TEN IMPORTANT THINGS TO DEVELOP BEFOREHAND OR ALREADY POSSESS WHEN EDUCATING, MARSHALING, AND CONTROLLING THE POWERFUL FORCES OF HORSES

  1. RESPECT FOR THE HORSE UNEQUIVOCALLY – NOT FOR WHAT YOU WISH HIM TO BE BUT FOR WHAT HE IS
  2. THE ABILITY TO THINK CLEARLY AND QUICKLY UNDER PRESSURE
  3. GREAT SELF-CONTROL BY HAVING DISCIPLINE OF THE MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT
  4. HONED ATHLETIC ABILITY AND THE QUICKNESS TO RESPOND IMMEDIATELY WHETHER MOUNTED OR DISMOUNTED
  5. KEEN OBSERVATION SKILLS COUPLED WITH THE ABILITY TO “LISTEN” TO THE HORSE AS WELL AS COMMUNICATE CLEARLY
  6. MENTAL AND INTELLECTUAL AWARENESS
  7. A DEVELOPED WORK ETHIC, I.E. BEING ABLE TO EXPEND NOT ONLY EFFORT BUT ALSO HAVING THE STAMINA TO SUSTAIN THAT EFFORT OVER TIME AND DIFFICULTIES
  8. ABSOLUTE MASTERY OVER ONES EMOTIONS BY MAINTAINING A CONSTANT EVEN LEVEL OF BEHAVIOR
  9. PATIENCE COMBINED WITH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE
  10. CONFIDENCE (KNOWING THAT YOU ARE PREPARED FOR THE UNPREDICTABLE), COMMITMENT (WITHOUT WHICH ALL ELSE WILL BE SEVERELY DIMINISHED), AND THE PASSION TO PURSUE UNDERSTANDING AND WORKING WITH HORSES ABOVE ALL ELSE