Rockin M Performance Horses

05/29/2026

Working for an Audience of One

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." — Colossians 3:23

There’s a freedom that comes when you stop chasing the approval of people and start focusing on honoring God. People's opinions change. One day they cheer you on, the next they question your choices. If our worth is tied to their approval, our peace will rise and fall with it.

God calls us to something different. He calls us to be faithful.

In the horse world, that means showing up and doing your best, whether you're riding into the winner's circle or putting in quiet miles at home. It means caring for the horse that may never win a buckle, investing time in others when no one notices, and staying committed to doing things the right way even when shortcuts would be easier.

So much of what we do happens behind the scenes. The hours spent building a foundation, the sacrifices nobody sees, the small daily choices that shape horses and people alike. While the world often celebrates results, God sees the faithfulness behind them.

At the end of the day, the goal isn't recognition, applause, or validation from others. It's living in a way that honors Him and hearing those words: "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Work hard. Stay faithful. Serve with integrity. Live for an Audience of One.

05/25/2026

So much of horsemanship happens in the quiet seasons - the slow rides, the repeated groundwork, the days when it feels like nothing is changing. But that’s often where the real growth happens. Trust is built there. Patience is refined there. Character is shaped there.

God often uses these pauses the same way. To align our desires with His will, replace fear with trust, and prepare us to steward the blessings we’ve been praying for.

Sometimes the greatest gift isn’t the answered prayer… it’s who we become in the process!

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” — Psalm 37:7

05/23/2026

Some days you don’t feel like participating in the world… so you saddle up your best girl and take a slow stroll around the neighborhood instead.

Funny how a good mare and a quiet ride can be food for the soul better than just about anything else.

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” — Isaiah 40:29

05/14/2026

I love this!!

When Horses Help Us Heal... and When We Need to Step Away❤️‍🩹

After my recent posts about groundedness and becoming the kind of human a horse feels safe to follow, Julie asked an important question in the comments: “What about when humans are struggling emotionally? Can being around horses still be healing, or are we risking negatively affecting the horse?”

I think this is an important conversation because the answer is not simply yes or no.

Here are my thoughts....

One of the interesting things about horses is that they can help us recognise when we need to step away and regulate ourselves for a while (e.g. wrap yourself in a blanket on the lounge, eat a packet of TimTams and binge Netflix), and when being with them may actually help ground and organise us. Understanding the difference matters.

Humans often confuse emotional valence with emotional arousal. Valence refers to whether an emotion feels pleasant or unpleasant, while arousal refers to how activated the nervous system becomes.

A person can feel sadness, grief, stress, disappointment, or anxiety and still remain grounded, thoughtful, observant, and capable of good horsemanship. However, extremely high emotional arousal is different. When people become emotionally flooded, panicked, highly reactive, or overwhelmed, their ability to think clearly, observe accurately, regulate behaviour, and make good decisions can deteriorate significantly.

This connects strongly to my earlier Collectable Advice post about being “above or below the line.” When we are above the line, we are generally more capable of observation, reflection, responsibility, regulation, and thoughtful action. When we fall below the line, survival responses often begin to dominate. People become more reactive, defensive, impulsive, emotionally driven, or overwhelmed.

Good horsemanship requires us to develop the self-awareness to recognise where we are operating from in that moment.

Sometimes the wisest and kindest decision for both horse and human is to step away, rest, regulate, and return later.

But interestingly, below that threshold of overwhelm, horses and the process of caring for them can also become deeply grounding and restorative.

Not because horses magically remove human suffering, but because good horsemanship draws us into the present moment. It requires attention, observation, breathing, movement, timing, feel, and purposeful engagement with another living being.

The mind often settles because attention shifts away from spiralling internal thoughts and back into reality, rhythm, movement, environment, and connection.

There is also something profoundly regulating about purposeful care. Feeding horses, cleaning stables, grooming, observing behaviour, and simply showing up consistently can help reconnect people to structure, responsibility, movement, and meaning during difficult periods of life.

In that sense, horses can absolutely be healing.

Not because they fix us, but because they can help ground us back into ourselves and into the present moment and give us purpose.

And perhaps this is one of the most invisible things affecting both horses and humans that is not written clearly enough in riding manuals: good horsemanship not only teaches us how to work with horses, but also teaches us how to become more aware, grounded, responsible, and present within ourselves.

Collectable Advice 214/365. if this gave you a lightbulb moment consider hitting SHARE or SAVE. Please no copy and pasting ❤

05/14/2026

Sometimes our plans don’t go the way we imagined. Doors close, timing changes, setbacks happen, and it’s easy to feel discouraged when things aren’t unfolding the way we hoped. But God’s plans are bigger than ours, and His timing is always purposeful - even when we can’t yet see the full picture.

