The job that I do is hard. The stress, the constant travel, the loneliness, and the danger makes it a hard job. After expenses the income is modest. The only reason a sane person would do the job is that they love horses and love helping them. I do love horses and I do love helping a troubled become a less troubled horse. And the smile on people’s faces is not a bad bonus either. It’s a hard job but with a high satisfaction factor.

But even with all that, I sometimes come across a horse that is hard to love or even like. It doesn’t happen often, but it does happen. Every time I have felt this way and start to label the horse as a misfit, something happens to change my mind. It’s almost always because the horse suddenly makes a try. Boom! In the blink of an eye, the rogue turns from a loser into the best horse ever. It just takes a try and I’m back to loving the horse. I don’t know how anybody can not love a horse that tries. I don’t care if it is a broken-down plow horse or an Olympic gold medalist, nothing makes me feel closer to a horse than a try.

I received an email yesterday from a person contemplating coming to a clinic. It would be their first-ever clinic. I want to say from the start that I so much appreciate the honesty expressed in the email. I want to meet this person very much.

In the email, they said they wanted to come to one of my clinics but they are very nervous about doing so. They have only been riding for a little over a year and felt they were not advanced enough compared to most people at a clinic. They feel inadequate. It also bothered them that the format is one-on-one individual lessons and they are concerned about being in the spotlight in front of strangers judging them.

I replied with some suggestions about coming along to watch as the first step and tried to assure them things would be taken at their pace etc. But before I get to the point of this essay I want to just say one thing about my observations of the clinics.

The one-on-one format does put people centre stage and I understand how this can intimidate some people. But one of the things I love about the people I work with is that every one of the regulars are among the most welcoming, encouraging and supportive people you could wish to find. There is no huddled whispering or judgment of anybody. I am proud to be around the people who keep coming back to my clinics and nobody needs to fear their judgment. The regulars become family and they welcome new members to the family with open arms.

So back to what I put in my reply.

I said, “The only thing you need to bring to a clinic to make it a worthwhile experience is a try. If a person is trying we are instant friends and they will always be welcome. If a person is trying they have nothing to apologize for or feel inferior about no matter how novice they are or how their horse is going. If you bring a try to a clinic you are as good as you need to be and as good as anybody else at the clinic.”

Seeing a try in a horse makes me want to be a better horseman and seeing a try in a student makes me want to be a better teacher. I would take one beginner who is trying over a 1000 world champions who think they have it figured out. If you are trying, I’m on your team and I don’t care if it is your first ride on a horse or you’ve been riding for 50 years.

So if you want to impress your favourite teacher, don’t forget to pack a try in the trailer alongside your horse. If you are trying, the good teachers will be trying their hardest to deserve your trust.

Photo: Some horses at my clinics are trying so hard they even watch other sessions in an effort to be better.