It Takes Time

Navi and I had an "ok" day yesterday while working. I wanted to introduce targeting the cone from a distance so I can send her to target while we ride at liberty. We of course are starting on the ground,but even then I found that I frustrated her and she would head toss and even reared up once. I of course made her move her feet, no rearing up around me allowed. However, I needed to look at what I did to cause it. And truthfully I wasn't sure. My other half helped me figure it out and we then went on to end on a good note. Overall the session went well, but I still couldn't help but some what feel defeated at the end. But then I talked it over with my other half who reminded me it takes time. And we will get there, and when we do we will be one heck of a team. I have to remember we have only been working on the liberty riding for about three/four weeks now. It seems like so long, but when you only work a couple days a week on it, that really isn't that long. I have to remind myself it took A LOT of hours with Pixie.

 I can't expect Navi to be perfect, but yet for some reason when we have a bad session I feel like a failure. I don't know why, maybe because I feel like after 4 years together we should be farther than we are. I should stop comparing our progress with others because their journey isn't ours. And she is a baby and I have to take that into account. Maybe because I struggle so hard to find a way to connect with her. I feel like I should be able to breakdown her behaviors and understand her perfectly,but I can't and as someone who has trained lots of animals that makes me feel like I failed. I don't know why because I know that as a trainer you always learn something from every animal, and you never stop learning. It could be that  I am putting too much pressure on myself and then in return I put too much pressure on Navi to be perfect.

I think the hardest part about my style of training is that sometimes allowing the horse to have a voice is hard. It goes against everything you are ever taught when it comes to horses. When I decided to try liberty riding with Navi it made me very very nervous. I was taking away all control I had of her. Of course I am still nervous to a point, but not nearly as much. I think some fear is healthy it keeps me from getting hurt, lol. But taking away control from me is exactly what I needed to do. Because I lived in too much fear of getting hurt while riding her. I wanted to micro manage her with the reins, and that was just going to frustrate her. We were going to end up butting heads at some point, and I didn't want that.

It is funny that I often tell people your journey is your own. What you and your horse do together is what is important, not what other people think you should be doing. Maybe I should take my own advice and stop comparing my journey with Navi to others. That is just it, our journey is ours...frustrations and all :) My journey with each of my horses is different, and I need to accept that.

One of the good things about blogging  my adventures with my horses is that it allows me to stop and reflect. I can really analyze what has happened and what I need to do going forward.  Well off to the barn to see what is in store for Navi and I today :)