How to Lean into the Curve – Lessons two Horses Taught Me
I don’t remember wanting a horse, but one day a white gelding showed up for me to try out. Like some people I know, he loved going fast. Once he got up to speed, he wouldn’t stop.
He ran me through a row of trees and brush. My parents sent him back. That’s when a buckskin Quarter Horse arrived. It must have been June. The hay was about a foot tall.
We bought the buckskin. I rode him over snowmobile trails. He navigated streams brilliantly. We drove the cows in for milking. He was a boy’s delight. I was 13.
Quarter horses are bred for sprinting. He did everything quickly.
When he arrived, the seller explained that he was trained for barrel racing, but it didn’t make an impression on me until we got up to speed.
While in full gallop I laid the reins on the right side of his neck. He went left. I went right. I landed in the grass on my butt. He was breathtaking.
I’m not sure when, but he developed asthma. We ended up selling him.
Three lessons from two horses:
#1. Stop running.
Some leaders are addicted to the thrill of getting things done. You’re dangerous if you can’t stop.
Doing nothing is doing something.
Connect by standing around. Talk about local events, family, sports, or common interests.
Stopping restores energy, strengthens resolve, and generates clarity.
#2. Adapt quickly.
Adapt to the strengths of others or you’ll end up on your butt in the grass.
Most people excel at one or two things. That’s it.
#3. Lean into the curve.
Leaders that resist change land on their butt in the grass. Turbulent times require responsiveness.
Look where you’re going, not where you’ve been.
What have animals taught you?
Which lesson from horses seems most relevant to you today?
What have animals taught you?
Resposibility in taking care of them and others. Some animails are like children, they alaways need some kind of attention. Feeding, cleaning, healthcare, etc.
Animals, pets also teach us about life as many do not have the life spans equating to humans so we experience pains and heartache when they pass.
Which lesson from horses seems most relevant to you today?
#2, I like “the Adapt quickly today”. Our days are just that, we need ABC fixed can you guys come today? Just a fact, that’s our world daily, glad to be of assistance in helping others. Or can we build this in 10 weeks etc. The scenarios are endless in Construction and life too.
I like them all actually.
Thanks Tim. I thought of a kid that says, “I’ll take care of it,” when they want a pet. But, after a few days, the pet really belongs to mom or dad. The animals I had on the farm taught me grit. You milk the cows twice a day. It doesn’t matter how you feel.
Oh yes, lived on an active farm for 9 years the neighbor Farmer leased the farm grew the Corn, Hay, harvested and then ran their own from of Milkers, I feel their pain for sure. There is no Holidays of days off when you run dairy. God bless the dairy Farmers. Rough road to hoe.
I ride horses and used to train them. One of my trainers when I was first learning told me “When the horse isn’t doing what you want it to do, always check yourself first. Most likely the problem is you aren’t asking correctly.” I carry that as a life lesson even today. If I am not getting the responses or results I want, rather than blaming others, I look at what I am doing. How can I change it to get a better result? If that doesn’t work, then I address the situation with the “horse”
Fun fact: Most of the time, it’s not the horse.
“Most of the time, it’s not the horse.” That’s brilliant, SB. I like to think that the problems I encounter are caused by others. It takes resolve and vulnerability to look within before blaming others.
I’ve landed down the side of a mountain when I was learning to ride bareback! Yes, that hurt and, I was told to get back up on that big scary horse…so I did. But I never rode again after that.
Wonderful post, I see the analogy now.
Be prepared! Learn, then proceed with caution until you learn how to fall!
Get back on the horse.
Thanks Melrose. “Learn how to fall.” Love that!
My dog taught me that routine is important and gets things done. first thing I do in the morning is feed my dog and refresh her water bowl. If I get distracted and say… start making toast, or talk on the phone… she waits by the bowl until that task is done.
Then she taught me that being spontaneous is fun. When I open the door to let her outside, if there is a bird, squirrel or chipmunk on the front lawn she runs and chases them then comes back with a big puppy smile on her face (she’s 8years old) like she accomplished something even though there was not contact between the two.
then she taught me that sleep is important!
animals teach so much!!
Thanks Lisa. Love the combination of routine and spontaneity. It’s easy to swing heavily in one direction or the other. Like you, I’ve been learning the value of routines, especially during the COVID experience. Cheers
Every day, walking my little dogs teach me to be in the present, to both enjoy the here and now and to pay attention to my present environment. It might be a squirrel popping out from behind a tree; it might be a guy walking a BIG dog; it might be the neighbor’s flowers blooming a bit more today than yesterday. It’s being fully present in the here and now that is important. My dogs teach me that lesson every day with every trot-trot-trot step and sniff. It often amazes me that I need the daily reminder, too; you’d think I’d remember the lesson, but every day, the wet-nose nudge reminds me how much I need that reminder.
Thanks Cedar… It’s so true. We seem to need constant reminders of essential life lessons. I got the image of a dog being constantly on the lookout for the next opportunity or threat. Love it.
I struggle with the first lesson “Stop Running”, and I’m grateful for my cat who sits on my lap and reminds me to be still and to simply be.
Thanks Caroline. You have written a powerful sentence and that is rare in a world filled with wasted words.
Well only those who never ride, never fall.
I really wanted a horse, I think it was one of my first 3 words. But my first one was like your first one but I wanted it, and made it work. I knew if I gave up there might not be a horse number 2. I learned so much from Outlaw, even if it was what not to do.
Thanks Judy. Congratulations for sticking with it, and for learning through screwing up. It’s easy for to say, “learn from failure.” It’s hard to do it. Anyone who can learn from failure always stands on the edge of breakthrough.
I used to have a super naughty horse, and luckily a good trainer. One day I was struggling and my trainer said “Look: you have to be smarter than a horse”. It was so sharp, funny and true all at once and from time to time I say “you have to be smarter than a [insert problem, computer, or appliance here] . Cheers all, thanks for the animal stories
Thanks Cate. Your comment makes me realize that it’s not unusual for someone to be dumber than most anything. Perhaps the thing that holds us back is one of the most dangerous things that is smarter than we are. The idea of noticing comes to mind. One way to be smarter than a horse is to pay attention to a horse.
“Horse sense is what horses have that keeps them from betting on people” quote from some sage
Thanks for sharing, Eric. It seems that some horses are smarter than people.
I consider myself lucky to have grown up on a farm, with horses, cattle, chickens and other animals. We also raised their feed crops like corn and hay, and grew much of our own food besides. My dad used to say, “Growing up on a farm teaches lessons hard to learn in any other way.” The biggest lesson I learned was that, in farming, you can’t “fake it” or “phone it in.” You have to show up and be “present” every day just to survive, financially if not literally.
I was a horseman for many years until mobility issues put an end to my riding days. I have many fond memories of time spent on horseback over the years.
What have animals taught you?
Forgiveness and unconditional love. Yes my kitties turn their backs to me when I’ve been out too long or their food is late (smile) but they quickly let it go and are right at my side again. It reminds me that it’s okay to feel hurt or disappointment without dwelling in it or becoming consumed by it. Good to genuinely say or receive an apology and be accepted again as if nothing ever happened.