The Progress Trap: Why Progress in Horsemanship Feels Elusive (and What to Do About It)
The Progress Trap: Why Progress in Horsemanship Feels Elusive (and What to Do About It)
Progress in horsemanship can be tricky. One minute you're moving forward, and the next you feel like you're right back where you started. And if you’ve ever felt like your progress isn’t fast enough—or worse, like you’re falling behind—just know that you’re not alone. My students feel this way. I feel this way. Any horse person who has goals feels this way.
It’s easy to fall into the comparison trap, whether you’re measuring your journey against someone else’s or your own expectations of where you "should" be by now. But the truth is, progress doesn’t follow a straight line. It looks a lot more like a tennis match—forward, back, forward, back. Sometimes we gain ground, and sometimes we revisit old habits.
This back-and-forth is especially true if your horse is carrying a long-standing habit or issue. These patterns don’t change overnight. Creating a new response in your horse takes time, patience, and consistency—not just for them, but for us, too.
The step forward feels great. The step backward? That’s where we get tested. But here’s a mindset shift I want to offer: what if that step backward isn’t failure... but opportunity?
Opportunity to understand your horse better.
Opportunity to adjust your communication.
Opportunity to slow down and build a stronger foundation for long-term change.
And sometimes, it’s not even about you. The horse might be offering one last bit of resistance before true acceptance. Or maybe they’re just not ready—yet. Your job is to meet them where they are and keep showing them the way forward, calmly, clearly, and consistently.
Progress isn't always about getting further—it’s about getting truer. Keep showing up. Keep listening. You’re doing better than you think
Progress is easier to see—and stick with—when you're not walking the path alone. Whether you're untangling an old habit, building something brand new, or just needing a reminder that you're doing better than you think… community matters.
That’s exactly what I’ve built inside Miles Made Elevate—a place where horsewomen come together to share, support, and stay accountable. I’m there too, not just to guide you through the steps to progress, but to help you see all the ways you're already progressing.
👉 Check out the Miles Made Elevate Membership and let’s make progress together.
