This past week I have been introducing my 2 year old filly to the bit. First two times, no problem. She was willing to put it in her mouth and she chewed and fussed on the rubber snaffle. Then came bit attempt #3 and out came the “You Can’t Make Me!” For little Peg, she decided there was nothing in it for her in putting that awkward thing in her mouth. She was done.

Now, knowing that wearing a bit is the next step in her training to become a riding horse, I could force the issue or I could train the issue. This is one of those crucial turning points. And the path you choose depends on the horse’s personality and learning style. When Peg’s older brother, Andrew, got to this same point, the answer was to just put the bit on him, anyway I could, and let him figure it out. Andrew’s an easy going guy that just wants to please me. I could push him on this particular topic and I knew he’d work it out and not hold anything against me.

Now Peg is different. She has to understand everything; she has to decide things are okay. If I put too much pressure on her she checks out. However, if I break things down in to nice little bits, let her have small successes, all of a sudden she gets the big picture and all resistance melts away. And most of all, she will never forget, the new skill is in her ‘toolbox’ forever. With Peg, and my other horses that learn this same way, the moment I get a whiff of “You Can’t Make Me” I immediately adjust my training methods and break things down into small little steps.

So I want to ask you, “Where are you shutting down and stopping? Where are you checking out? Where is your progress blocked and you just can’t find a way through it?

Are you trying to force yourself to just get something done? And getting more discouraged in the process?

Anywhere in your life where you are forcing yourself and still feeling resistance, it is time to back off and try a new approach. Stop forcing and start training yourself. Break things down into small little steps where you can give yourself small, but frequent successes. Make it into a game that you can win. Don’t be afraid of making the steps too small. Small and steady will get you to your goal where forcing was not working.

© 2012 Big Horse Dreams, Inc.

Want to go through this process with professional support? Contact me at www.bighorsedreams.com/contact-form and we can set up a complimentary appointment.

Cathy Rivers and Big Horse Dreams

One of the secrets to making your dreams come true is to make sure you give them enough time in your day/week/month. We can think about our dreams all we want, but to make them come true means taking action in your daily life. Below is a simple 4-step exercise you can use to create time in your schedule for your top priorities.
Step 1: How much time do I really need?
Now, take this question seriously. How much time do you really need to achieve what you want to achieve? Not, how little time can you get it done in. Not, what can you settle for. Truly, how much time do you need? Figure it out. Come up with a number.
Step 2: How much time do already have with your current obligations and your current schedule?
For example: You already have time allotted for a weekly riding lesson and 2 schooling sessions. Again, do the math. Come up with a number.
Step 3: Calculate the difference. This is the amount of time you need to create.
Step 4: What can I stop doing? Come up with a list. Make decisions. Inform others.
So often we keep adding on obligations, responsibilities and activities. It is just as important to stop doing things. Below is a list of things for you to consider no longer doing.
• What volunteer positions can I resign from and give others a chance to do?
• What activities or chores can I delegate?
• Where can I ask for help?
• Or, where have people offered help that I haven’t taken them up on yet?
• What can I pay someone else to do for me?
• What boundaries do I need to put in place at work so I stop brining work home with me?
• What just doesn’t need to be done any longer?
• Where can I just do things differently and work smarter not harder?
• What else can I just stop doing because I’d rather have the time for something else?
It is important to align our lives with our dreams and priorities. Just like a house gets cluttered and needs constant attention to keep it clean, the same is true for our schedules and use of time.
© 2012 Big Horse Dreams, Inc.
Want to go through this process with professional support? Click here to contact me and we can set up a complimentary appointment.
Cathy Rivers and Big Horse Dreams

OK, I admit it. I can be quite a worrier! Especially when it comes to health and well-being of my family, friends or horses.

Andrew, my Swedish Warmblood gelding, is coming on 4 years of age.  Andrew is my happy boy. He is an instant friend to anyone who comes near. And people are automatically drawn to him because he is so outwardly friendly and has a very kind eye.

Of all my 8 eight horses, in his short life span he has had more medical challenges than all the rest put together.  He was born with a patent urachus (urine seeping through the umbilical cord) which required surgery at day 11. Then at 2 and a half, he started showing some lameness and was diagnosed with an OCD lesion on his right stifle, requiring yet another major surgery. Luckily, the lesion was not on a weight-bearing portion of the stifle and his prognosis is excellent.

This second surgery was enough to turn my internal radar on to high alert. What else was going to happen to my special young man? There was always a part of me wondering what would come next. That is never a fun way to go through life.

It was Human Design that helped me to stop worrying about Andrew’s future. (If you haven’t heard me talk about Human Horse Design, click here to read more.) One of the gifts I received when I did Andrew’s design at age three was to see that he was already living according to his design. I no long felt the urge to view what happened to Andrew as necessarily ‘bad’, but just a normal part of his life process.

Andrew has a 6/2 profile; the profile talks about your overall purpose in life, your overarching life theme.  Those with the 6/2 profile are here to be examples of what they have learned in the three phases of their lives. In the first phase, they experience great challenges and trials. In the second phase, they withdraw and become objective observers of how to deal with those challenges. In the third phase of their lives, they walk in the world as natural, living examples what they have learned.

I have worked with the Human Design system long enough to know how accurate and truly helpful it is. I am no longer concerned about Andrew. His life will unfold as it is meant to. These hardships are just meant to be part of what is making him a great horse.

Copyright 2012 Big Horse Dreams, Inc.

I just have to take a moment to talk about a new modality I have been working with. It is called Human Design and I have been blown away by how freaky accurate and helpful it has been for me. My life is unfolding at a faster pace and with more ease. And then I got the wild idea to use it with my horses and have been even more excited about what it can do for people and their horses. I now approach each of my horses (8 of them!) in terms of their Design and training has never been so easy.

Are you having relationship or training issues with your horse? Do you have a new foal on the way or just on the ground? Do you want to really understand your horse at the deepest level possible? Are you someone who is open to alternative modalities? Human Horse Design will provide answer!

To read more: click here! If you delve into Human Horse Design, I promise you will be amazed!