“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.