First and foremost I think it is important to look out for the safety and well being of my students and equines.
~ Set the student and horse up for success. Success in not measured in how long you stay in the saddle but by how confident the horse feels before you dismount.
~Leave a horse and student in a better state of mind at the end of a session. Anyone can make a horse move but what frame of mind are you leaving the horse in?
~ Not give in to the impulsive desires of others. I work methodically. If the horse and rider are not safe, confident, and ready for the next step, we do not take it.
~Tell people the truth even though it is not always what they want to hear but rather what they need to hear in order to connect with their horse.
~It is one thing to be firm in the necessary time and place and quite another to be a bully.
~ Tie downs and anything that artificially ‘corrects’ your horse for you are never the answer. True communication, feel and timing are the correct answer. True beauty lies in fluidity and joy, not forced movement. Yes, it takes more time to train this way so expect to enjoy the journey instead of ‘thrilling’ on speedy results.
~I will forever be a student striving to improve myself in the hopes of helping others.
Safety, Trust, Confidence, and a Better State of Mind ~ therein lies the key for both horse and rider.
Thank You Elizabeth Graves and Harry Whitney for your continued inspiration!
