As you can tell by now, training horses is not as easy as some people might think. It takes a tremendous amount of time and commitment from both the horse and rider to keep advancing the training. It is of outmost importance to avoid interrupting a horse’s training routine. But all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy!
A good trainer has to have a keen eye and be well educated in order to bring out the best in a horse that is not in shape and cannot do the same exercises as horses that are in shape. And sometimes, it’s time to take a break! When my horse gets tired or can’t learn something new in our lesson, we take a break and ride out to the countryside. Stress seems to disappear very fast and we just have fun away from the dressage arena.
I often remind myself that I don’t have to rush training with my horses as there will always be another day. Instead, I incorporate a lot of fun while still getting our work done. If you decide to have a horse one day, be sure to keep an easy pace and extra apple in your pocket!
I have wonderful memories of my horse Sebastian and I taking long walks along snowy logging roads in the woods. Early in our life together, before he was trained into saddle, I would walk besides or ahead of him on the path. We often encountered wildlife, snowmobilers, and fallen trees. One time Sebastian and I heard a snowmobiler approaching us, and since Sebastian is so tall I could not see over his shoulders to know how fast the snowmobiler was approaching. The snowmobiler came to an abrupt halt thinking that Sebastian was a big black moose. I could see the relief on his face when he saw me on the other side of Sebastian. We both were very amused over the fact that a horse could have been mistaken for a moose, but I know if it had been hunting season this incident could have had a sad ending. I always make it a point that we stay out of the woods during hunting season.
Sebastian still loves our walks through the woods and often we walk for miles. On one sunny winter day, as we tramped through a lot of new snow on the ground, with both of us getting a little tired, we found ourselves confronting a fallen tree that completely blocked our way. The tree was so big that we were not able to get around it at all and continue forward. On one side of us, a little ways away, a frozen brook made another obstacle for us. At that moment we had two choices, either go back the way we had come or head out and travel over a frozen brook around the tree. I decided to cross the frozen brook so that we could continue our journey and hopefully when we got around the huge fallen three, we would be able to find the way back to our path.
As we left and started to venture into unknown territory, I got a little nervous for Sebastian’s safety. I wondered if the brook was really solid enough, on top of its flowing current, for us to stand on the ice. Without hesitation Sebastian followed me onto the surface of the frozen brook. I admired his bravery, but I wondered if we would be able to come out safely on the other side so we could continue our path through the woods. I felt the ice under my feet and so did Sebastian, and we exchanged a glance.
It was not to long before it got a little slippery on the icy brook, and walking began to feel very dangerous. I started to wonder if I had made the wrong decision and if it would have been better to turn around and go back the way we came. Maybe we could still turn around now. It was a moment for decision.
I knew at once there was no time for regrets and we had to move forward. It would be as dangerous to go back as it would be to go forward because we were on the middle of the ice covered brook. I then had to venture out first ahead of Sebastian to make sure the icy brook could carry us and we would not slip and fall into the cold waters.
This was the first real test for Sebastian and me. Not a test of skills, but a test of trust. I needed Sebastian to wait a minute and I asked him to stop where he was and stand quietly on the ice. At first he wanted to follow me, but my voice was very firm and Sebastian instinctively seemed to understand the severity of the situation. To my surprise he instantly stopped moving and then stood very still for more than five minutes, waiting for me to return back to him.
As I ventured away from Sebastian, I tried to keep my eyes on him. I looked over my shoulder, and kept talking to him. I believe my voice kept him calm as he patiently waited for my return. When I found a firm and solid crossing on the ice, I went back for Sebastian and he joined me across. After we had safely crossed along the brook and were back on the other side of the tree, we found our path again. I gave Sebastian the biggest hug I had ever given him and told him he was the bravest horse I had ever met!
Today, I know I would never take another chance to travel with my horse over a frozen brook. However, when you are in the middle of a situation like I was, it is very important to stay relaxed and calm. In fact, crossing the icy brook may not have been the best choice, but we made some progress that day in our trust in one another and in keeping cool, calm and collected- Together!
