Life is like training a horse: a general idea of what needs to be done to achieve the goal, whether it is teaching a horse to pick up it's feet or training for top level competition. The art of life and horse training is developing skills to achieve the best possible result. Some people are better at life and horse training than others, but we can all improve.
Today, I stumbled on a brilliant website and blog detailing just this theme. It is a horse related life coaching dream fulfilling treasure and I can't wait to start spending it's riches, so I'll start by sharing:
http://www.bighorsedreams.com/2012/05/2-ingredients-to-help-you-achieve-your-potential/
I hope it resonates for you as it has for me.
Kind Regards,
Michelle Blackler
www.hossbiz.com
Carriage Driving Life
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Happy Mistakes
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| A View To A Thrill photo by Robert Mischka |
I started driving at the age of 14 under the watchful eye of my grandfather. My family had just embarked on the World of Morgan Horse Ride: purchased a young show prospect, sent her to a very reputable trainer. I learned to drive in a jog cart staring at said mare's behind. I wasn't enthralled.
Twenty years later, I was introduced to carriage driving and EUREKA! I was hooked. Not having a carriage, I decided to start back in the aforementioned jog cart and work my way up to a better view.
The tangled mess of 20 year old harness got cleaned and oiled, jog cart's tires got pumped up, trained horse got harnessed, put to, and off I drove around the arena. For a month or so.
So excited was my progress, I organized a driving fun day for the local Morgan club, set up some cones and various other obstacles, gathered refreshments. Attendance was marvelous, including Bob Riley, life long mentor to a very long list of people, including my mother and trainer of the horse I was driving. I was proud as a peacock as I drove towards the arena.
Bob sauntered over to me and asked me if I didn't think I needed traces. "Traces?" I asked, completely oblivious. He explained. "Oh! Those long pieces! I couldn't work out where they went." Bob suggested he'd hold the horse while I went to fetch those long pieces.
Mistakes are how we learn. In this instance it was a happy one, no harm done, lesson learned. Bob Riley spent many long a hours after that next to me in the jog cart, while I learned, safely, how to train a horse and how to drive.
If you are new to driving, find a mentor. Or an instructor. Make happy mistakes.
Kind Regards,
Michelle Blackler
www.hossbiz.com