Many of you know that I am just finishing ten days with John & Kathy Baar at there farm, Raising The Baar, in Nicholasville Kentucky. What you might not know is how I got here & what it took to get me here!

Riding with John & Kathy at there farm is something I’ve wanted to do for some time now! I new I would learn a ton & it would be good for me to see other Professionals going about there day! It has been on my goals list each year since I became a Parelli Professional but some how I managed to find reasons why I couldn’t come!

Then in 2016, a student adopted two fillies & ask me which Parelli Professionals they should have start them. I recommended John & Kathy Baar.

One thing led to another and a date was picked to send one of the fillies to Raising The Baar!! As it turned out the conversation turned to me observing the development so I could provide support when the filly returned home. I of course said yes!

Now the fun began!

I was supposed to find out what dates suited the Baar’s for me to come! Easy enough request right?

Well I drug my feet! I tried to convince the owner that the filly was to young! I had so many excuses! Why? Because I was scared/unconfident about putting myself in an environment that I could be judged! Judgement on my horsemanship & judgement on my teaching ability. Even though I make a living teaching others in a non-threatening or judgmental manor, it is really difficult to put myself out there! Even though I somewhat have modeled my teaching style after John & Kathy & new them, it was still hard.

What if they think, I’m horrible? What if I just can’t do what is ask? What if I’m laughed at? These are just some of the questions that run through my mind on a daily basis!

I would get irritable and argumentative! All because I was scared/unconfident. Things got so bad that I almost didn’t take the trip!

As it turned out, I did come! I was able to turn my fear into excitement & curiosity. It was marvelous! John & Kathy were extremely gracious! They taught me & I learned. I improved! I was never made to feel wrong. I came out the other side a better person & more importantly a better Horseman!

I could say I just put on my big boy pants and did it! However I would be masking the true feelings that I have & what really caused me to be able to make the trip! The facts are that I set myself up for success!

Typically I put off things that make me uncomfortable! I mentally just can’t focus my mind enough to overcome the fear. There isn’t anything anyone could do & say to ease my mind!

So how do I do it? First I stopped making excuses! I made a plan! Then I typically put myself in situations that I can’t get out of without solving a puzzle! With each success, I gain more & more confidence.

For example, for this trip I was to observe the development of the filly so I could support, which I promised her owner. I would tell people I was going. I came up with goals for my horse & I to achieve. I cleared my schedule. I contacted John & Kathy. I scheduled the vet for a health cert. And so on & so on!

Each small step lead to another until I was so deep into it, and so convinced that it was going to be great. I was ready to go!

I literally played approach & retreat, just like I do with my horse, until I was confident with each step!

I still had my moments of doubt. When those occurred, I just went back to things that made me confident.

The fear & unconfidence, I describe are real! Sometimes it takes many attempts to gain confidence. However just like with my horses, passive persistence pays off.

I have found a process that works for me! It may work for you or it may not. Only you will know for sure. Each journey begins with a first step & then another.

Learning is hard! It takes so much emotional fitness! Mistakes will be made. There are times that are uncomfortable. Uncomfortable situations cause learning. Learning gives rise to confidence.

Just know that you are not alone in your journey! Just be yourself! Help or someone to listen is only a contact away!

Dan Roser

October 18, 2017

“It’s never to late to live your dreams”.

🤠🐴