“Attention and intention” -- this phrase is
a good way to describe the mindset we should
have when we want to train our horses. There
are probably many of us who love to trail
ride. Maybe you like to ride alone or ride
with friends. Either way, it is an enjoyable
way to spend time outside with your horse.
However, how much training can you do while
trail riding, particularly in a group? I
have found that there is not a lot that I
can accomplish while I am out trail riding.
Oh yes, I can work on helping my horse to
not be buddy sour and I can work on my
horse’s speeds, but I can't work a lot on
neck reining, side passing, or even correct
leads. Even stopping, backing, and turning
are best worked on when alone and when I can
concentrate on only what I and my horse is
doing. Paying attention to what you and your
horse is doing and being intentional about
what you are teaching your horse is a great
way, the best way, to get the most out of a
training session.
“Attention and Intention.” I wish that I
could say that I came up with this phrase,
but I cannot. I go this phrase from Jamie
Andreas, a guitar teacher. Though horse
training really has nothing to do with
guitars, it has everything to do with paying
attention and using intention. Actually,
attention and intention should be applied to
almost every part of our lives. This mindset
can be what helps us to excel and to learn.
I find that I can easily go on a nice long
trail ride and have lots of fun, but at the
end of the day, I realize that I didn’t
advance my horse’s training a lot. Sure, I
didn’t let him get away with anything and he
got a couple more hours of experience, but
nothing was really accomplished. I find that
if I want to really accomplish something
with my horse, I must make the effort and
time to really work with him. I can pay
attention to my horse in a small paddock,
arena, or round pen more so than when I am
on the trail. I can use intention to teach a
specific thing or to improve in an area. If
I am focused on my horse, not on what is
around me or what other horses or people are
doing, then I, and my horse, have a better
chance at making improvements and reaching
goals.
You can accomplish so much when you pay
attention to what you are doing and are
intentional about what you teach your horse.
I love to go trail riding, but I love it
more when I can show off what my horse has
learned when I use attention and intention
to work with him.
