08/25/2026
This little mare has struggled with wanting to eat grass while working for a long time. While she still struggles it’s significantly better than it was once an upon a time.
I was so impressed with how relaxed and balanced she was in her movement today. This may not seem like a big deal to some, but if you’ve ever had a horse determined to eat every chance they get, you know walking with rhythm, unworried, without eating is a huge job for them.
What I love about this situation is often when there’s one issue that’s the most disruptive to our ride, we think it needs the most attention. But if we look there’s several more issues that are just as much of a problem just seemingly less disruptive so we give them less attention.
By addressing other issues she was having the grass issue has significantly improved. Yes, it gets addressed head on when necessary but my main focus is not to be the grass eating police.
It’s to show her and help her figure out how to move with better rhythm, how to engage her mind in our sessions, how to find relaxation in movement. How to not need to eat.
The hard part about this is- frankly being the grass police would be easier. It’d be easier to yank her head up every time and just send her forward and think she’s just being a sassy mare and there’s nothing to do about it.
But we can always chose to slow down, focus, breath, and do what’s best for the horse. Thankfully what’s best for the horse is what’s best for us to. May not feel like it in the moment, but what’s best for you often doesn’t feel best in the moment.