The podcast opens with a quote from Mark Rashid from his book, Finding the Missed Path - The Art of Restarting Horses. Mark was describing the approach used by the old horseman he worked for as a youngster.
“In each case, the horse was always treated as an individual, focusing always on what the horse seemed to need at the time. By handling the horse’s real-time needs and not forcing him into a one-size-fits-all training program — the kind that has a tendency to disregard the horse’s individual issues — he was often able to develop a foundation of trust and understanding in a relatively short period of time. From there, rehabilitation and, ultimately, training, usually moved along rather smoothly, eventually leading to the horse becoming a solid and trustworthy mount for any potential new owner.”
Be a critical and creative evaluator of information and diverse approaches that meet the needs of your horse and meet your needs in the second half of life.
Recognize also that you may not have the skills or the time to respond to your horse’s issues. With that critical and creative evaluation of information may come the realization that you can’t be safe with your horse or that someone with more skills or time may be needed. It’s a hard decision to part with your horse, but sometimes it might be necessary. It might be the best decision for you and your horse.
The podcast also quotes Apple Founder Steve Jobs from his Stanford University commencement speech delivered in 2005.
If you'd like to donate to the Bluebonnet Humane Society Training Challenge you can learn more by visiting their website.