Horses have taught me a lot about this. You can walk into a training session with a perfect plan in your mind, but the horse may need something completely different that day. The best horsemen learn to slow down, listen, adjust, and trust the process instead of forcing the outcome. Growth happens in the patience, consistency, and willingness to let things develop in the right timing.

Life with God is much the same. Sometimes He redirects us, not to hold us back, but to prepare us for something greater than we could have planned ourselves.

Keep showing up. Keep trusting. Keep doing the next right thing with faith. What feels like a detour today may actually be God leading you exactly where you need to be.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” - Jeremiah 29:11

05/14/2026

This right here…

People outside the horse world often see muddy boots, feed bills, long days, and call it “just a hobby.” But horse people know it’s so much deeper than that.

Horses have a way of carrying us through the hard seasons. They listen without judgment, humble us, teach us patience, and somehow bring peace to hearts that feel heavy. So many prayers have been prayed in the barn aisle, so many tears wiped away in a mane, and so much healing found in the quiet presence of a good horse.

They aren’t just something we ride… they become part of our story.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28

05/13/2026

Some days, if I’m being honest, I have to make myself go work horses...today was one of those days. The motivation isn’t always there.. But horse's have taught me something important - consistency matters more than feelings.

Horses don’t learn from the days we “feel inspired.” They learn from steady leadership, patience, and showing up anyway. The same is true for us. Growth happens in the everyday moments when we choose discipline over excuses.

More often than not, once I get out there and start moving my feet, everything changes. The horses benefit, my mind clears, and I’m reminded why I love it in the first place.

Good horsemanship isn’t built on motivation alone. It’s built on commitment, even on the hard days. The same goes for our walk with God - we won’t always “feel” motivated, but faith grows through obedience, consistency, and continuing to show up for Him daily.

“You aren’t a slave to your feelings, you are a leader of your life.”

“Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.” - 2 Thessalonians 3:10

05/12/2026

I am participating in the 2026 Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society Training Challenge in the Professional Division… again! I just got my approval yesterday and now I patiently wait for my horse assignment!

Last year didn’t go quite as planned when my challenge horse was unable to stay sound, but one thing horses continue to teach me is that sometimes you regroup, trust God’s timing, and try again.

Over the next five months, I’ll be working with a Bluebonnet rescue horse - either starting one under saddle, restarting one under saddle, or helping work through behavioral challenges.

What makes this challenge so meaningful is that it’s truly about second chances. These horses come from all kinds of situations, and many just need consistency, patience, understanding, and someone willing to believe in them again. Watching them learn to trust, gain confidence, and grow into a new chapter is one of the most rewarding parts of the journey.

Honestly, this challenge is a reminder for people too: not every setback means the story is over. Sometimes it just means there’s another opportunity ahead and another chance to do things better.

I’m hopeful this round goes more smoothly, excited for the journey ahead, and grateful for the opportunity to help a rescue horse start a new chapter. Once I’m assigned a horse and get a page set up, y’all will be able to follow along on Facebook! Stay tuned....

05/12/2026

Beautiful morning to work ponies.

People often ask why I spend so much time doing groundwork instead of just hopping on and riding. The answer is simple - groundwork helps condition both the horse’s body and mind for riding. It builds balance, softness, responsiveness, confidence, and strengthens muscles without the added weight of a rider. It also gives me a chance to check in physically and mentally before asking for more.

After being down for a month with two stubborn abscesses, today was Steely’s first day back to work. We kept it simple, intentional, and focused on rebuilding correctly from the ground up. She was soft, willing, and such a good girl through it all. Moments like this remind me that progress doesn’t always have to be flashy — sometimes the quiet rebuilding days are the most important ones.

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.” — Zechariah 4:10

05/11/2026

You don’t always have to ride your horse.

There can be so much guilt when life gets busy and you haven’t ridden in a while… but not riding doesn’t mean you’re failing your horse or losing your connection with them.

Some of the best relationships between horse and rider are built outside of the saddle:
✨ quiet moments in the pasture
✨ grooming with no agenda
✨ hand walking on a loose lead
✨ simply being together without pressure

Horses don’t measure us by how many rides we put in. They respond to consistency, safety, trust, and the energy we bring when we show up.

There are seasons for riding hard and progressing… and there are seasons for slowing down. Life happens. Weather changes. Bodies get sore. Sometimes our minds just need a break. That doesn’t make you a bad horseman.

In fact, a peaceful groundwork session or simply spending quality time together can be far more valuable than forcing a ride out of guilt. Horses feel our tension, frustration, and disconnection.
Good horsemanship is about learning to listen - to your horse and to yourself.

So if today all you did was feed, give scratches, or stand quietly beside your horse… that still matters. Your horse knows you showed up.

Ecclesiastes 3:1
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”

Let this be a reminder that there are different seasons in life and horsemanship - seasons for riding, training, resting, healing, and simply being present.