Today I stumbled across an old message board post. Someone posted the question of whether or not s/he could become a horseman? Or was s/he just fooling his/herself?
When you have a dream, it's wise to remember the Serenity Prayer: God grant me the serenity to accept that which I cannot change, Courage to change what I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Just as it is with anything we want to do in life, there are things we can do, things we're not suited for no matter how much we love them, and we must have the wisdom to know the difference.
Some people are born with the gift to read animals, to play music, paint fine artworks, or cook the finest meals. They seem to naturally have a feel for the things they are best suited to do. There are also people who work hard, train harder, fight, and scrap their way against all odds to become the very best of their capabilities. Finally, there are folks that no matter how hard they try, they just cannot get there. For the horses' sakes and for our own sanity, we must be willing to take an honest look and accept the truth.
To me a true horseman can:
1) See the reality of what the horse is today
2) Has the foresight to see the potential in the horse before them.
3) Know how to build the bridge from what is to who can safely cross the horse over that bridge to the height of his potential.
So can you become a horseman? I dunno. There are a good many of us who spend a lifetime trying. My Grandpa was a horseman. He could read what a horse was doing, what the horse needed, and what he needed to do to affect change in the horse. It's important to remember the horse should not suffer our process, though there is always things we wish we could go back and do over. This is true of every Horseman I have ever known.
For those who ask the question: Can I become a horseman or am I just kidding myself? I say, consider the Serenity Prayer, be honest, be safe (for you and your horse). Or in Grandpa's words, "Quite wastin' time on labels and be the best you can be for your horse, that's all he wants anyway."
No matter how many times I consider the question, Grandpa's words of wisdom always ring true. If you can address the horse in front of you, see what he can become, consider if you know how to bridge the gap between those two views. Consider if you know how to walk him over the bridge. If the answer is no, there is no need to throw out the dream, just follow Grandpa's sage advice. Be the best you can be for your horse. In the end, isn't that what matters most?
When you have a dream, it's wise to remember the Serenity Prayer: God grant me the serenity to accept that which I cannot change, Courage to change what I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Just as it is with anything we want to do in life, there are things we can do, things we're not suited for no matter how much we love them, and we must have the wisdom to know the difference.
Some people are born with the gift to read animals, to play music, paint fine artworks, or cook the finest meals. They seem to naturally have a feel for the things they are best suited to do. There are also people who work hard, train harder, fight, and scrap their way against all odds to become the very best of their capabilities. Finally, there are folks that no matter how hard they try, they just cannot get there. For the horses' sakes and for our own sanity, we must be willing to take an honest look and accept the truth.
To me a true horseman can:
1) See the reality of what the horse is today
2) Has the foresight to see the potential in the horse before them.
3) Know how to build the bridge from what is to who can safely cross the horse over that bridge to the height of his potential.
So can you become a horseman? I dunno. There are a good many of us who spend a lifetime trying. My Grandpa was a horseman. He could read what a horse was doing, what the horse needed, and what he needed to do to affect change in the horse. It's important to remember the horse should not suffer our process, though there is always things we wish we could go back and do over. This is true of every Horseman I have ever known.
For those who ask the question: Can I become a horseman or am I just kidding myself? I say, consider the Serenity Prayer, be honest, be safe (for you and your horse). Or in Grandpa's words, "Quite wastin' time on labels and be the best you can be for your horse, that's all he wants anyway."
No matter how many times I consider the question, Grandpa's words of wisdom always ring true. If you can address the horse in front of you, see what he can become, consider if you know how to bridge the gap between those two views. Consider if you know how to walk him over the bridge. If the answer is no, there is no need to throw out the dream, just follow Grandpa's sage advice. Be the best you can be for your horse. In the end, isn't that what matters most?