Results vs Progress

“Take the time it takes.”

The mantra of the greatest horse trainers in the world.
But sitting on the lips of every results-focused rider is the inevitable question, “How long is that?”
I’ve written and spoken before about measuring progress with our horses — 'taking the time it takes' and setting goals — ideas that can seem contradictory. The truth is, human beings are results-focused. Some more than others, yes, but on some level, we all keep “doing” , whether playing a sport, sticking to a diet or exercise routine, or studying — because we see progress or have our eyes on the prize: the result.
In the horse world, for some people that means taking a horse and “polishing” him with good feed and training, watching his body and appearance transform. For others, it’s putting in the early mornings and long days to train for a discipline, competing among peers for recognition or a prize. And for some, it’s about the progress in ability and partnership between horse and rider, whether in relationship or maneuver.
The problem is that once we set a goal to measure progress, our human brain becomes task-focused in pursuit of that goal , often at the expense of the horse.
Think of setting a goal to compete in a dressage competition. Suddenly, our focus shifts to whether our horse can do a 20-meter circle, halt square, walk a straight line, or make transitions on the markers. Instead of asking:

• Is my horse balanced enough to do a full 20-meter circle with correct bend?
• Is he strong enough to ride a five-minute test in self-carriage?
• Is he tuned in and responsive enough to be guided in detail?
• Does he have the combined strength, balance, and responsiveness to perform a transition on a set marker?
  

And this mindset doesn’t only apply to dressage or competition. Horsemanship organizations have levels to aim for; classical dressage follows a progressive system; pony clubs, endurance, and show jumping all have stages.
You get the picture.

Some of you might be thinking, “That’s not me, I just trail or beach ride.”

But even there, we find measures of progress. When was the last time you felt disappointed that your horse wouldn’t cross a river or bridge, or seemed a little spooky on the trail? The truth is, even our trail horses need to be fit, strong, balanced, and confident if we’re both going to have fun.

So, what are the solutions?

Consciousness
As always, the first step is awareness. Once we become conscious of our actions with our horses and start asking ourselves “Why am I asking him to do this?” we can shift our intent. Is this exercise making him stronger? More confident? More responsive? More balanced?
When we find purpose in our training beyond simply completing a task, we begin to make decisions that truly serve the horse.

Balance
We must find balance between what humans need (to see progress and results) and what horses need (time and some need more than others). Balance lies in how we apply these needs in our riding and training.

Reconsideration
Perhaps we need to reconsider how we measure progress. Is our version of success too surface-level? Such as, completing a maneuver or a dressage test?
If we modify that surface definition into a deeper one (balance, confidence, self-carriage, strength), we create space to measure progress in ways that benefit the horse. And in turn, that mindset gives us the motivation to truly take the time it takes.