Thoughts...

So I've been thinking since my lessons in Ocala, FL with Berin and my lesson with Nancy last month. I think I've been rushing in my mind as to where we should be and what we should do. That isn't what I should be doing. That isn't good for me or Decker.

I think the pressure from friends to already have Decker at a certain point started to push me into thinking it too, even though I wasn't doing what they suggested. Pushing Decker to ride before he is emotionally ready online isn't going to help our relationship! I won't do it! I really feel like we are starting to connect on another level online & I'm not going to let outside pressure sway my principles or our relationship!

Parelli is so much more than riding! It is truly life changing! I had some people want to buy Decker right after I got him! They wanted to take him straight into showing English pleasure as a 2 year old to promote his sire, These Irons Are Hot. I'm so glad I listened to my gut then, because I know Decker would have been miserable now. I know my gut is right again. I call those my God instincts!

I'm currently reading the book "The Inner Game of Tennis," a suggested book from Pat Parelli. It is great. I'm also fighting with the idea of competing at all. I can't remember where I heard the quote, but I love it..."Competition is the root of all evil when it comes to animals and children." I agree. Competition really creates some Monsters when people put their goals before their principles. I promised Decker, I will not do that ever again. Years of seeing crabby horses in the show ring always bothered me, but now I know why. I always cared how the horses felt. People call us scared or non-competitive, but I don't think that's true any more! I think we are just better people who care for our animals and the relationship that we have with them after the show is over.

So to reel in my jumbled thoughts...I'm going to take on one session at a time and keep plugging away at making our relationship better. I need to become more of a leader and learn how to read his horsenality better as well. We have a long way to go, but it doesn't matter. Focusing on the time is like watching water boil! It takes forever. If I can focus on the relationship and helping us become mentally, emotionally, and physically fit, I think everything will fall into place!

Berin told me that with a little more time Decker and I should progress very quickly, after he gave me more leadership. Nancy also told me to believe in myself, because I was farther along than I realized! :) I'm working on our level one-level two audition now. I'm going to just start checking things off the list as they happen and then send in a video and see what happens! :)