my word of the year is “play”.
i have figured out that i’m not a playful person. i don’t like to play games. i don’t like to look stupid or feel like anyone is making fun of me. i really HATE pictionary…
but, to be truly successful with billy blaze i need to learn to be more playful. and not take life (or training) so seriously. i have had a lot to think about since sunday’s lesson.
this journey is about more than just horsemanship. it’s about ME. and how to be a better me. making my good better and my better best! never ending self improvement, it’s a never ending cycle.
but i am struggling a tiny bit right now 
it’s funny how people really don’t like it if i have a bad day or two. it seems to really disturb them! but guess what!? we all have bad days…. even ME!
well, at least billy blaze knows how to play…
Great Photo! I know how you feel, I am not super creative and my horse used to get bored with me which made me feel horrible because he’s really playful. I used to struggle thinking of new things we could do, as a sinus sufferer a lot of the times I seem foggy. I think he kind of understands now sometimes I am just “off” so I will ride and let him eat, and ride and let him eat….LOL Eventually I started setting up obsticles like cones with a ball at the end so we would weave, figure 8 and circle the cones then as a reward he could play with the ball with me on his back while I zoned out. He seems to be happy with that arrangement…eventually I got more creative but I still have my off days!
thanks for the comment
actually i have TONS of imagination. in our play area we have 12 cones, a big green ball, a HUGE orange ball, a tarp, a half barrel, two pedestals, a bridge a teeter totter, trotting rails, an umbrella, a hula hoop, and 4 pop up leaf barrels. i can make a game out of anything, but apparently i’m not “playful”. when i send him out on a circle i guess i’m too serious and need to do it with a more playful attitude. i’m not sure what that looks like exactly, but am willing to work that part of myself. today as we played at liberty i really monitored my energy and tried to send him with a smile on my face and lots of “up” energy in my body. i don’t know if that makes sense… it’s really more of a feeling i think. hmmmm… i really need to come up with what being more playful means to me and what that will look like! LOL
I have always thought you were playful! Remember all the wild games of “murder” we played? I think a smile on your face when working with Billy should work as well as a more relaxed body. By the way, nice “butt” shot of Billy! lol
One more thing…do you think Billy wonders if that ball makes his butt look big?
LOL! i think he HOPES it makes his butt look big! he’s so proud of his big huge self right now
i think a smile and a more relaxed body is very important. i have to remind myself to smile at him all the time! lol! it’s funny because i smile all the time… then when i ask him to walk or trot on the circle i need to use my energy in a playful way instead of a “Let’s Do This, get out there now!” kind of way. in some ways the old “traditional” way of training is still inside me….
Mum has gotten me into the Parelli program of Natural Horsemanship to train Killian and he has been doing very well under it.