Back to Work
After weeks of waiting today I was finally able to saddle up Achates! I think the both of us were reverberating with excitement over it. Achates was in full form, perking up his ears when he heard the jingling sound of the girth, and constantly turning around as I put the saddle on as if to say "Hurry up! Hurry up! I'm ready to go!". I think that his positive anticipation is a true testament to what building a relationship through your training can do. Having that emotional working bond with your horse goes a long way and opens up a line of
Get Motivated
Lately I've been having trouble getting motivated. With Achates laid up it has been hard to keep focused on exactly what my goals are. Honestly, I've been getting a little down on myself which is never a good thing. Thankfully I have great group of friends who support and keep me on track. They remind me that I should be living in the moment, the here and now, and not worrying about what's coming. That I should enjoy every small success that comes my way. So while my faithful warrior rests up I'll take stock of where I'm at and where I
Confidence is Key
Confidence is an intangible factor that effects our riding more than we can begin to imagine. It flows down from our body's and into our horses. This is why it's so important to build a good relationship and foundation with your horse. One that's built on trust and consistency. My friend V has been kind enough to let me work with her wonderful horse Chance. He is a talented Oldenburg gelding who has all the tools to be a great horse, but his spookyness and insecurities can and tend to get the better of him. Building Chance's confidence has been a fun learning
Buddy System
Ever heard of the phrase "Two heads are better than one"? The same applies to riding. Yes, horseback riding isn't a team sport. It's more of a partnership between you and your horse in which you use a language only the two of you know. Honestly when you're on your own sometimes it's hard to keep yourself motivated. This is why having a riding buddy is a great idea. Having a riding buddy is a great way to stay on track and push yourself towards your goals. They're someone who can hold you accountable and learn from whenever you work together. Here are
Changing it Up
When your horse is laid up and your training is on hold don't fret! There are so many other things that you can do, learn or train. Don't be afraid to change it up. Read horse books, go on Youtube and watch your favorite riders, or find another horse to work with. Use this time to keep yourself sharp and learn something new! Thankfully my trainer was nice enough to let me work one of her lovely horses. It was an experience that I thoroughly enjoyed. The horse I worked today was Casey. He's a warm hearted boy with great work ethic! He's
Confronting Frustration
In horse training there are good days and bad days. One day you're on top of the world moving yourself up the levels and the next you're brought back down to Earth with a thud. This rapid change of pace can both boggle your mind and annoy the bejesus out of you. Unfortunately I let myself to succumb to the annoying symptom know as frustration yesterday and the results were less than satisfactory. I left the barn, a place where I usually feel wonderful, discouraged and upset. My horse, Achates, has been laid up for the past week after torquing his right hind
Warrior of My Heart
Horses are the warriors of my heart. They keep me true and honest with myself. Forcing me to confront my strengths and weaknesses, and pushing me to find the next level of success that I'm looking for. That's why I'm starting this blog. To keep track of each one of my warriors. The progress they make, their victories, setbacks and breakthroughs. More than anything this blog is going to be a daily reminder of where I have been and where I want to go. Setting me and my warrior in the right direction no matter what the future may hold.