Time and Patients

Hi, this will be a short blog post, just wanted to share something.



A really neat thing happened yesterday with my large pony that I wanted to share. And this all ties into training, repetition, knowing your horse and patients. Briefly let me share her story.



Dolce came into our lives 6 years ago for a client, she was a 3yr old, already had a baby and a little freaky. She is a tough mare and maybe was subject to some abuse, but not intentionally. I think because of her personality, she is a fighter and some do not know how to handle that. Corrections must be fair for her to accept, and the best training is when she thinks she has a fair say in it..



So, when we got this pony, she would buck, spin,bolt, whatever to get you off and would run back to her stall. But I saw the talent and the sweetness through all of it and did not give up. We took our time with her and she turned out to be quite lovely( when she wanted too..haha) and could not be beat in the ground poles/cross rails and 2' divisions.

There was still this fight to her, so her training had to conform to her personality, not what others wanted her training to be. She continued to get nervous over the bigger jumps, so many just put her into the 2' category and said forget it...

Well to make a long story short, with repetition, patients and not rushing her, I have allowed her to grow and mature without any pressure. And yesterday she sailed over a 2'9 course and did beautifully over a gymnastic that ended with a wide 3' oxer. My moral to this brief story...

1. Do Not rush a horses training, it may have taken us 5 years to get to this point with her, but that is OK!

2. Get to know your horses personality. Basics are the same, but need to conform your approach with what works best for your horse.

3. Relax and enjoy the ride... everything will turn out better in the end!!

Trainers vs. Owners

Had an interesting talk with my friend and old barn manager yesterday. The more I thought about it, the more I had to write about it. But with this blog I definitely would love some thoughts and comments from you.



We were talking about an old client, she is now at an open trainer boarding barn. The statement that came up was that the little girl was jumping, but not in a lesson, and my friends comment was that should never happen and no trainer should ever allow a student to jump on their own. And their current trained yelled at them about it, so they are looking again. Now I have heard both sides of the story, and I see both sides of the story. (This is one of my traits, have not figured out if good or bad that I tend to understand both sides.. but more on that in a different blog.)



This does raise a good question. How much control should we as trainers dictate? Now I know because of our sue crazy world we live in, there are so many more precautions now than when I grew up riding. And I am not saying these precautions are bad. Today, it is just the question of what trainers can manage and not manage, ie. how much control should they have, if they are a visiting trainer.



Now Mom's comment I thought was very legitimate. 'It is my pony, my daughter, I am paying the bills and if she wants to jump, she will jump.' Now she made sure that she was there, and her daughter knows that she can not do this without the trainer or parent in the ring with her. My friend thinks NO ONE should jump not in a lesson... On one point I agree, but on the other point I also agree with the MOM.



I feel it is our jobs as trainers to communicate with client, being child and parent or adult rider, as to what their level is as to what their "homework" should be in between lessons. If we know they are talking about doing things we do not agree with, we share our opinion and be up front with the risks that may occur. But after that it is still their horse and they are paying the bills. I for one had a client that was my senior and been riding as long as I have. Did I tell her I would rather her not jump with out me due to some issues they were having, of course I did. Could I stop her? Of course not.

And on one other note with this, as I sit back and observe, I do not want to create dependent riders. I see so many at horse shows that can not make a decision on the back of their horse without the trainer barking directions at them. To me that is not creating riders, that is in a sick way guaranteeing your income source. These trainer have their riders so brain washed that they believe they can not do it without them. That is not riding!

It is my goal with my riders to help them become thinking/feeling riders. I want them to tell me how they can make the next jump better, not me tell them how to make the jump better. How do you become thinking and feeling? You practice! Can you practice with one lesson a week???

So I guess my stance is be open and honest. Look at their level and develop a plan with that. Cross rail and 2' kids should practice as much over ground pole as they want. More advanced hopefully you decide together. But to mandate not with out you and to make them dependent on you....not sure that is good practice...

What are your thoughts?

The Last Day

Hello all, received this great email from my cousin and wanted to share it.
After reading this myself, sat back and just thought for a moment....
How true this is, In this glorious journey of life we take on so much, and this world has become the world of "Keep up with the Jone's" instead of community being there for each other. (And NO I am not talking about handouts.....)
But much more on that at a later date.

Here it is, I hope you read this and take the time to reflect as I did.

The Last Day:

1...God won't ask what kind of car you drove. He'll ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation.

2...God won't ask the square footage of your house. He'll ask how many people you welcomed in your home.

3...God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet. He'll ask how many you helped to clothe.

4...God won't ask what your highest salary was. He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.

5...God won't ask what your job title was. He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.

6...God won't ask how many friends you had. He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.

7...God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived. He'll ask how you treated your neighbors.

8...God won't ask the color of your skin. He'll ask about the content of your character.

9...God won't ask why it took you so long to seek salvation. He'll lovingly take you to your mansion in heaven.

Good Friends are like stars...You don't always see them, but you know they are always there!

Day One

Hello all, My first blog. I'm not sure whether to be excited, nervous or just totally confused. You see this 40 year old, non computer girl is trying to figure this all out for myself, so here it goes...



Just have to say for all of you computer wiz's that say this is simple....(I am too respectful to finish that sentance...lol..) Well for the most part setting up this page has been OK, but at times still very confusing. But No One learns anything by not trying! This has been a theme for my life lately...Get Out of the Safety Zone! Man is that a hard one, but as I do reach out and stretch... the rewards that start to come is amazing.



So why a blog? This non-computer person is actually Twittering...can You believe that? And I will tell you, I am a chick...to consolidate thoughts into 140 characters is not easy for us chicks.. (my husband would totally agree!!) I have just found myself wanting to place to expand on my thoughts and feelings....So, A blog.



I do hope that you stop by every so often. At first I can not promise that things will be in any order. I will talk about many different topics. My horse business, my Monavie business, what I like and dislike about network marketing, What I like and dislike about other stuff on the web, my spiritual and personal growth, my family, the list goes on... what ever I feel the need for that day. Please follow me on twitter, as I will let my followers know when I post something.