An Agenda

This past week I had a great horse friend question what those of us with more, um, spirited, mounts do. How do we handle dealing with our interesting horses when we really just want to ride and not have to do all of the efforts. Deal with the problems we deal with. Stress over every little encounter and it's training value to our horse. Instead to have a horse you can go out with a halter on and ride back up from the pasture, dead broke, lazy. One who just isn't so damn hard.

I can't lie and say there weren't times Whisper and I were looking at options. Not long into our relationship another interested home presented itself for her. It was a great home and offered her more experienced trainers and a safer environment. At that time we were still pasture-only and she had learned that rearing and running backwards could break my control and my hold of her. I was ready to throw in the towel about 5 different times with her.

Somehow the journey kept going and I began to learn that it was more about her than a horse for me. Watching a friend say goodbye to a horse she had had almost her entire life reminded me of how THAT was what I was really in it for.

They say horses are some of the most spiritual creatures on Earth. They have strong memory and deep emotion. Events happening to them can stay with them for life. I do believe Whisper has relaxed enough to trust that we are hers and she is ours for the rest of her years, that will never change and she's glad for it. I have the support of my family and the strong back to clean 40 stalls a week to keep her cared for the way she requires to keep her safe.

Months ago I let go of the agenda of a responsible adult and teacher/trainer. The best of both worlds, playtime with training... cutting up and having fun while keeping boundaries of respect is where I want to remain. Of course that's easiest to say on sunny days when we are appreciating each other.