08/06/2026
"PLAY WHAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU"
I love a good saying, so I was thrilled to receive this notebook (and a bottle of Aussie Bundaberg Rum!) from the UK Polocrosse Team, whom I recently coached in America and Zimbabwe. Printed on the cover was the phrase that became our mantra throughout the tours:
"Play what's in front of you."
It was a wonderful thank-you gift, but it also struck me that this could easily be the motto for Your Horsemanship's "Out and About" theme this spring!
I wanted a quick way of keeping the players present, looking ahead, not getting in their own head about what they should and shouldn't be doing, and refocusing quickly after each play, good or bad.
To bring this back to you and your horses, so many of our doubts about getting out and enjoying adventures with our horses come from the "what ifs," the "buts,"and the "I don't knows." We worry about what might happen before we've even left the yard.
But what if we trusted ourselves to deal with things as and when they happened? What if our outlook was positive and our focus remained on where we wanted to go, rather than on all the things that could go wrong?
The reality is that most of the things we imagine could happen never do. And if something unexpected does arise, chances are you'll be able to handle it. After all, every experience builds confidence, knowledge, and resilience, for both you and your horse.
And if you do find yourself facing something you're not sure how to manage, remember that you have a support system behind you. That's exactly what we're here for at Your Horsemanship. We even have a masterclass from the wonderful Madi Kish from at the end of this month to help you achieve this mindset!
This spring, let's focus on what's in front of us, embrace new experiences, and enjoy getting out and about with our horses.
