Koda

trouvailleequestrian June 8, 2022

There are some horses that you cross paths with in life that leave an impression on you that is unmatchable. Three months ago Koda arrived to me for training. I never would have thought taking him off the trailer that day he was going to help me just as much as I helped him these past few months. He taught me patience when I thought I already had the most patience in the world. He reminded me that things with horses (and in life) never quite go as you planned and that’s okay, get to a good spot for the day and try again tomorrow. He reinforced the principle that I have heard from my teachers and read from Ray Hunt and Tom Dorrance time and time again: “fix it up and let it work. You can’t make it happen and you can’t put a time limit on it.” You can’t rush any type of training that you want to stick with the horse, let him tell you what he’s ready to learn. His sensitivity helped me reach a level of softness as a rider that I have never had before. He challenged me every day and we had our fair share of discouraging times but the successes were just that much better. I say this a lot but I cannot stress it enough, be humble enough to let every horse and person you encounter teach you something. I’ll never claim to know everything but I know now more than ever. I’ve gotten better at understanding the horse and feeling what he’s feeling; being able to take every ride and operate from where he is that day. Koda reached a point here that exceeded my expectations and my ability to train was strengthened in areas I never thought needed strengthening. I wish Koda nothing but the best of luck and thank you Kelby Bolton for entrusting me with your special horse for the past few months. He made an impression on me and my heart that I will hold onto for a long time 💕