How can we seize both and you and your horses potential? As Goeth once said “Whatever you think you can do or dream you can do. Begin it – Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.” Nobody informed us when we decided to take the plunge into riding horses that each day, would present an opportunity to seize your potential for greatness. I suppose not everyone feels this way, however each moment in life can be viewed as such, horses and our interactions with them are just one additional opportunity to do so. What was your goal when you first bought your horse? What was your goal when you first started riding? How often do you think about what you want out of your own life or your relationship with your horse? These are some questions to start thinking about as the long sunny riding days of summer are before us. No matter how much we enjoy the journey, we must have a destination in order to have purpose.

As usual, I always like to throw some science in with all my intuitive positive thinking; it makes it much more fun for me and stimulates the topic of conversation – the brain. This month I chose to discuss your reticular activating system or (RAS) as it ties into our topic. Scientific research has established the fact that the RAS, a group of cells at the base of your brain stem (about the size of a little finger) serves as a little control center--sorting and evaluating incoming data and arousing your consciousness. Since so much of this column is about activating your consciousness I thought this was rather fitting. The RAS is responsible for filtering out the urgent stuff from the unimportant so that you can function properly. An example of RAS would be when you are riding, and in your training mode an outside stimulus or something that your horse could potentially spook at appears, usually our equine friends are much quicker to notice the scary object but the RAS in your brain activates and compels you to take notice and react. When RAS is activated your attention to detail and sensation are as well. Interestingly enough writing will trigger your RAS, which in turn sends a signal to the cerebral cortex: “Wake up! Pay attention! Don't miss this detail!” Thus leading into the subject of this column in this publication – your goals. Once you write down a goal, your brain will be working overtime to see you get it, and will alert you to the signs and signals to help you on your way.

If we know what we want, it is easier to get it. Setting your intent, focusing on the outcome, being clear about what you want in life can make your dreams come true. The first step in the process, according to many of the experts is to write your goals down. Those of you that know me know that I’ve kept a log of my goals my entire life; each learned activity horse related or not has been a goal achieved. While many may view this as obsessive personality trait, I have been able to see my roadmap change and evolve from day to day.

The following are some principles that I have found help both my clients and myself on the road to achieving our goals.

Courage – Without bravery there is no willingness to step up to your own potential and that of your horses from moment to moment. Courage for some could be their first trail ride alone, courage for others is looking down a gauntlet of four foot fences in the jumper arena. Regardless of what the accomplishment is – to simply HAVE courage is the most important thing.

Attitude – Learning to take responsibility for our actions and that of your horses. I receive quite a few calls from horse owners whose horses “All of the sudden!” my horse kicked, bit, (insert bad equine habit here) them. If you have a horse that has done this from time to time, remember that horses are non-discriminatory creatures; they are the way they are because we allow them to be. Most of the time the horse gave you at least a dozen warnings before it decided to go ahead and bite you. If you have a horse with a habit or even a habit of your own, it is an opportunity to grow by changing the habit.

Self Awareness – The great Socrates once said, “Know Thyself”. Knowing yourself and your horse with regard to strengths and weaknesses is a marvelous knowledge. Even though I believe that any horse with the right amount of heart can accomplish just about anything as history has proven. Knowing your horse’s conformational strengths and weaknesses with regard to your sport is very helpful from a training standpoint. This can provide some insight into why certain maneuvers may be more difficult for you to accomplish than others. Take the time to learn what conformational traits are best suited for what sport, take notice of the angles and muscle tone in your horse’s body. Knowing your limitations and understanding them can be just as important as knowing your strong points. There are some limiting conformational faults that could save you heartache for you and your horse down the road with lameness issues. And of course, know yourself. Learn to listen with your intuition in all situations. Learn to both ride intuitively and rationally - be able to activate your RAS at will.

Vision – What do you believe to be your highest ideal? Form the end vision in your mind of you and your horse performing flawlessly at whatever discipline it is that you ride. Just forming the vision in your mind has a great power. The law of the universe states that energy can transmutate and become reality.

Goals – The reality, when the time comes for you to sit down and create your goals for yourself in black and white. When you create this type of clarity in black and white, and activate that RAS in your mind, you can add as much detail as you wish there are no limitations. There have been times in my life where my goals have become my mantra from day to day. Write them down, carry them with you, even pin them up in your tack box if it helps.

Action – Here lies the hard part. Not only just doing it, but doing it to the best of your ability every time, if we expect the best of our horses it only makes natural sense to expect the best of yourself. While on the subject of this, don’t just let your impeccability stop with riding try to strive for the best you can do in each moment of you life. There is nothing more powerful than being able to take action in a situation and control your emotions and be the leader for you and your horse. As a teacher on the ground there is no prouder moment for me as when a rider literally takes the reins in a situation and makes a choice. If you are willing to dream big enough and take action, therein lies true greatness.

Wisdom – How do we become wise as horse people? You can read all the books on the shelf, watch all the training tapes made; yet unless you go out and make mistakes and learn you will never become wise. All of us make mistakes; it is how you chose to view your mistakes that empowers you. I have learned just as much from my mistakes as I have my successes both in horse training and life. Part of learning form your mistakes is being able to admit that you made one and to take ownership of it. I imagine my horses don’t appreciate this concept too much, and we are blessed that horses are such forgiving creatures or we would be lost forever. All animals are teachers, if we are willing to listen there is no end to the lessons that they have to give to us.

Love – Even at risk of sounding mushy I will proceed. There is no one single more powerful thing you can do when you live, breath and ride other than love. The passion you have that drives you forward is love. Love yourself, love your horse. There was once a story told by the plains Indians that I will share another time called “The Story of The Dun Horse”. The story is about loving what you have, and believing that it is perfect. If you believe you own a perfect horse, you do.

There is an ancient Greek word that I use daily and repeat to myself over and over. It is Arete pronounced Ar-Uh-Tay; it means virtue, excellence and goodness or being the best that you can be at every moment. While this column is not related directly to a training activity, I sincerely hope that you find it helpful. I believe that horse training is not just the training of your horse; it is a sport that can teach us to become better people. Until next time from the horses of Dark Horse Enterprises and myself Arete to you and your equine friends.