Giving Grace

Giving Grace is an important part of our horsemanship journey, but it is not only giving our horses grace, it is also giving it to ourselves.

As Linda and I continue to work together and with our attendees, it has become even more evident that our skills can 'hit a ceiling' and can get stuck there until we turn the spotlight on ourselves, and do some inner work.

Sometimes this work also means affording ourselves some grace. Grace doesn't mean that we let ourselves off the hook or throw away our goals but its about having the ability to soften for ourselves, and our horses.

For example; This weekend I have a Cowboy Dressage Competition on, and my plan was to ride both my young horse Saffi and my performance horse Boogie. But, I have been away a fair bit lately and Saffi hasn't even been off our property for some confidence building outings yet. It would be poor judgement for me to take her straight to a show for her first outing instead of taking her out and about a few times to a different location to build her confidence in being away from home first, setting her up for success. (This is an entire article in itself, so I wont keep expanding on the explanation here). My ego wants so much to take her to this show, but that isn't for her, its for me.

Boogie on the other hand has been out a lot, so I am taking her to the gathering. BUT, she has been 'feeling her age' lately and so I have nominated her for some "easier tests", which again, is a bruise to the ego -- the horse 'should' be able to do the higher level, but right now I need to give her some grace. Phil is experiencing exactly the same thing with George. He usually does the highest level tests available, but this weekend will come back to some lighter walk jog tests. That is the right decision to make for our aging horses and it is that, or don't take them out at all.

While our ego's are wanting to strive for higher levels, that time will come, we have new horses coming through. For now, we have to give our horses and ourselves some grace.

The same goes for our own physical abilities. If we have to do less tests, or ride some less complicated tests for our own physical health, then so be it. Better to be out in the arena riding, than not riding at all. Sometimes it takes taking a step back, reflecting and really asking ourselves, 'Is this decision the best decision for me, and my horse right now?'


Give yourself, and your horse some grace




T x