Success is just around the corner!

Hooked the float up ready to continue playing with Jazzy at liberty with her float loading... but.... we didn't end up doing that!

Decided to ride her in from her paddock and a learning opportunity presented itself.

Due to the rain, a steep drain/swamp, has filled up more in the middle of her paddock. Throughout the week I have ridden her few there a few times, but not with it this full.

I feel like this was the most progressive and building session Jazzy and I have ever had. We were back back in a halter, with one 12ft lead rope attached (not set up as reins), so I will one-rein riding.

The first time Jazzy went through the swamp it took her a few minutes to feel confident, then she went up. When getting to the top she could not stand still and blew out alot.

After she relaxed again I rode her around the paddock, over a dirt bridge thing, under a low tree and back to the drain, this time she was more resistant. But eventually she went through and relaxed much quicker. We repeated this about 7 times, each time she was stronger in her refusal to go through.

Each time I had been pondering the situation and by the 7th time I stopped and thought to myself 'is this a lack of confidence, or is this a dominance game?' I was pretty sure it was a battle of wills as I know she is not a fan of mud and water, I have also experienced a similar situation like this with drain crossings on the side of the road.

So any way, I pushed on, repeating the pattern, disengaging her to face the drain every time she turned away- or if I was quick enough at throwing the lead over her head I just turned her back.

During this time I was also second-guessing myself thinking, maybe I should have just left it after she went through the very first time. Then I thought even harder and thought no, actually this is a good relationship moment for Jazzy and I.

But on the 8th attempt, I was still full of self-doubt, thinking of the messages I was sending her, trying to remember to look up where I wanted to go and not at the drain, ensuring that when she tried I relaxed and rewarded, even if only for a brief second. So the 8th time she was better and that that boosted my confidence.

Then on the 9th time, OMG it blew my mind, WE GOT THERE. She walked confidently down the hill straight at the drain and walked calmly through and relaxed on the other side!!!!!

So I rode her up to the top of the hill and just sat on her, she blew out shook and every ounce of tension left her body- in the whole time I have had her (2.5 years), I have never felt her this genuinely absent of tension!!!

So moral of the story is, and Clinton Anderson says this too, "success is just around the corner, unfortunately most times people quit before they get there". I am proud to saw I saw the corner and I knew I was going to keep going until I got around it, and I DID!!!

I can see why people do not get there though. It is so easy to have self-doubt and make messages unclear to your horse. I encourage everyone who is reading this to get around the corner. Sometimes success is no more than the ability to hold on long after others have let go!