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Hello to all my favorite students and families!
Happy fall! For many equestrians, this is the best time of the year. The mornings are cool, the horses are fresh, and there's endless opportunities to get out and enjoy your horse in the sunshine.
In the midst of all this excitement, it's easy to get swept away in big end-of-year plans... but if 2020 has taught us anything, it's to be ready to adapt. I know several of you have had some tough luck with your horses lately, and the fall season isn't shaping up quite like you hoped.
Eventually, we all have to face one of the best but also most difficult parts of equestrian sport: it doesn't matter how skilled you are, or how carefully you plan, if the horse doesn't feel good. It's a humbling reminder of the importance of unmounted education, but with the right attitude, it can be an opportunity, too.
Our horses are our partners, not our slaves. We ask them to be athletes for us, and in exchange, we help them feel safe, heard and appreciated. Sometimes this leads us to road trips and ribbons, but sometimes it means learning to help and enjoy your horse in new ways. Showing up for your horse when he's not at his best will create a horse that shows up for you.
And when you learn to spend undemanding time with a horse, and to find creative ways to Level Up your partnership, you can end up with more than a willing teammate - you'll make memories you'll treasure as much as any blue ribbon!
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