Horsemanship includes relationship, partnership, and leadership. You, the rider, must hold all three in balance as you and your horse engage with each other. In fact, pausing to reflect on where you and your horse are in these three areas is a great way to check in on your progress in general.
Horsemanship starts with your RELATIONSHIP with your horse: Do you understand who your horse is instinctually? Do you know what your horse's unique talents are? Let me put it this way: where does he shine and where is he the most likely to default to prey animal instincts? If you can organize these two thoughts--shine vs. default--while you work together, you are on your way to a great relationship.
Next comes you and your horse as PARTNERS: Partnerships are made;
they don't happen overnight. As you work and play with your horse, are you consistent? Organized in a progressive way? These qualities result in positive growth as well as reliability in the connection you share. Partners work together a lot; they understand difficulties and enjoy working toward solutions.
Last on your horsemanship list is LEADERSHIP:
Leadership thrives on the confidence and trust that result from long experience and mutual growth. The leader has faith in the process of partnership, and a love of the unique journey, while never compromising the integrity of the relationship.
Look at these qualities as you develop your horsemanship. They sound a little abstract, but add your experience and they are become quite concrete. Think about relationship, partnership, and leadership as you work with your horse, and you will be living your dream with your horse, in the present.
You have it in you to be a great horseman!
