Exceptional Horsemanship
January 2014
Exceptional Horsemanship Newsletter


How is it possible that that green strip up there says 2014? Sheesh!!
January is a big month for commitment. But, just like losing weight, there is a BIG difference between commitment and interest.
Got some plans?
WHAT are you going to do this year? Are you going to keep doing what you're doing? The same way?
This is a good time of year to reflect, right? If you thought about something differently, maybe you would do it differently. Reflect.
Greatness doesn't just happen; it has to be built.

Might it be of interest to Build your Commitment to understanding just the right feel, timing and movement of EACH step you take with your horse? 

   

 Here's to this being the best year! Into the horsemanship revolution!  

This has been a fabulous horse learning year for me and I know that 2014 will offer even more opportunities. So excited!  

Look at my Peka girl here. How about that tuck!!!!? If you've got a better tuck picture feel free to email me. Peka is a 14.1 hand Arab. The jump line is 3'.

  liberty jumpline  

There are a lot of 'yes' people out there that will tell you how marvelous you are, but does that really help you buckle down and progress and persevere? Or allow you to rest on your, ummm... laurels? I have found that I tend to be the electric cattle prod. But, it's because I want to help people. Frankly, I want more for people with horses than they want for themselves. And I will keep plugging along - hope you're along for the ride.

 

****A HUGE congratulations to Donna and Smokie, Diana and Summer and Bev and Kitchee who came in 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the competitive trail competition two weeks ago.****

And speaking of building great things, my new website. Complete re-build and lots different. It will be done in the next  week or so and I hope you'll check in every so often to see what's happening. Lots of functional changes like the ability to do everything from any device.  AND...

There are a few new training posts on the website blog so pop over there! 

      
So... Are You Horseman Material????

"In the absence of clearly-defined goals, we become strangely loyal to performing daily trivia until ultimately we become enslaved by it."
-- Robert Heinlein 

 

The above quote is very important and I will be referring back to it as a theme for the year. Think of someone who wants to work on their horse's trot, but the horse walks over them online. The clearly defined goal would be a horse that doesn't think about disregarding the person in this way (to the horse's credit, there are a lot of people who don't deserve the horse's regard). As in not trample you and care about where you are and what the speed of design is. A horse that walks over you on line will usually have to be 'maintained' in your chosen gait mounted, also. Because they don't have the experience of being asked to do something and then... doing it. I'd find it hard to believe that any of you 'ask' that your horse to walk over you while you're trying to get some place. That's not leading. There's a big difference between ending up somewhere and leading.  

"If life was so easy that you could just go buy success, there would be a lot more successful companies in the world. Successful enterprises are built from the ground up."  -- Lou Gerstner, IBM CEO

 

A lot of folks buy a horse lifestyle and haven't done the work to have the success they thought they'd just pay for. Ah well. It doesn't work that way.The dictionary is the only place where success comes before work.

 

I was going to write about cantering and balance and the benefits of working in mud. But, I'm going to save that for later. I thought I'd toss these pondurables (my own word) out for you to ponder as we move into the new year. I know this is going to be a great year for my horsemanship and I hope you'll join me on the journey.

 

"Be responsible for every step that a horse takes - from the time you catch him, 'till you turn him loose." - Don Buttrey
Ray Hunt's advice: "I have to have discipline. If I'm a schoolteacher, I have to have discipline; otherwise, the children will run me out of the classroom. Or I can't teach them, because they are walking around the classroom looking out the window and they aren't paying any attention. I don't have to have a club or a gun to do that. So it's got to come from us to the horse. And what is your responsibility? It's no different than raising a child. So this horse is running over you, walking on you, doing things you don't want. Why would you let him do that? Who is the instructor? Who is the teacher? Who is taking care of this outfit? All you are doing is offering this horse a good deal, no different than you would offer it to me. I have to run this outfit or it's going to run me. If I'm not running that company or keeping that ship on course, I'm going to run it into the ground or run it into another ship. So I have a responsibility". 
Do you smile and say, "So true" ? Or do you stop, think about it and figure out how to apply it to your horsemanship? Here's the thing - you have to know WHAT to do, HOW to do it and most importantly WHY to do it. It has to be in your HEAD before you can try it with your horse. School teachers that don't know the necessary background info aren't of any use to the children. Learn, learn, learn. And I'm not talking about trial and error. You will have enough of that regardless. Why waste a decade learning something while making a zillion errors that someone who knows the answers can tell you in a short time?
Here's an article I'm re-printing on the Top 3 Reasons Horsemanship Sucks in the U.S.

Curiosity is intellectual hunger.

Please forward this newsletter to your friends and tell them to sign up for their own. Click the purple "Gimme" button on the website.
There's a difference between techniques and technique.
For exceptional results, think "how and how can I".
        
Upcoming stuff:  NEW WEBSITE!!! Pop over there and explore.
I've got a BIG surprise for you next month.
There's only so much I can fit in one month's newsletter. That's why I'm building new opportunities to learn. Get it in your head, so you can apply it with your horse.
              
Start the new year with new knowledge. Upon reflection, change from being interested in horsemanship to committing to Exceptional, in all directions, confidence, refinement, skills and fun on a whole new level. Call or email me to schedule a lesson, training session, phone or email lesson/consultation today.

Don't forget to check the blog for more training and put in your questions and comments!
Sincerely,
ME

Lauren Woodard
ExceptionalHorsemanship.com
Lauren Woodard
Scottsdale, Arizona 85254