Ep 69: Every Repetition is for a Purpose
As human beings, we are naturally wired to seek an end point. When we start a project, we want to finish it.
The toughest thing to understand about the horse training industry is that there is no real end point.
I would venture to guess that every one of us has been in a situation where we got to a “comfortable” spot with a certain horse. We got to a point where we felt good about where we were at, and we stopped doing the things it took to get the horse to that point.
The tricky part about this is that, for a while, we can get by doing this with no major problems. But, when something happens to trigger that horse’s reactive instincts, all the problems seem to unveil at once.
Horses are emotional beings, just like we are. Their perspectives and behaviors are very much influenced by the environment and events around them. This is why it is crucial to continually reinforce confidence-building fundamentals, even if you feel like you have moved past that point with a certain horse.
In high-pressure situations, these fundamentals are what horses cling to.
If there is not a firm foundation in place, we can’t expect that horse to overcome a high-pressure situation without an adverse reaction.
Once we understand the idea that we are never truly done developing a horse’s potential, it is going to be much easier for us to continually improve our horse’s performance. We must understand that every single repetition is for a purpose.
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