ACTHA Monthly | June 2015 | 41
EXAMPLE
Let’s say your fear starts when you put your foot in the stirrup. What most people do is keep going. They get up and into the saddle, and now they are wrecks. You have to figure out what the steps are, so you know what leads up to the moment you feel the fear, and then how far you need to retreat.
Part 3
You get your horse.
You play with him on the ground using some patterns, and get him in the mood to be saddled.
You saddle your horse and put the bridle or hackamore on.
You move him around to check that you have control and communication, that he’s in a calm and responsive frame of mind, and that he’s comfortable with the saddle; the cinch or girth is properly adjusted.
You move next to your horse and get in the mounting position.
You take hold of the stirrup.
You put your foot in the stirrup.
You stand up in the stirrup and pet your horse’s shoulder, asking permission to get on.
You gently put your leg over the saddle.
You settle into the saddle and sit there for a while before you move off and go on to your riding plan.
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when you’re unprepared, careless, or haven’t thought about how to make sure everything goes smoothly.
The agreement you make with your brain is that the moment you feel fear, you will retreat and re-approach again. When you can do this consistently and your brain can depend on you, your fearfulness will get less and less, instead of more and more. Don’t rush— take the time it takes. That’s what Pat Parelli says, isn’t it? Take the time it takes so it takes less time. Most people don’t take the time to actually solve the problem, but they waste time dealing with the effects of the problem over and over, year after year!
THE LIST
Linda