OEP 20: The Humbling Hills of Horsemanship

In this conversation, Tamara Lee Barrett and her friend Rachel dive deep into the challenges many horse owners face when caught between old horsemanship methods and new approaches. Inspired by Piper Klemm's Facebook post, they explore that paralyzing feeling of knowing you should change something but not knowing how to execute it properly.The discussion covers the journey from casual horse experience to horse ownership, the overwhelming nature of social media horse content, and the inevitable ups and downs that come with developing a relationship with horses. Rachel shares her own experiences as a newer horse owner, including a memorable first ride attempt with her horse Sunny after a move, while Tamara reflects on her own evolution in horsemanship and the courage it takes to embrace being a beginner again.

Key Takeaways

The paralysis is real: Many horse people get stuck knowing something is "wrong" with their current approach but feeling too overwhelmed or clumsy to implement changes

Awkwardness is part of learning: That uncomfortable, clumsy feeling when trying new techniques is normal and necessary for growth

Cherry-picking methods can be dangerous: While it's natural to take pieces from different approaches, understanding the full context and system is important

Horses humble us in the best way: The ups and downs of working with horses teach us patience, flexibility, and acceptance

Different approaches suit different people: There's no shame in choosing a level of horsemanship that fits your lifestyle and goals

Having a mentor matters: Having someone to ask questions and provide guidance can prevent costly mistakes and reduce overwhelm

It's okay to have bad days: Both horses and humans have off days, and learning to accept and work with this is part of horsemanship

Chapter Breakdown

00:00 - Introduction

The inspiration from Piper Klemm's post and the paralyzing feeling of knowing you should change but not knowing how

01:40 - The Adult Horse Owner Journey

Rachel discusses growing up with casual horse exposure and the reality of finally owning a horse as an adult

02:45 - Equestrian Overwhelm

Discussion of how social media can create confusion and self-doubt

03:32 - The Clumsy Learning Phase

Tamara reflects on getting a taste of new methods but struggling with the awkward implementation phase

06:01 - Taking Pieces vs. Following Programs

The pros and cons of cherry-picking techniques from different trainers and methods

08:48 - The Butterfly Effect in Horsemanship

How changing one thing can affect everything else in ways you might not expect, and the importance of seeing the bigger picture

10:56 - Finding Balance and Critical Thinking

The challenge of getting help while maintaining independent thinking and staying open to feedback

12:47 - The Humbling Hills of Horsemanship

Coining the episode title and discussing how horses humble us through daily ups and downs

13:41 - Different Types of Riding

Contrasting approaches: making the horse do things vs. working with the horse's feedback

15:00 - Managing Expectations as a New Owner

Rachel's journey of adjusting expectations and finding joy in small accomplishments

17:05 - The Sunny Story

Rachel's experience trying to ride her horse immediately after moving him to a new location

19:25 - Learning from Mistakes Without Judgment

The importance of humor and learning from experiences without harsh self-criticism

22:03 - Effing Around and Finding Out

Discussion of how making mistakes teaches valuable lessons about both horse and rider

23:19 - Fear and Activation in Horsemanship

Tamara reflects on how fear and nervous system