Living In The Moment

No, it’s not a horse movie, and to be honest for a good portion of the movie I was wondering where they were going
with the plot. However by the end of the movie I was able to pick out a couple messages that made
the sometimes very confusing journey, worthwhile. The one message that shared a theme with
something I have been thinking about with horses lately is the title of this blog, living in the moment.

In the movie, there were times when Walter Mitty had trouble staying present in the moment.
Something would spark an idea, and then his imagination would send him on a wild adventure.
Ultimately he realized that his zoning out lead to him missing out on the moments he was actually
in, and the people he was with.

How does this relate to horses?

Horses don’t have a wild imagination, well except for when they spook at something, but even then
they are still very much living in the moment. They also help us to stay present in the moments we
are with them in, because if we’re not, anything could happen. The first group that comes to mind
when I think of riders who always need to be present in the moment are Eventers on the cross
country course, and Jumpers. Living in the moment in those sports makes a big difference, not just
in completing the course well, but also in the safety of both horse and rider.

Living in the moment with our horses also means that we honestly asses our own abilities, and our
horses abilities. In taking an honest look at both of our abilities we can determine if a goal is
achievable, and see what steps we need to take to reach the goal. It doesn’t do us, or our horses,
any good if we get caught up in a daydream like Walter Mitty, and imagine doing something that is
beyond either one of our abilities.

How can we get better at living in the moment?

Well, let me start by saying it’s not easy.

Sometimes it takes facing fears, taking risks, changing routines, and pushing ourselves out of our
comfort zones. A lot of times we imagine a better life, better health, better rides, anything we
imagine really, because we are dissatisfied with where we are in any area of our present life. Being
dissatisfied with where we are isn’t necessarily a bad thing. That dissatisfaction can be the force
that drives us to learn, and grow in those areas if we are willing to put in the work.

The thing that gets us stuck sometimes is that imagining something better is easier than actually
having to work for it. I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes change is scary. Doing something
you’ve never done before puts you face to face with the unknown, and it’s unpredictable. Much like
our horses, we like routine, even if that routine isn’t working for us, or getting us any closer to our
goals. I have to constantly remind myself of this – don’t let fear, or routine, stop you from taking
risks, and making positive changes in your life. It’s worth the risks.

How did it end?

I’m not going to spoil the ending of the movie for you! Though confusing at times, I have to admit
the journey to the end of the movie was worth it. Just like every moment with our horses is also
worth it. I’ve heard Clinton Anderson explain how when he was learning how to train horses as a
teen there would be days when he would go to the barn, and have a great training session saying
that when he left the barn he felt like God’s gift to horses. And then there were the other days,
where it seemed like the horses had forgotten everything they had done perfectly the day before.

That’s how it is working with horses. They live in the moment, and in order to have as many good
days as possible we need to join them in that exact same moment. Every moment may not always
be pleasant, or enjoyable, but when we come out the other side having learned something, that
growth is always worth it.

Leave us a comment, and let us know about the moments you, and your horse, have had together
lately.