“Things that I used to get from my horses, such as lead changes and four-stride trot/canter/trot transitions . . . I see those things now as gifts. Gifts that were in that moment, willingly given from my horse to me. I think there is definitely a connection between what I am able to give my horse and what the horse is able to give back to me. “Things like technique, mechanics, and goals shouldn’t ever compromise the gifts from the horse. If we begin trying to get those gifts ‘on demand’ or take the gifts from the horse, we can create some problems. You can ask for a gift, but you can’t just
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