GROW- Think of the Process

What I mean by this is...

Goal: Get Jazzy to put all 4 feet on the mounting block

Realities: Has never done it before, can be unconfident at trying new things, is a right-brained introvert by nature, horses have poor depth perception.

Opportunities: Make sure she can put her front feet on confidently, use a pattern to make putting her feet on the mounting block the comfort zone, have her walk over the whole thing not asking her to stop, stand with her back feet on but front feet off, do it at different lengths of lead rope, use a lower pedestal, use a bigger pedestal.

Where to next: get her to want to put her front feet on a low pedestal.


You will notice the acronym above spells GROW, so GROW your horsemanship and be aware of the process needed to achieve your goal. If you goal is seemingly out of reach or unachievable, go back through your process to find out what is missing.

So above with my GROW demonstration, I have tried to demonstrate SOME of the ideas that may be running through my head- eg the process.

So I will set a REALISTIC Where To Next, then once that is achieved I will choose another 'Opportunity' to work on, then eventually all of these things will come together and she will just put all four feet on and stand.

I encourage you to do this with your current goal. This GROW is a work in progress also and will change and adapt as you and your horse do. So do not see this as a rule, see this as a way of organising your thoughts.