Ep 237: Hustle vs. Hurry
In the horsemanship journey, learning the difference between hustling and hurrying can make or break your progression in training. Join me for this episode as I share some insights to help you frame your mindset around slowing down, enjoying the process, and learning how to be productive at a controlled pace.
Last night, we had our monthly mentorship call inside the Be Your Best Membership, and it brought up some really great topics about the relationship between personal development and the progression of your horsemanship.
In the horsemanship industry, personal development is often overlooked in our field. We all work hard to develop our products (our training programs and our horses), but it's equally important to invest time in ourselves. It's easy to stagnate if we don't grow in all these areas. If you find yourself stuck at the same level with your horse(s) every few years, it might be time to focus less on what’s outside (horsemanship) and more on what’s inside (personal development).
Investing in yourself is vital. When you stop investing in your growth, you stop progressing. The conversations we had in this week's mentorship reinforced the importance of differentiating between hustle and hurry. Hustling means growing with energy, while hurrying often means working from behind, skipping steps, and potentially causing more harm than good.
My dad always used to say, “isn’t it funny how we always seem to have time to do things right the second time around.” And, he’s right. Those of us who are busy and have many irons in the fire are always trying our hardest to get things done; however, we sometimes fall into the trap of hurrying and skipping steps. When we hurry, we leave holes in our process, and this can come back to bite us in the long run. While it may not feel like we have time to slow down and take our time on the first attempt, taking a little longer the first time still takes a lot less time than having to do it all over again the second time.
A recent example with a filly reminded me of the importance of patience. While I was bringing some roping steers up out of the pasture, a bunch of curious cattle rushed to the fence, startling the filly. Instead of forcing her through her fear, I gave her time to process the situation. This patience led to a significant breakthrough in her comfort level and confidence.
In horsemanship, creating moments of anxiety is inevitable, but how we handle those moments determines our horse's mental state. Hurrying through training can lead to a reactive horse, while taking the time to understand and address their concerns builds a thinking, confident horse.
Listening to our horses and giving them the time they need is a universal principle. Slowing down, addressing the root of the anxiety, and building confidence are key to resolving such issues.
Any time we, as humans, are learning a new skill, sometimes we just need time to process and understand. Our horses are no different. Patience and understanding are crucial. Giving our horses the time they need to digest new experiences can prevent anxiety and build trust. It's easy to get caught up in our timelines and rush through training, but true progress comes from taking the time to ensure our horses are mentally and physically aligned.
Whether in horsemanship or personal growth, the principles of patience, understanding, and continuous investment in oneself are essential. These values lead to true progress and success in any endeavor, both inside and outside of the arena.
