"You always know when you've done too much, but it's much harder to know when you've done just enough."
This is a common mantra here on our place. Basically, we use it when dealing with an animal, most often, the horse. But, if you've ever handled a cow that just gives up and runs off, crashing through three fences or wrecking several gates on her way over them, that's a good indication you did too much.
Or, if you're me last weekend, you may find yourself in the dirt - at a barrel race - in front of a lot of a people.
It's a good thing I've learned to check my ego at the door. Sometimes she rears her ugly head, but mostly she stays at bay. I don't take these types of things that happen as a slight against me, or even as a "bad experience," because all experience - good, bad or indifferent, is a learning process.
We can learn what NOT to do, what TO do, or even how to stay neutral. When I'm teaching someone horsemanship they often tell me, "I'm not a horse trainer!"
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My reply is pretty much the same every time:
"You're teaching your horse something every time you handle him, and it may be good, bad or indifferent."
The same goes for life. We are always learning. And sometimes those lessons are best learned when we hit the dirt. Sometimes they're best learned when we shed blood, tears or both. And occasionally we are smart enough that the school of hard knocks isn't necessary for us to find self-improvement.
As for me, I know why I found myself in the dirt last Saturday afternoon - I am afraid to let go, afraid to lose control, and, as such, I've got a horse with sticky feet. Sticky feet caused by me needing to feel like I've got some semblance of control over any given situation. And because I've nitpicked and micro-managed my horse, he isn't positive he needs to run as fast as he's able. So when I get positive, he'll get positive.
In the meantime, I'm going to work on that part of me - and learn to let go and do less, since I don't like particularly enjoy hitting the dirt.
Happy Trails!
