Success is saying “YES” to every step of the journey

The morning was cold and windy and I made my way to the barn to see my partner of two years. He left his home on my birthday two years ago and a lot has changed in his life. I sat on him today and had the most beautiful ride, he was balanced and loose and as I sat to his trot I felt we were dancing to the music playing (I should add that the music’s sole purpose was to keep him from spooking with the wind).

It was not always like this. I can not imagine what it must be like for a young horse to get on an airplane and fly across the ocean to another continent. The first time I put my foot in the stirrup he was terrified and threw me off across the ring. The past two years have been letting go of my expectations and listening to this kind soul who told me how far we could go. Today I felt these two years of work in his balance, his joy of working, his trust of me, the hard work he has done in understanding what it is like to work with a rider on his back.

Today I realized that this was success. That I do not want to wait until I take him to a competition to acknoledge it. I do not know how far we will be able to go, I know that it really does not matter. If success is that he stands confidently next to a mounting block because he trusts me, and he is a joy to work each day because I had patience with him, I consider that my greatest achievement. #horses #joy #findyourvitality #healingjourney