11/21/2024
We get to see a lot of horse people and one of the things the best ones all have in common is the sentiment…
Your Timing’s Bad—And That’s Okay
Yes, your timing’s bad. It’s not just you—it’s all of us. While that might feel like a personal attack, it’s not meant to be. The truth is, part of learning horses is realizing how much we don’t know and how much room there is to improve.
Here’s the thing: we all start out bad at this. And we stay bad for a long time. But that’s part of the journey. Even the best trainers, the ones handling dozens of horses a day, are constantly striving to improve.
I once had a client who was shocked at how often I take lessons. They thought, as a trainer, I should already “know everything.” But here’s the truth: I’m nowhere near where I want to be in any part of my horse journey. Whether it’s in the disciplines I’m involved in or the skills I want to develop, I’m always learning.
If you feel like you’ve got it all figured out, I’ll tell you this: you haven’t even scratched the surface. Horses have a way of humbling us, of showing us there’s always more to learn. The best horsemen and horsewomen I know are the ones who admit how little they know, even after years—or decades—of experience.
So don’t beat yourself up about your timing or feel discouraged when things aren’t clicking right away. The journey with horses isn’t about perfection; it’s about progress. Keep showing up, keep learning, and remember: even the greatest in this industry were beginners once, and they’re still striving to be better every day.