Sometimes We Just Need to Be a Big Kid Again

With spring knocking on our doorstep and the days growing warmer, perhaps it's time to press pause on our training schedules and remember why we fell in love with horses in the first place.

Instead of reaching for the saddle and bridle, what if we went back to our roots and focused on simply being with our horses?

Spring is the perfect season to slow down and reconnect. Spend some time giving your horse a good scratch and a thorough groom, helping them shed those annoying bits of their winter coat. Enjoy the simple pleasure of watching them relax under your touch as loose hair drifts away in the breeze (and straight into your mouth/stuck to your lip balm and all over your clothes).

Use the opportunity to create some positive moments at the mounting block. No pressure, no expectations. Just rewarding stillness, patience and trust. Let it become a place where your horse enjoys spending time with you rather than seeing it as the beginning of a work session.

And if you're feeling adventurous, hop on bareback with just a halter and lead. Feel every breath, every shift of muscle, every softening beneath you. Take a quiet walk together. Stop. Breathe. Lie back on their warm back and soak up the sunshine.

Be completely present.

No agenda. No training goals. No stopwatch.

Just you and your best friend.

I think many of us find ourselves stuck in training ruts from time to time. We become so focused on progress, performance and achieving the next milestone that our rides can start to feel mechanical. We forget that once upon a time we were kids who simply wanted to spend every possible moment with our horses, with no worries about results or outcomes.

Sometimes the greatest gift we can give ourselves and our horses is to return to those carefree days.

To wander.

To play.

To laugh.

To simply enjoy each other's company.

When we step away from the pressure and reconnect with the joy that first brought us together, something magical happens. Both souls reset. The partnership deepens. The bond grows stronger.

You might be surprised by how much lighter your heart feels afterwards. That sense of connection can leave you floating on cloud nine for days, even weeks.

To me, that is what true horsemanship is all about.

It's seeing and hearing the other being who is so deeply woven into your life. It's taking the time to listen, to appreciate and to simply be together.

So this spring, let time stand still for a little while.

Put the training plan away.

Take a deep breath.

And just be present with your fur baby.

You may discover that the most meaningful moments happen when you're doing absolutely nothing at all.

Thor says "Butt scratches are DA BEST! Human, please continue!"