Dreams vs Reality

I have had many people ask the question, "Why is it that it seems everyone has an amazing two year old (reining) prospect and very few have a tremendous three year old." Apply it as you will. The answers lie in perspective, the dream, time, education and the funnel.

First of all we need to be clear on what our goals are for the horse. Keep in mind, all goals are human created. All the horse wants to do is eat and mess in your clean stall. In the beginning, our goal is to get a good start, basics and a foundation applied. By the way, not all of them get this far, but most do. We are in elementary education.

I figure each 2 months is like a grade in school. One year of consistent training will get them through 6th grade. In our example of two year olds, it's easy to understand why most seem to be doing well. Then there's the next year to finish high school. That's if they are good students. I've even had some horses who were well into high school at one year! So?!? I've also had some who got through high school and decided that was enough. It's possible that at any grade, a horse may need to be held back or decide to quit. In the case of horses, they never skip school, but as a teacher you better be there.

Then there are the rare and exceptional students. Those motivated with an inner drive and ability to excel. In that same space in time, they have not only achieved a high school diploma, they are through college. Out into the world demonstrating gifts that new dreams are made of. Others may catch up in time, they just got there first.

*There was a case a few years ago when a new customer quite a distance from the ranch asked me to start and train their horse in reining. After reviewing a copy of the papers and a brief peek into the records of the parents, I was excited to give it a go. We arranged a day for them to travel across the country with their prized horse. On that given day I anxiously awaited my new "prospect." Soon, the trailer arrived with beaming owners at the wheel. I dismounted my horse, tied him up and made my way to the rear of the trailer for the unloading of.........a giraffe. Had they an open topped trailer I would have easily spotted their mistake of loading the wrong species. As it were, the roof concealed the fact that the horse was of less than ideal confirmation. Ever the politician I replied, "What the hell is that?" They seemed disappointed in my response. So I bought their dinner, we talked of conformational flaws, and then we loaded the horse for the journey home. At least I thought so. Turns out they drove to a trainer who said he could make him great. In my opinion, no horse can make it if I, as a rider, can't see where we are going due to my vision being blocked by a head and neck in my face. I was right.

Once we have cleared the conformation and bad attitude hurdles, most all horses get to the point of being rideable. At that point the dream begins to evolve, the goals begin to be set, and the hope of greatness soars. Each day is another step toward a little more time. That's all he needs, consistently. Time will develop the God given abilities into something that can be put on display for all the world to enjoy. Keep in mind, his abilities may be great, average, or less. It still takes time I'm a firm believer in goals and understand the power of knowing exactly where you want to be in the future. In fact without them, training has no outcome. How will you know where you are and when you are there? They also reveal reality and the chance to pick a different goal.

Herein is where the funnel begins to do it's fiendish work.  First is the law of gravity..... your goal is too heavy for some horse's to carry. His attitude will give you signs. More can be achieved when they enjoy doing it. He may give it valiant effort yet will come up short given your lofty designs. Second is the law of supply and demand. He can only supply the amount of ability he was given with his gifts from birth, toward the demands of the chosen sport.  It may not be sufficient or applicable given the rules, requirements, or levels at which you have chosen to participate. Challenging days are natural along the path. There are bound to be resistances and confusions that can cause one to grow and expand, give up and quit, or any of the acceptable choices in between. All of which are not bad, just factors for evaluating. Each are clues as to when to accept the gifts that horse has and pet him for the effort he gave.

Now is the toughest decision of all. Stop... or adjust and continue to a nice finished horse that is content within his gifts. Many are left behind at this point, yet represented as horses of the sport. Stuck in the land of the unfinished and possibly giving your sport a bad name if he is represented as so without complete training. The tough reality is that most often, horses at this point seldom bring the value of the training and are halted in their progress. Correctly presented, this could be the perfect horse for another whose requirements are different or whose goals are less heavy.

This is an opportunity for the do-it-yourselfers. Many of the possibly nice horses are going untrained because of the costs to have it professionally done. I believe each industry can benefit from those who are willing to apply good instruction and personal time toward the development of much needed, average horses. The demand for average is high, with few being made professionally. The costs can be kept in line with the smaller dollars that are willing to be spent on such horses, yet most of all, you will have experienced enhancement of your own skills and knowledge. Learn. We need you.

