by Anne Gage of Confident Horsemanship

Do you ever get frustrated when it seems like either you or your horse aren't making progress? You've been working on a particular issue with your horse, but you're not seeing the result that you want.

I sometimes feel that way, too.

One such time was when I worked with Zeus, a sweet little Arabian gelding who came out of a serious neglect (starvation). He was rescued by Whispering Hearts Horse Rescue and then adopted by my client.

Zeus had a sweet temperament, but lacked confidence in general as well as with other horses and had some strong negative reactions to being tacked up. 

He would throw his body at me as I approached with the saddle, cow kick and try to bite as I reached under for the girth.

He would throw his nose straight up when I was taking the bridle off so that the bit banged his teeth.

If something startled him while I was leading him he would run over top of me without a second thought.

We had some set backs that interfered with his training.

One when he was beaten up by the horses he was turned out with. Nobody saw what happened, but he broke down a gate to get away from them and had several nasty bite and kick wounds.

The physical wounds healed in a few days, but the mental wounds took much longer.  

Another when he got 2 abscesses in 2 different feet at 2 different times. And, finally a cough from allergies.

There were times when I felt we weren't making much (or any) progress.  When I felt frustrated.  When it even felt like we went backwards instead of forwards.

But, with patience and calmness, we've worked through those issues with Zeus. It has taken months of consistent, quiet work from the ground using TTouch and TTEAM work, in-hand, lunging and long lining.  Helping Zeus release tension and feel calmer.

No matter what we were working on, my first priority was to help Zeus release tension and feel calmer. Because for both horse or human, learning cannot happen when tension exists.

I had just recently started getting back in the saddle with Zeus. Again, progress was slow and included:

• Making sure he would stand calmly and quietly at the mounting block while I got on. 
• Getting a deep bend from my light leg aid without him walking off.
• Walking quiet small circles in a level frame only after I asked him to walk.

Progress was slow but headed in the right direction.

Then came the Big Move Day when the owner's new farm was ready and all 4 of the horses (Zeus plus the 3 who had beaten him up) were moved there.

Zeus met his new buddy - a small pony gelding - there was a lot of excitement, but everyone settled in nicely.

I expected the stress and excitement of the move to the new farm would set Zeus' training back a bit. So, when I went to work with him the day after the move, I wasn't expecting to do more than some ground work and maybe get him tacked up.

I took Zeus through our usual routine as best I could. Normally, we start with some TTOUCH while grooming and tacking up in the barn.  

Since he and his pony buddy are turned out in the riding ring - which is a good, little hike from the barn with no other horses in sight - and there was nobody to keep the new pony company in the barn, I decided to work with Zeus right there in the sand ring.

And this is where the value of having a consistent routine that helps your horse release tension and feel calm was so very evident...

• Be Consistent.
• Be Patient.
• Focus on releasing tension.

And then one day, you will be pleasantly surprised that it has all come together - even if you're in a different situation.

Like a new barn.  Or at a horse show.  Or riding a different trail.

You can do this!