Once we have cleared the conformation and bad attitude hurdles, most all horses get to the point of being rideable. At that point the dream begins to evolve, the goals begin to be set, and the hope of greatness soars. Each day is another step toward a little more time. That's all he needs, consistently. Time will develop the God given abilities into something that can be put on display for all the world to enjoy. Keep in mind, his abilities may be great, average, or less. It still takes time
   I'm a firm believer in goals and understand the power of knowing exactly where you want to be in the future. In fact without them, training has no outcome. How will you know where you are and when you are there? They also reveal reality and the chance to pick a different goal.
   Herein is where the funnel begins to do it's fiendish work.  First is the law of gravity..... your goal is too heavy for some horse's to carry. His attitude will give you signs. More can be achieved when they enjoy doing it. He may give it valiant effort yet will come up short given your lofty designs. Second is the law of supply and demand. He can only supply the amount of ability he was given with his gifts from birth, toward the demands of the chosen sport.  It may not be sufficient or applicable given the rules, requirements, or levels at which you have chosen to participate. Challenging days are natural along the path. There are bound to be resistances and confusions that can cause one to grow and expand, give up and quit, or any of the acceptable choices in between. All of which are not bad, just factors for evaluating. Each are clues as to when to accept the gifts that horse has and pet him for the effort he gave.

   Now is the toughest decision of all. Stop... or adjust and continue to a nice finished horse that is content within his gifts. Many are left behind at this point, yet represented as horses of the sport. Stuck in the land of the unfinished and possibly giving your sport a bad name if he is represented as so without complete training. The tough reality is that most often, horses at this point seldom bring the value of the training and are halted in their progress. Correctly presented, this could be the perfect horse for another whose requirements are different or whose goals are less heavy.
   This is an opportunity for the do-it-yourselfers. Many of the possibly nice horses are going untrained because of the costs to have it professionally done. I believe each industry can benefit from those who are willing to apply good instruction and personal time toward the development of much needed, average horses. The demand for average is high, with few being made professionally. The costs can be kept in line with the smaller dollars that are willing to be spent on such horses, yet most of all, you will have experienced enhancement of your own skills and knowledge. Learn. We need you.

  There are those horses who continue to step up and maximize the gifts that were given them from birth that also align with our goals of a particular sport. They start right, have the right attitude, the right abilities and instincts. For them the road is remarkably easy. To this day I have not yet had a gifted horse that found making it to the big game hard in the least. In fact, it would have been a punishment to keep them from it.
   Never hold back the exceptional student, keep giving them another book if you have it. If not, buy yourself a book, a DVD, take a clinic, or find a more experienced and advanced trainer to challenge the gifts. Do not sit on the porch and bark.
   This is where the funnel gets pretty narrow. These horses make the super athletes. Pros of the sport. They are to be treated as professionals and cared for with all means possible. Their efforts to please and excel can create sports related conditions that require our best technologies to help them achieve all they are striving for. Good news for the vets, acupuncturists, massage therapy, farriers, feed, supplements, behaviorists, equipment, arena surfaces, rehab centers, all types of machines, gadgets, and a rubber chicken.
   Along the way, there are many horses who may attempt to play whatever your chosen sport is. As long as the concepts of the sport itself and the methods used, lends to the creation of a well developed individual, the horse will have benefited from the experience. In this part of the funnel is where many nice horses are found. They make wonderful partners for lessons, beginners, rookies, youth, amateurs, lower level pro, recreational riders, hobbyists, and people at all levels of the game of riding.

* I had been asked to officiate at one of the large reining events in our area. The top professionals had brought some of their finest horses and displayed some pretty impressive runs. They spun like a first timer on a bar stool. Ran circles as if on a guided rail and stopped like wormy dogs. As these events go, there are classes available at all levels of experience. Perhaps a bit less spectacular, yet always fun to watch. Everyone wins who actually steps into the arena.
   I was at the gait during one of the beginner classes. From here I am allowed to have conversations with the contestants as I check the equipment and look over the horse. I enjoy this part. It's fun to offer advice or just listen in as the recently finished rider goes over the performance with whoever has been chosen to assist them. One such chat was with a middle aged woman who I assumed was going to be somewhat distraught with how things had gone while performing her routine. To say the least it was not too good.  
   The horse missed lead changes, steered wildly in the circles, lost geographical location in it's turns, and could have used a search party to help find any clues for tracks he may have left while attempting to stop. I gave the horse an inspection, and tried to visit with her about the fact that she would do better next time. Chin up. She was rather distant and distracted. I assumed disappointed... right up until they announced her incredibly low score. As the announcer finished, she screamed and began to jump up and down as though she were standing on a fire ant mound (something Texans know is not good). Turns out she was delirious with excitement and proclaimed that it was the first actual score she had ever gotten! I had been there when World Championships had been announced, yet never had I seen such enthusiasm.