I even feel a little silly writing it), but so many people are and remain frustrated with their horses, wild and domestic alike, for not becoming more gentle/’broke’/fit/soft and responsive etc., simply for lack of effort on the human’s part.
Horses are a huge commitment, even more so if we want to be enjoying our time with them, getting a job done with them, and feel safe doing so.
The work with a horse is no more ‘finished’ than we are ever done putting effort into our interpersonal relationships if we want them to thrive.
