I wanted to share the journey of a horse and their person I have been working with because it illustrates how closely our we and our horses are intertwined on every level. It also illustrates how sometimes a complex “training” issue is a carefully disguised personal journey for horse and person.

I asked Brio’s owner to write this blog series with me because I was struck by the experience they had myself.

Here is the first part of this series. Brio’s person writes:

“My vet gave me your name because he thought you could give me some useful tools for working with my horse. I checked out your website and I like your philosophy, so I decided to call.”

I’ve had Brio since she was a long yearling, when I brought her home

from the breeder’s to live at my mini-farm. She’s eight now, and since she was four, she’s had long periods of not wanting to go forward, even under saddle with the professional dressage rider who started her – and this person’s expertise is starting young horses and getting them forward. Brio doesn’t want to walk or trot; she prefers standing with all four feet planted or moving like a snail, and my attempts to use a whip have either been ignored or brought on a buck.

Cantering has been out of the question for me because when she’s been forward enough to ask for it, I’ve been afraid because she’s on the edge of throwing her famous rodeo buck. She’s also really spooky. Three years ago, the trainer’s schedule changed and she couldn’t make it out here. I also couldn’t afford help, so I decided I’d ride her myself. ”

Read the whole article here.....