I know the feeling. Being afraid to mess up your progress with your horse because you're unsure your technique is the "right one" is one of the most common horse owner experiences.
Even with advanced riders and trainers we see more elaborate maneuvers taking longer to perform simply because the person in charge is second guessing themselves.

Here's what you need to know:
There is no right and wrong. (I know, it's too simplistic. But it's true!) What does exist is an array of possible timelines to achieve a goal. One technique will render a result sooner than another, but it completely depends on who's using the technique and what horse is showing up to experience the leadership of that person. Each situation is different. People with lots of experience learn faster methods and safer methods, and so on, but they still have to adapt to variables they may not have anticipated. In other words, no one has all the answers. What we do have as we advance is a special kind of confidence. That confidence is born of the idea that you can't mess up the horse unless you get mad. So don't get mad and everything will work out, eventually, even if it seems like a backward way of going about it.

"Good experience comes from bad judgement." Anonymous

It's a useful quote. That quote lends to the same idea that you can't really get it wrong, you can just learn and become more efficient later. So have some confidence that even if there must be a better way, you can still proceed and learn everything you need.

"Perfect is the enemy of progress." Anonymous

I love this quote too. It lends to the idea that listening to what others think is the "right" way just hinders my own creative ideas to move forward. I like learning from others, but I don't lean on any one trainer for "right and wrong" techniques. If someone says to me, "you're doing it wrong," I always laugh because I get results and so do a thousand other people who do it slightly different than me. Rest assured, if I ever get to see you work with your horse, you'll never hear the words, "you're doing it wrong." There is no "wrong" unless you're mad or angry and taking it out on your horse. I may show you two or three ways to change what you're doing, but not because my ways are "right," just perhaps more effective.

Let's bring it home…
If you're worried about doing it right by you horse, you're in the right mindset. Now breathe and begin to adopt some of that special confidence that you can't really get it wrong. There may be faster ways, safer ways, better ways, but your way can work too. Be free to explore it. All good leaders learn by brail. They learn through feel. They learn through exercising this confidence that even if it doesn't work, it will be educational. And if I persist, I can make it work, maybe just a bit later that I anticipated.

Your keys to success:
Persistence, patience, and that special confidence that one way or another, you'll learn and grow and figure it out together. If you feel like you're going backwards, call me, I'll give you a free consultation and a few of those extra tips to boost your confidence and progress. We are here for you.
Don@masteryhorsemanship.com
​406–360–1390