Discouragement and Hurt Feelings from Horses

I used to tell folks all the time not to take incidents, accidents, etc., personally.  Then a few years ago after a crash I was so emotionally hurt that my horse would do that to me that I almost just sold him.  And, I pretty much ignored him for almost 6 months.

Well, my girlfriend is now in the same situation.  Her horse laid down yesterday, in the deep snow, twice.  When she went to mount him again in all the bulky winter gear, he took off.  She had to trudge through the snow at night, thank heavens there was a moon out there, and she was scared and exhausted.  We rounded up a very scared horse who kept running away and ponied him back to the ranch.  

First words out of her mouth were "he going to auction !".  When I inquired how she was doing this morning, she texted back and told both my other girlfriend and me that she was seriously thinking of giving up riding.

Hopefully, after a few days, she will settle down and rethink the situaton.  Horses are just fantastic at teaching humility and discouragement and she loves her horses dearly.

My girlfriend and the Outlaw ~  in better weather !  

Adventure Horse Riding in NYS            Smilla13@gmail.com  (Mary Dixon)         www.RideNYS.com

#53 Journeys

#53  Journeys

What is the quickest way to the pond?  to the picnic spot ?  to the creek?  to Zelda's farm?

What a job it was to teach him how to count;  to get him to leave the barn;  to stop jigging back to the barn; to stop grazing; to stand still; to lower his head; etc

For most horse folks, it is the pleasure of riding the little darling and developing an incredible bond between you and him.  Pretty much that is what it is all about.

But we get caught up in the end result - not the process or the journey.

Some of my friends used to drive me absolutely crazy - we'd decide to go someplace and they would want to figure out the quickest, easiest, or best way of getting there.  As though that was the purpose of the ride !

 I didn't give a hoot whether I went to Carmichael Hill or to the Pond or Raspberry Hill  or how I got there.

So, when you catch yourself doing that - remember that your purpose in owning Sweet Pea or Trouble Shooter was not so that you could go to the Church Hill - it was in the fun of getting there with your buddy.

It's not the destination, it's the journey.

Adventure Horse Riding in NYS            Smilla13@gmail.com  (Mary Dixon)         www.RideNYS.com