“Teach what you’ve learned and one less horse will suffer from ignorance, and never stop learning.”  This has always been my philosophy.

We all may not do things the same way.  It may be right, it may be wrong, or it may just be different.

Sharing what you’ve learned and comparing notes may be a learning experience, not only for you, but for others.  Of course we all feel that our way it right and the only way to do things.  But then we might just learn an easier, or another way of doing something.  Always file information in the back of your mind.  You may not need it at this moment, or with this horse, but you never know when a situation will present itself, and puff!, you’ve got just what the doctor ordered.

I love teaching, especially children.  I love explaining things in a fun, thought-provoking way.  There is nothing as satisfying as watching your students learn.  Not to just go through the motions, but really get it, apply it, and know why they are doing it.

I know that I have done my job right, when out of no where, I hear them explain to someone else, word for word,  why something is done a certain way.  Or they diagnose an ailment right off the bat without you even being aware that there was a problem.  I can’t begin to explain how proud I am of them.

Perhaps it is because of how my brain functions, I teach differently.  In order for me to grasp something, I have to know what makes it tick.  Some babies just learn to say NO!  I always asked WHY?

I want my students to learn to ask why.  But I also need them to know when the tone of my voice shouts a command, not a request.  Sometimes I see a disaster in the making and can avoid it by a simple correction, but I need them to respond, now!

I don’t remember the circumstances why we did a lesson on the ground one particular day, but it was one of the funniest, and most rewarding lessons I had ever given, or for that matter, ever received.  I was going to be a first time rider at the barn and they were going to give me a lesson.  What it did show me was exactly how much the girls had learned and retained.  Emily was my, to the very last detail person.   The depth of her knowledge and descriptions of what was to take place was way beyond what a beginner could handle.  Lexy became frustrated when she was trying to get her point across and I had no interest in what she was saying.  Diana made the announcement that she would never be an instructor, to which they all agreed to the same after much laughter.  Hannah, always in charge, was trying to make order out of chaos.  Bottom line was that these girls knew and retained everything I had taught them, could explain it and pass it on.

Emily touched my heart one morning while getting ready to ride.  She came and told me that Desert just wasn’t himself.  Emily and Desert were so in tune that she picked up that something was wrong before there were any clinical signs.  The signs followed hours later.

This is what I strive for.  Listening to what your horse is trying to tell you.  Sensing, feeling, listening, communication without words.  The horse is always trying to tell us, or teach us something.

The horse whispers, are we listening?