NEWS FLASH!!!!
| Craig will be demonstrating at the World Equestrian Games in Lexington Kentucky on September 29th and 30th!
For more information, visit the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games website www.alltechfeigames.com
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NOW is the time to book your clinic for 2011
| Don't drag your feet! Clinic dates fill up fast!
Contact Bonnie Glasgow at 214-707-1873 if you have an interest in hosting a clinic in 2011.
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| SHOPPING REMINDER |
Craig Johnson Reining
Online Store
Online PDF version of: Step Up or Step Off
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More great products!
The "BillyFold"
"Pocket-sized protection for your money". New way to keep your money at your fingertips without the bulk of a billfold. Keeps bills clean and in order.
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NEW WEBSITE
COMING SOON!!!
| Keep coming back to the Craig Johnson Reining website (www.craigjohnsonreining.com) we are working on a new site right now that will showcase all of our new programs and learning opportunities.
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Greetings!
The RoadmapThere are two very important
factors when determining what road to take when traveling. One, where do you
want to end up? Two, where are you starting from?
Here we are at the end of summer,
the time of year when many of us have taken on the opportunity to go on a trip.
A vacation, chance to see the kids or parents, quick drive to somewhere
interesting, a private getaway, see friends, a horse show or clinic. Any number
of chances to hit the road in search of whatever purpose we have in mind.
When embarking on a journey, I
still tend to make my route to destination the old-fashioned way. I get out an
atlas or road map. For those of you too young to know what those are, they are
books and pages made of actual paper with different colored lines drawn on them
indicating the choices of roads you can take in order to get where you're
headed. Red lines, blue lines, green lines, black ones, and grey ones. I
personally like this system. I get a visual of where I am and where I am going.
With that, I can get anywhere. I can even get there different ways. I can
choose to experiment with the black lines, or stick to the faster green and
blue ones.
Recently I was given a little
device called a GPS. Its intention is to simply get me where I am going. All I
have to do is put in where I want to be and this British woman with a friendly
voice will tell me at the appropriate time where to turn, and let me know when
I arrive! I just have to turn on the engine and start moving. She'll take it
from there! Or so I was told.
One of our summer trips was to a
place I had been before. A horse show (imagine that). We were taking horses of
course, using the big truck and long goose-neck trailer (remember the long
part). Since I had been there before, I pretty well knew how to go, yet decided
to check my atlas once just to be sure. Yup! I knew the way. This time however,
I was determined to allow my new British travel agent a shot at getting us
there.
The destination was plugged in
and the wheels started rolling. We proceeded to the end of the driveway where
she kindly requested I make a right turn, now! Luckily, I had patience enough
to wait for the actual road before turning. Though her directions were a bit
early, they were correct and we were on our way. After that however, there were
discrepancies between her route and the one I had envisioned.
Apparently Anna Belle, the name
given our English guide (also coincidently my mother-in-law), assumed we were
driving a Mini Cooper and capable of making any turns required along her chosen
path. Which by the way, is all it was. A path. Here in the east, there are many
roads, most of which are hilly, curvy, narrow and mapped out by George
Washington and his troops as they made their way from one official Washington
headquarters to another. I had no idea there were so many headquarters...they're
everywhere.....in nearly every town......on a hill.....next to a river.....and remarkably
close to a gift shop. Anyway, I continued the quest as Anna Belle instructed
right up until the road became an obvious grey line. No commercial vehicles,
load zoned, narrow bridges, even a couple of covered ones! A scenic byway!
Yea!!!
We had to turn around. No easy
task given the size of the rig and the width of the path. After finally getting
wiggled back the opposite direction, Anna Belle suggested we make a safe u-
turn. I ignored her. Soon she gave that up and suggested in .2 miles I make a
right turn. It was a T intersection from one cow trail to another. I ignored
her again. This seemed to upset her. She had to recalculate a number of times!
We proceeded to track our retreat to where the lines returned to a dark shade
of black, meeting with British resistance the entire way. I now know how George
must have felt.
Here we were, back to within a
few turns of the Ranch, where I declared my independence! I would no longer be
ruled by this twisted woman with the pleasant voice. I unplugged from the
British guide who was obviously luring me into an ambush. A very sneaky ploy
that I nearly fell for. With atlas in one hand and the other on the wheel, I
felt free! Free to read the map while traveling at 65 mph. Free to take the
road of my choosing. Free to get fuel whenever I wanted to. Free to recalculate
on my own.
I have since found good uses for my
sweet accented guide. Restaurants and hotels are two of her specialties....after
the horses are put away and the rig is unhooked. Until then...as for me, give me
an atlas or give me death!
When it comes to riding horses,
there is only one way to get where you want to go. You need a well-written map
from beginning to end. There is no GPS that will train your equine partner to
high achievement. I call it your training R.O.A.D.M.A.P.
Respect, Opportunity, Advancement,
Dedication, Motivation, Achievement, and Purpose. This may not be the shortest
route. It may not even be the most scenic, yet it will allow you to arrive
intact with dignity and the freedom to adjust along the way.
Respect is earned by being
patient and playing a fair game that the horse understands. Opportunity is
accurately assessing both you and your horses' abilities to go to the right
place using the right tools and good judgment. Advancement is challenging you
and your horse to a higher level of development, one step at a time, using a
proven program that promotes excellence and compassion. Dedication is having
the personal desire to do the required work no matter what or when. Motivation
is the thing that allows you to be consistent and excited about your plans.
Achievement is when you trust that what you have prepared for is now, and you
are ready. Purpose is what makes all the others possible. Come up with an
excellent purpose for you, provide a sense of purpose for your horse, and you
will have arrived at your destination.
It doesn't matter if you choose
to end up at a beautiful lake at the end of a days ride or take a shot at
demonstrating excellence in a chosen horse sport at its highest level. As long
as you follow the roadmap, you will get there.....the right way.
I challenge you to clearly define
each and every aspect of the map. Know how you will get there and why. Right it
down. Then close your eyes and see it happening. Begin at respect and finish
with purpose.
I also welcome you to attend one
of our upcoming clinics, read the eBook, watch our DVDs, or arrange to come to
the ranch for lessons and coaching. We go beyond what to do. You will have a
map to follow. If you would like to know more, contact us for riding and
learning opportunities that will be posted shortly on our new and improved
website. If you have interest in hosting a Let it Rein clinic near you, contact
us. We are here for you. Our business is riding on your horse.
Let it Rein,
CraigFor a complete list of riding and learning opportunities, contact Jill at goin4savvy@windstream.net, she'll hook you up. |
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