The Art of Practicing with Purpose: Quality Over Checkboxes
A Fresh Start in January
January always feels like a fresh start. After the excitement of competitions and the Christmas break, it’s the perfect time to slow down, reconnect with my horses, and focus on the fundamentals. For me, this is the season for groundwork, horsemanship, and gradually bringing horses back into work with care. But it’s also a chance to embrace a mindset that’s just as important as the training itself: practising with intention and striving for quality in every step.
Learning is More Than a Checkbox
When I introduce a new technique or skill to a rider, or work with a horse, it’s easy to think, “I’ve learned it — now I’m done.” But true horsemanship and effective riding doesn’t work that way. The reality is, if you want results, you need to practise - and practise properly - for more than a few seconds at a time. Learning isn’t a single moment; it’s a process.
“The horse is always right.” — Ray Hunt
It’s not about ticking boxes or moving on to the next thing. Each repetition is a chance to observe subtle details, notice your own body and aids, and refine your timing and feel. When you rush through an exercise or stop after the first attempt, the horse doesn’t get the clarity or consistency it needs, and your progress stalls. You may have understood thew movement but doing it with real quality takes time and commitment to the subtle details.
I believe real learning comes when you commit to focused, intentional practise: trying, adjusting, and trying again until both you and the horse feel the movement, the response, and the connection. It’s about noticing the small shifts in balance, feeling the difference between an average response and a good one, and allowing yourself to dig into the details. That’s where the real growth happens - both for the horse and for the rider.
Good is Good Enough
I was recently inspired at a hui when our leader, Christian Penny, said:
“Don’t try to be perfect — just be GOOD. Good is good enough.”
It resonated strongly with me. Of course, I would love to be the perfect horseman, but if I stay open to being a lifelong learner, am I ever really perfect? Accepting that being good is good enough allows me to exhale and take that first step. That little bit of freedom seems to take pressure off my horses too, giving them the confidence to try without fear of making a mistake. Then of course - it is the art of ensuring the right balance of opportunity to try, the right amount of pressure and a well-timed pressure release...something we must always strive to deliver to our horses as best we can.
Progress Over Perfection
Buck Brannaman captures this perfectly:
“It’s about progress, not perfection, but if you don’t seek quality in your progress, you’ll never really move forward.”
I also remember Ken Dromgool saying at a clinic: “Don’t make him wrong for it.”
Horses need to feel safe to offer a try. If their first attempt isn’t exactly what I hoped for, it’s my job to guide them gently but clearly, giving them space to try again. And when they finally offer a GOOD response - even if it’s not perfect - that’s a moment to reward and celebrate.
“Once you start giving, you won’t believe how much you get back.” — Ray Hunt
What This Looks Like With Hoot & Willow
With Hoot and Willow, I see this every day. When I introduce a new exercise, I don’t stop at the first attempt - we repeat it, refine it, and work towards consistency with focus and relaxation. For riders too, it’s not about rushing through or ticking boxes. Whether it’s a half-halt, a turn on the forehand, or a simple transition, quality matters more than quantity. A careless repetition might look productive, but it rarely leads to real improvement.
A Year of Growth
Practising with intention turns every session into a conversation with the horse. I try to notice small details, subtle shifts, and tiny moments of progress that might otherwise go unnoticed. Accepting that good is good enough allows both horse and rider to relax and offer their best without fear.
So as I start the year with my horses, I try to approach every session as an opportunity to explore and refine, rather than just check a box. I aim for quality, embrace the process, and celebrate the small, thoughtful steps. Its never about ticking off a technique for me - its about learning a technique then seeing what kind of quality I can build into that technique over time, repetitions, always endeavouring to be patient and reward those "tries".
If I can do that, I know my horses will respond with trust, confidence, and willingness - and together, we’ll keep growing, learning, and enjoying every step of the journey.
So here’s to 2026 – the Year of the Horse!
Be brave, try new things, and embrace the art of practising with attention to quality. Focus on good timing, explore the balance of pressure and release, and really engage with your training. And if you’d like a little extra guidance or encouragement, come along to a lesson - I genuinely love helping people progress with their horses and develop a true partnership.
Hope to see you soon!