I knew I was beyond “rusty” with my horsemanship skills. I had a horse when I was young for a few years, but I had only taken a few lessons here and there over the last few years. Horses had remained a staple in my dreams but not realistic for my life.
So I knew when I signed up for an intensive horsemanship clinic in the mountains led by a well-known trainer / “horse whisperer” that I would be learning a lot.
But I had no idea what I would learn about myself in the process.
Babe was my horse for the week, as she was when I came to this same ranch a few weeks ago. I remembered that she was hard-headed and we struggled a bit, and that I had much to learn with her.
As the trainer introduced the horses who the twelve of us students would be riding for the week, he mentioned that Babe was one of the most sensitive horses in the arena. A great horse, but very sensitive. I took a nervous gulp. I wondered why the trainers wouldn’t think a more easy-going gelding instead of a quirky and sometimes hormonal mare wouldn’t be a better fit for someone like me? But I soon realized there was a reason Babe and I were together again.
All of the other eleven riders had more experience than me. Many of them had their own horses and were simply here to fine-tune their skills. I was intimidated from the start as I tried to rein in my self-doubt which began to run wild at the start of each new exercise.
But in the end, as I released Babe from her halter that last day and the snow was falling all around us and she nuzzled her head into my chest, I realized that I had learned much more than horsemanship that week. And that Babe and I had truly bonded and learned from each other. I smiled as I gave her a kiss on the cheek and remembered that I too have been called hard-headed and sensitive on more than one occasion. It had all been part of the plan.
What I learned from Babe 
– Sometimes it takes a while to connect. Babe seemed irritated as we groomed our horses that first morning and would hardly engage or acknowledge me while all of the other horses seemed to be loving the attention. (We’re not all hard-wired the same and some things take time.)
– If you’re having trouble, it’s a good idea to look inside yourself before you blame anyone else. (It’s hardly ever the horse’s fault.)
– Positive energy is key to everything. (I knew this stuff, why had I forgotten that like attracts like, negative thoughts attract the same, positive attracts positive?)
– Horses are smarter than people, and way more perceptive. (It’s always beneficial to leave your ego at the barn door and be truly open to learning.)
– Overanalysis can lead to paralysis. (The brain simply can’t be open to learning new things when it’s bogged down and you’re not breathing and giving it fuel.)
– Everything is relative. (Comparing yourself to anyone is never a good idea.)
– Expectations have got to make sense. (Appreciate a little bit of improvement so you can be thrilled when you experience more.)
– Know the direction you’re wanting to go and make it happen, even if you’re told otherwise. (As a quote I saw recently says: You have the power at any given moment to say “This is not how the story is going to end.”) Babe just wanted to make sure I was serious first.
– Visualizing success before you begin calms your soul and primes the pump. (Wow does this ever apply to everything.)
– When you’re leading anyone, they must know you are in charge to feel secure. (They need your guidance and confidence. And it can be given with love and appreciation at the same time. Balance is a beautiful thing.)
– Never end a day on a negative. Figure out a way to make sure of this with kids, spouses, employees, friends, and yes, animals. (The way we end a day has a lot to do with the way we start the next.)
– Relax. (When you’re tense others can sense it … and it affects everything.)
– When things come easily we don’t appreciate them near as much. (The strongest love is born from struggle and sweat.) Ain’t that the truth.
– Sometimes we’re presented with just the exact challenge that the universe knows we need. (You just have to be open to seeing it.)
Have you ever learned about yourself in a most unexpected place?
life on wry 
This was a real cool story I enjoyed it a great deal Life’s lessons can be found in the most weirdest of places but hey We take what we can get when we get it. I saw your blog post at Susie’s Abuse me and use me keep up the good work.
So glad you stopped by! Thanks!
This is a great list of rules to live by. Some I already aspire to and others are wonderful tips!
Thanks for bringing it to the party! Have fun clicking on links!
This is beautifully written. I’m so glad I took the time to read it. You’re right, horses are smart and we would be wise to leave our ego at the barn door. So very well said. I think working with horses teaches us patience. It helps us become better grounded and find a general healthier attitude. Thank you, Allison.
Thanks so much for your kinds words. Wish I could be around horses every day to learn from them.
Susie sent me….and I’m so glad she did. What you wrote was so insightful.
thanks for stopping by!
Visiting from Susie’s party. A lot of good lessons here. Thanks for sharing your insights.
So glad you came by!
Love your lessons and that horse is gorgeous! Babe, indeed. I moseyed over from Susie Lindau’s place, so now I’ll be poking around a bit. Thanks for the smile. 🙂
So glad you stopped by. Thanks for your note and I’m glad you enjoyed!
The things we can learn from animals… there’s so much! Great post, thanks for sharing it on Susie’s blog.
So true. I learn from my little dog each day to take a deep breath and try to relax… :;
What a beautiful post! I read parts of it through tears. Thanks for sharing Babe with us, and your insightful lessons learned.
Thanks so much for your kind words. Glad you liked.
This was just absolutely wonderful! We can learn so much from horses (and other animals) about life and ourselves. Great insight too 🙂
Thanks so much for the kind words!
Did I ever need to read this today! Thank you so much for sharing. I have tears in my eyes and I can relate more than you know. Thank you again my friend, very insightful! 🙂
So glad you enjoyed!
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Great post and great insights. Thanks for sharing.
Wow. That really touched something inside me today. Each of that lessons is so, so true and can be applied to so many situations. Weird thing is that we keep learning these lessons and then forgetting them again. At least, I do…
“Sometimes we’re presented with just the exact challenge that the universe knows we need. (You just have to be open to seeing it.)” – I’ve heard this in a different way, in a sermon at church, but it resonated with me – God doesn’t ask us to do more than we are capable of doing. I heard it early on when raising the three kiddos was a big challenge. Nice post, friend.
Amen sister. So true. Miss you.
What a great post. I don’t have a horse, but I’m going out in the snow for a walkabout with my dog. Thanks for sharing your lessons!
I’m sure they apply to the canine world as well 🙂 Dogs are also smarter than people.
Hi Al,
Horses are born communicators….. Terry sure helped us listen! Love your blog!!!
Thanks for reading!
Dear Allison, love your blog! I leave VVR refreshed and energized and more in tune/touch with myself. I felt your sensitive nature at once. I am very happy to have met you and plan to stay in touch..
And those lessons are called “horsemanship”!! wonderfully stated. It was joy wasn’t it?? 🙂
We can learn much from animals.. I rode a horse one time when I was at a 4-H summer camp and figures I got a wild one that ran like the wind..lol..
wonderful post indeed!
Thanks so much!
I absolutely love this line – “Sometimes we’re presented with just the exact challenge that the universe knows we need” – this has been the story of my life recently 😀
Wow. Stop and feel your success. That was so beautiful. Super cool.
Thanks horse buddy.
Great post. I’m glad you were able to take some time out of your busy life to do a thing that you love — that you learned (or relearned) a great many things in the process? Bonus!
I love what you had to say about relaxing and about balance. Those are two things that I seriously need to work on (and I am, but it’s a process)!
If we are reasonably mature people who are open to new experiences, I think that most of us will admit to learning something in either an unexpected place or in an unexpected way!
Agreed. I’d like to think I’m reasonably mature most of the time. But that might be a stretch. 🙂 Thanks for reading and for your note!
Love this blog and the photo, too.
Thanks so much. What a great experience.