Joke's on you: it's not!
Now that I have your attention, I will tell you exactly why my way of training is the BEST way of training:
My way is the Best Way because it works for me. It is best for me, and me only. I won't stand here and preach from my soapbox that this is the Best Way for YOU, because chances are: it's not. My goal here is not to teach you the magical solution to all of your problems. My goal is to help you to fail your way to success and communication with your horse, and pass along things that have helped me in my journey.
The Struggles are Real
What do you see in this photo? You probably look at it and see a horse that's eager to be caught, ready to go to work.
What do I see? I see myself near the end of a three month period of DAILY struggles. A horse that would catch one glimpse of you with a halter and leave - quickly. I see hours and hours of frustration and tears, I see a person who is ready to give up.
I see the reason I changed my methods. I see the reason I went seeking a better path, different advice, and a new perspective. Waylon is the "why" behind so many of the questions I've asked and the answers I've found.
Why I Share
I needed all the resources I could get my hands on when I was dealing with Waylon's catching issues. I looked at professional trainers, YouTube, Instagram, natural horsemanship, clicker training -- you name it, I tried it.
It wasn't one thing that worked: It was a combination of many. If it hadn't been for a random YouTube video with 150 views, I wouldn't have thought of the one thing that made a major turn for us. My only goal is that I can add something to try in a persons hour of need with their horse.
I Don't Need To Be Right
While I choose this platform (among many) on which to share my own methods, and while my writing lives here: my ego does not. We all want to be right, we want to have the "perfect" solution, the "perfect" horse. Unfortunately, that is not the reality of the world we live in.
I am constantly learning, constantly growing, and always looking for something new to add to my metaphorical toolbox of training methods and tricks. I have tweaked, changed, and completely thrown away so many types of ideology and training methods in my years that it would be entirely hypocritical of me to pretend like "Emma Knows Best."
I have always said that I am not afraid to tell you if I don't know the answer. If I don't know the answer, I take that as a learning opportunity and set out to search for it. I hope to build a community that can be open, and to discuss methods and find the thing that works for each of us - as you learn, so do I.
Take What Works, Leave the Rest
I will never be offended if my ways don't work for you. I will always help you as best I can, no matter where you are. I will always have an open mind.
Please, ask for clarification, for insight on why things may work, for help. Don't look at my training and assume it will be a quick fix for everything. If you do not like it, or things don't pan out for your horse, don't give up. There will be resources for you, and I'm happy to help you find them if you'd like.
I wish you nothing but the best!!
Emma
May I always be Finding My Way(lon)
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