In any goal setting, there are always foundations that need to be put in place. Each foundational piece is a goal; a puzzle piece. If one piece is missed or forgotten then there will be a hole in the entire picture that spoils the finished piece. That one tiny piece may have a number of images on it that help to complete the larger image that goes in the entire puzzle. See what I'm getting at? Even in a "made" horse I can guarantee that there are holes that you need to personalize and fill in.
Each horse is an individual and each human is an individual. Each have different goals from one another. The horse's main goals are to go through life easily and comfortably. We could say the same ... but that's an unrealistic goal as life for both horses and humans is wrought with uncomfortable and difficult things. Horses do what is necessary to complete that picture, though. They eat, they sleep, they play, they breed, they run, they walk -- whatever the moment inspires them to do. When humans get into the picture, the horse is still going to try to do things the "easy" way for them ... the least frightening and least energy consuming. How can you, the human, make the goal you are setting fit in with the horse's goals?
Each training step we take, as horsemen, should be thought of as a goal with mini goals making up the entire picture. When we complete the entire picture, the work involved not only reaps the success with the horse, but I believe we reap success as a person, as well. We learn along the way WITH the horse ... only then are we able to go further along to the next goal; the next step, completing our life's goal of becoming a complete horseman.
