Ride the horse you have in this moment.

Ride the Horse You Have Today — Not the One You Had YesterdayToo often, we get stuck dwelling on our horse’s past—good rides, bad rides, or old behaviors—and we end up riding thathorse instead of the one right in front of us.
Maybe you had a frustrating ride yesterday, so today you climb in the saddle expecting the same. Or maybe your horse finally started listening after a lot of leg pressure, but you keep using the same strong aids, not adjusting to your horse’s new responsiveness because you’re still focused on what was.
When clients call me for help, they often want to give me the entire backstory. My response? It’s irrelevant.
Why? Because what matters isn’t the past—it’s what your horse shows me right now. Horses may never forget, but they live in the moment, and so should we.
I can only work with what’s presented at this exact moment. Often, the horse is better than the usual behavior the client expects, simply because new boundaries have been set. Sometimes I uncover behaviors the client says they’ve never seen—because I hold the horse accountable to be more responsive and respectful to their human.

Your Progress and Your Horse’s Progress Should Go Hand in HandAs your consistency, feel, and timing improve, so should your horse. With effective communication, you can make your horse respond with lighter aids within minutes.
If your horse isn’t improving—or worse, seems less responsive—something is off. You might not be matching your horse’s learning speed, or your timing may be off, preventing the horse from finding better responsiveness. Sticking to the same ineffective approach without trying something new will keep you stuck.
This is a crucial skill for all riders, especially when working with multiple horses. Each horse is unique—what works for one might be too soft or too harsh for another. The way you support one horse might put you at risk on the next.

Leave the Past Behind — Train the Horse You See TodayBefore every ride or interaction, clear your mind of past memories and expectations. Be 100% present with the horse in front of you.
Train the horse you have right now.