It is amazing how being with our horses can really help us both out – horse and human. I’m so glad to hear it.

I’m so glad it helped Cynthia. It helps me to remember this as well.

Thank you, Sarah. I always love to hear your stories.

Before I had even read your blog today I went to the paddock to hang out with my horse. I have been working on float training as I have mentioned before. Things had being going really well. I took Sahara out in the float last Saturday just up the road to a local beach/park, where we took her for a walk, let her eat grass, and Arliah had a short bareback ride. Went I tried to continue on with my floating the next day, Sahara didn’t want to go onto the float so I reflected on how the previous day had gone, and wondered if it was because she had sore feet. There was some stones on our walk. I decided to go back to square one and put her food into the float and let her eat it in there. Over the course of the week sometimes I let her go in there at liberty and sometimes I led her in. She was not as relaxed as she was prior to our floating out. I have not been able to put the back of the float up but I haven’t worried about that.

Yesterday Sahara got front shoes put back on and today I decided to not start with the float training but simply get in the present moment when I got to the paddock by reading my bible and writing in my diary. I just let Sahara eat the grass near the float. Eventually she wandered up to the float and onto the ramp to sniff for feed, so I went and got some horsefeed and she followed me up onto the float. As she soon as I turned around she would back off the float so I just left her feed there and let her go on and off as she needed while I sat down close by. I reckon she was much more relaxed by me not starting with the float training.

I am trying to be much more mindful once I get to the paddock. I remember on one of your courses, Teddie, you said to spend some time just looking at the surroundings and just being, for a few minutes, before going to look for our horse, and to spend some time just hanging out with them before doing anything with them. I think that made a difference to Sahara today 🙂 I led her out for a walk in one of the paddocks and she was quite happy to do this until we came across some very low flying birds who looked like they were dive bombing very close to us, so we turned around and walked back. I am really happy with how our trust is developing while I focus on hanging out with her and not riding.

I hope and pray that your husband’s operation goes really well, too. Thinking of you as you try to complete your ‘to do’ list before your website goes live. Very exciting indeed 🙂