I can say things over and over again, but they still need to be remembered over and over again.

When working with a horse on a new thing, whatever it might be, take it slow and if it doesn’t progress, go back to the beginning or where it did work, and start again.

With this world of instant we want everything “Now!”  Instant Oatmeal, instant communication, instant answers, instant replies.  Horses have not joined this realm of instant, except of course when it comes to their meals.  When they see you coming to the barn at feeding time, they don’t want to wait their turn, they want it now.  Kind of sounds like Bob.  Six o’clock, is dinner ready?

But with training, we’d like to wake up one morning and our horse will be fully trained.  I’m kind of like that with house cleaning.  I want to wake up in the morning and the good fairies would have been there and my house would be sparkling clean.  When my grandchildren were little they would come running to me in the morning while I was still in bed.  They would tell me that the good fairies never showed up and things looked like they did the night before.  Guess we’re cleaning today.  When Linda was about four years old, she would come into my house, run to the cabinet under the kitchen sink, get the bottle of Windex and head for the sliding glass door.  There were always dog nose prints to be removed.  She was at the right height.  Wonder what kind of house keeper she turned into?  She never stays in one place long enough to check it out.

So while attempting to find out how my friends TB felt about jumping, what I did find out is that he doesn’t understand or want to try to learn.  He’s over sixteen hands with long legs.  He’s chicken, and if he stubs his toe, he carries that leg in the air for way too long.  Sissy.  It was only six inches.

So it’s back to square one.  Ground poles, time, and patience.

Inch by inch, step by step.  I just hope I live long enough to see him accomplish this death-defying feat.