Anyone else have issues being patient when trimming their horse's feet? There's that notion in your head-KEEP YOUR DAMN FEET STILL AND PLACE THEM WHERE I PLACE THEM. ect. Unfortunately, that type of mindset tends to turn a person into a raging monster. Personally, I HATE it when that side of me shows up. It's like my own inner demon-showing up, charging in unexpectedly with full force, and I feel incapable of stopping it while it's still in effect. I suppose sometimes you just have to remove yourself from the situation-which is hard if when you get into that particular mindset, you also get into the stubborn, teeth gritting and grinding mindset of 'I'm GOING to do this'. And it's not in a positive attitude, either. Unfortunately, as many including myself hate to admit, it's literally a beat the horse into submission mindset. Which isn't healthy, and it leaves you feeling ashamed and horrified after-wards for even experiencing the feeling, let alone acting on it with a smack to the horse's belly or side and a growling 'No.' It's rude, demeaning, and our horses see it. It probably gets some horses angry. Others, scared. It makes my horse sulk, which shows our bond like a slap in the face, because instead of getting angry at me, he just puts up with it, which I feel is because of that friendship that's been put up in place. I could try to blame him, but really, it's not his fault. It's mine for being impatient and not giving him a chance to learn it thoroughly, really. As it probably is for many other horse owners who never seem to have time to take the time to teach their horses how to respond properly. Instead it's smack smack smack, which of course, I am guilty of. Not many people get out of that stage, either. Which is understandable-anger is a very hard thing to control. Well, actually, there's no 'control' about it, at least not in my opinion. You can't control a house fire-you have to put it out. Of course, many people are also blocked with the common falsity that it is the horse's fault, and not the owner's. And many people will hold onto this thought with their dying breath-despite the horses that suffer for it. So-for those of you that have experienced this, and are willing to make a change-what are your ideas? If anyone has any strategies, they would be well appreciated.