*I was sent a horse to train for the sport of reining. All indications early on were that he would be fantastic. Easy to start, good student, and very athletic. As time progressed I would marvel at the big moves he could make. I swelled with pride each day the horse would answer correctly to the challenging puzzles presented him. Often I would call the owner and declare that the reining futurity was going to be a breeze for him. Turns out I was right. As soon as we started adding speed and running, he totally forgot that he had also been trained to go slow. Breeze we did, for days. He just kept getting faster with no end in sight! Dismayed, I rang the client to announce our problem. He had learned to run and loved it way too much. To my surprise she replied, "I was hoping he could run instead!" Turns out she was a barrel racer. He ended up winning many large barrel races and had a fantastic career. In fact, was World Champion one year. Not bad for a disappointment.

There are those horses who continue to step up and maximize the gifts that were given them from birth that also align with our goals of a particular sport. They start right, have the right attitude, the right abilities and instincts. For them the road is remarkably easy. To this day I have not yet had a gifted horse that found making it to the big game hard in the least. In fact, it would have been a punishment to keep them from it.

Never hold back the exceptional student, keep giving them another book if you have it. If not, buy yourself a book, a DVD, take a clinic, or find a more experienced and advanced trainer to challenge the gifts. Do not sit on the porch and bark.

This is where the funnel gets pretty narrow. These horses make the super athletes. Pros of the sport. They are to be treated as professionals and cared for with all means possible. Their efforts to please and excel can create sports related conditions that require our best technologies to help them achieve all they are striving for. Good news for the vets, acupuncturists, massage therapy, farriers, feed, supplements, behaviorists, equipment, arena surfaces, rehab centers, all types of machines, gadgets, and a rubber chicken.

Along the way, there are many horses who may attempt to play whatever your chosen sport is. As long as the concepts of the sport itself and the methods used, lends to the creation of a well developed individual, the horse will have benefited from the experience. In this part of the funnel is where many nice horses are found. They make wonderful partners for lessons, beginners, rookies, youth, amateurs, lower level pro, recreational riders, hobbyists, and people at all levels of the game of riding.

* I had been asked to officiate at one of the large reining events in our area. The top professionals had brought some of their finest horses and displayed some pretty impressive runs. They spun like a first timer on a bar stool. Ran circles as if on a guided rail and stopped like wormy dogs. As these events go, there are classes available at all levels of experience. Perhaps a bit less spectacular, yet always fun to watch. Everyone wins who actually steps into the arena.

I was at the gait during one of the beginner classes. From here I am allowed to have conversations with the contestants as I check the equipment and look over the horse. I enjoy this part. It's fun to offer advice or just listen in as the recently finished rider goes over the performance with whoever has been chosen to assist them. One such chat was with a middle aged woman who I assumed was going to be somewhat distraught with how things had gone while performing her routine. To say the least it was not too good.

The horse missed lead changes, steered wildly in the circles, lost geographical location in it's turns, and could have used a search party to help find any clues for tracks he may have left while attempting to stop. I gave the horse an inspection, and tried to visit with her about the fact that she would do better next time. Chin up. She was rather distant and distracted. I assumed disappointed... right up until they announced her incredibly low score. As the announcer finished, she screamed and began to jump up and down as though she were standing on a fire ant mound (something Texans know is not good). Turns out she was delirious with excitement and proclaimed that it was the first actual score she had ever gotten! I had been there when World Championships had been announced, yet never had I seen such enthusiasm.

In the end, it's all a matter of perspective. To ride is to be four feet closer to God no matter how talented the horse may be. Not all horses are created equal, yet all were equally created. 

Dreams are always valuable. They give us... and anyone willing to buy, hope. Reality can be bought for less, unless the reality is a dream come true.

I believe all horses have a purpose within the funnel. Wherever their space is will be a spot of comfort, satisfaction, and reward as long as we are accepting and honest in our assessment. Occasionally, a great one emerges through the funnel and creates a memory that connects to those outside your own space. He becomes... known. Horse development is the inspiring intersection between a man's dream and the horses ability to grant the wish.

Let it Rein, 

Craig

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