Reflection, a necessity for moving forward

I want to take a step back today. I am not going to just discuss the typically happy-go-lucky life of living with a weanling. I want to share something that has to do with not just her, but all of my horses, and every horse that I have encountered. These thoughts today were triggered from a few different sources of which I can not pinpoint just one. Perhaps from the misfortunate moments encountered today, and perhaps by just looking at and admiring the beauty of being a partner with such amazing beings. Their instinct and passion is simply awe inspiring. Anyway, on with my point. If you have been following along with my blog, then one, thank you, and two, you know that I have shared that I was disappointed with Siren for a few days now. Today, I attended a show with Atticus and experienced the same feelings on a stronger level due to lack of attention and, on a few occasions, dangerous acts. At first, with both horses, I was upset, as almost any human with raw emotion would be. I want them to perform at their best, to show how hard we work, to show that they are both capable and intelligent! Instead they did not. They showed, not those aspects to everyone else, but a greater lesson to me alone. It is hard to step back and remember who these animals that we truly love are. Independent, strong, and instinctive creatures who all have different personalities and minds of their own. We forget that they are not acting up, they are acting the same way that we would if we were in their positions. I am not saying that they should be allowed to act inappropriately, but I am saying that they should be allowed understanding and forgiveness. I want to express how thankful I am for my horses behaving lately in a way in which I describe as "acting up" because I truly needed the reminder that you are horses and can not be expected, just as no one should, to be perfect. Their poor behavior does not show that we are weak as a team, or that I am an unfit rider or they an unfit horse, but that we are brave enough to try and that we have much to work on, that we are not handed perfection, but handed the ability to possess the a smile and a drive to move forward to accomplish our goals. I step back to look at the fact that I have been truly blessed, for my horses teach me lessons that no books or teacher ever could. They teach my to endure the hardest tasks, yet the ability to love as much as any one could ever love.