Embrace Challenge to Reclaim Confidence

It’s hard to say exactly when this journey really began because I can’t remember a time when I didn't love horses. The first horse picture I drew was in Kindergarten; I called him Buck. Today, it hangs framed in my office, serving as a nostalgic touchstone to my artistic beginnings.

I was lucky enough to grow up during the 70s & 80s, a time when kids were let loose to discover and have adventures. This contributed to a collection of amazing horse experiences that seem unimaginable in today's world. From learning how to stay on over 15 untrained horses as a kid just so I could ride, to searching for a lost boy in Manitoba’s vast crown lands alone on horseback during the November rains.

For decades, seemingly boundless courage helped me ride any horse, anywhere. Then, I realized I lost something along the way. Not my love, commitment, or passion for horses, but my confidence to ride freely.

Buck

Embracing Challenge to
Reclaim Confidence

It took a lot for me to sign up for the Team Challenge as a recreational competitor because I barely consider myself a recreational rider. But now that I have, I’m committed to documenting this journey in hopes that it’ll help me find my confidence.

Rembrandt - Why Search

Finding Your Power – Meet the Challenge

Confidence grows through experience. With horses, it develops as we learn to make decisions, recognize our responsibilities, and respond to challenges as they arise.

Think about a time when your confidence with a horse was tested. What did the experience teach you? Was there a decision you needed to make, a boundary you needed to establish, or a skill you needed to develop?

  • Reflect on a challenge you have faced with a horse and what you learned from it.
  • The next time you work with your horse, notice how you respond when something feels difficult or unfamiliar. Consider what the horse needs from you, what is within your control, and what your next decision should be.
  • The Horse and Heart Journal offers exercises to help you reflect on your experiences with horses and recognize what you are learning along the way.