So many concepts to ponder and muse about. Every time I talk to someone more comes up. So, I'm going to start listing subjects I'm musing about and may or may not get into the blood and guts at the moment, but anyone who wants to post an interest and then that will take priority. Either that or I should just stop talking to people! Ha!

Impulsion, lack of, or perceived lack of, or a difference of opinion of how that would manifest itself.

Time frames & results - what is too long to be 'learning' something? How much learning is actually going on? I recently was one of 4 judges for a Challenge for a rescue operation. 7 local trainers each got a horse from the rescue for 90 days. The horses were either thoroughbreds from a breeding mill type deal, or mustangs. Only one had ever raced on the track. At the end of the time frame, there was a 'show' where each contestant entered the arena and presented the results of their work. One of the spectators thought I would have been really impressed with the fact that one horse, on line, moved when his person moved and stopped when the trainer stopped. "Well," I said, "it's nice that that went well, but what did the trainer do with the other 89 days?"

Doing nothing at the right time can be difficult, but also most important.

Dwelling

It's not enough to start doing the right things with your horse, you must stop doing the wrong things.

Bending, suppling, softness, consistancy, why are you asking so little of your horse?

Then there's this BIG one - fears. Fears about your horse, fears about your skills or lack thereof, fears about going out of the arena, fears about being in that big arena, fears about other people, fears about other people's horses, fears about trotting or cantering or...dare I say it galloping, fears about asking your horse to be an enjoyable ride.