thank you guys you know it took me in an ordinate ly a long period of time to
ordinate ly a long period of time to
ordinate ly a long period of time to figure out that the world reflects back
figure out that the world reflects back
figure out that the world reflects back to us what we put out I have been
to us what we put out I have been
to us what we put out I have been working with horses for almost two
working with horses for almost two
working with horses for almost two decades now and it was horses who helped
decades now and it was horses who helped
decades now and it was horses who helped me understand the world around me and
me understand the world around me and
me understand the world around me and why I get what I get and how to get more
why I get what I get and how to get more
why I get what I get and how to get more of what I want if I’m just aware of what
of what I want if I’m just aware of what
of what I want if I’m just aware of what I’m putting out I didn’t get my first
I’m putting out I didn’t get my first
I’m putting out I didn’t get my first horse thunder until I was already 11
horse thunder until I was already 11
horse thunder until I was already 11 years old and thunder was actually older
years old and thunder was actually older
years old and thunder was actually older than I was which in horse years is like
than I was which in horse years is like
than I was which in horse years is like ancient but thunder taught me probably
ancient but thunder taught me probably
ancient but thunder taught me probably one of the most important lessons I
one of the most important lessons I
one of the most important lessons I could have ever learned the importance
could have ever learned the importance
could have ever learned the importance of bringing confidence and leadership
of bringing confidence and leadership
of bringing confidence and leadership into every situation when I got thunder
into every situation when I got thunder
into every situation when I got thunder he had been a lesson horse his entire
he had been a lesson horse his entire
he had been a lesson horse his entire life and I am equally convinced that he
life and I am equally convinced that he
life and I am equally convinced that he was part of the team that coined the
was part of the team that coined the
was part of the team that coined the phrase stubborn as an ass there was one
phrase stubborn as an ass there was one
phrase stubborn as an ass there was one day in particular that perfectly
day in particular that perfectly
day in particular that perfectly exemplified this I was getting ready to
exemplified this I was getting ready to
exemplified this I was getting ready to lunge Thunder and for those of you who
lunge Thunder and for those of you who
lunge Thunder and for those of you who haven’t spent a ton of time around
haven’t spent a ton of time around
haven’t spent a ton of time around horses
horses
horses lunging this thing will do when we need
lunging this thing will do when we need
lunging this thing will do when we need to exercise the horse but we don’t have
to exercise the horse but we don’t have
to exercise the horse but we don’t have a ton of time so we’ll take them into a
a ton of time so we’ll take them into a
a ton of time so we’ll take them into a big round pen kind of like this dot and
big round pen kind of like this dot and
big round pen kind of like this dot and we’ll stand in the middle and we make
we’ll stand in the middle and we make
we’ll stand in the middle and we make the horse run around the outer edge
the horse run around the outer edge
the horse run around the outer edge prior to this moment in time everyone
prior to this moment in time everyone
prior to this moment in time everyone warned me Stephanie thunder does not
warned me Stephanie thunder does not
warned me Stephanie thunder does not lunge but I in my infinite
lunge but I in my infinite
lunge but I in my infinite eleven-year-old wisdom knew better than
eleven-year-old wisdom knew better than
eleven-year-old wisdom knew better than them so we get into the round pen and we
them so we get into the round pen and we
them so we get into the round pen and we have a standoff and so I’m standing
have a standoff and so I’m standing
have a standoff and so I’m standing there and I’m trying to I’m trying to
there and I’m trying to I’m trying to
there and I’m trying to I’m trying to encourage him convince him hey I want
encourage him convince him hey I want
encourage him convince him hey I want you to move buddy so I take the whip and
you to move buddy so I take the whip and
you to move buddy so I take the whip and I very gingerly because I didn’t want to
I very gingerly because I didn’t want to
I very gingerly because I didn’t want to hurt him so I just I just just flick it
hurt him so I just I just just flick it
hurt him so I just I just just flick it at his ankles and I stood there
at his ankles and I stood there
at his ankles and I stood there completely transfixed as my tiny little
completely transfixed as my tiny little
completely transfixed as my tiny little lesson horse reared up all I could see
lesson horse reared up all I could see
lesson horse reared up all I could see in that moment was a very dark belly and
in that moment was a very dark belly and
in that moment was a very dark belly and very sharp hooves right overhead and I
very sharp hooves right overhead and I
very sharp hooves right overhead and I remember thinking to myself oh my god I
remember thinking to myself oh my god I
remember thinking to myself oh my god I wonder if I could get him to do this
wonder if I could get him to do this
wonder if I could get him to do this again
again
again I didn’t understand why everyone else
I didn’t understand why everyone else
I didn’t understand why everyone else was freaking out until the rancher had
was freaking out until the rancher had
was freaking out until the rancher had sold thunder to his came over and
sold thunder to his came over and
sold thunder to his came over and explained Stephanie horses are herd
explained Stephanie horses are herd
explained Stephanie horses are herd animals and then every herd there’s an
animals and then every herd there’s an
animals and then every herd there’s an alpha and the alphas whole job is to
alpha and the alphas whole job is to
alpha and the alphas whole job is to keep the herd safe to tell the herd
keep the herd safe to tell the herd
keep the herd safe to tell the herd where to go when to go what to go so
where to go when to go what to go so
where to go when to go what to go so that they stay safe and stay alive and
that they stay safe and stay alive and
that they stay safe and stay alive and if there’s another horse who feels like
if there’s another horse who feels like
if there’s another horse who feels like the Alpha isn’t doing a good job or he
the Alpha isn’t doing a good job or he
the Alpha isn’t doing a good job or he feels like the alphas weak he’ll
feels like the alphas weak he’ll
feels like the alphas weak he’ll challenge the alpha to a fight for that
challenge the alpha to a fight for that
challenge the alpha to a fight for that position by rearing at him as you can
position by rearing at him as you can
position by rearing at him as you can imagine in the position where you have a
imagine in the position where you have a
imagine in the position where you have a thousand-pound animal and an 11 year old
thousand-pound animal and an 11 year old
thousand-pound animal and an 11 year old girl it’s really important that the girl
girl it’s really important that the girl
girl it’s really important that the girl is the alpha in that situation that
is the alpha in that situation that
is the alpha in that situation that doesn’t make sense does it think about
doesn’t make sense does it think about
doesn’t make sense does it think about that this giant animal is gonna do what
that this giant animal is gonna do what
that this giant animal is gonna do what we tell them to do when we tell him to
we tell them to do when we tell him to
we tell them to do when we tell him to do it as everyone likes to remind me
do it as everyone likes to remind me
do it as everyone likes to remind me Stephanie don’t they know they can’t
Stephanie don’t they know they can’t
Stephanie don’t they know they can’t squish you yes but that’s the cool thing
squish you yes but that’s the cool thing
squish you yes but that’s the cool thing about working with horses see if I walk
about working with horses see if I walk
about working with horses see if I walk into that situation confident in my
into that situation confident in my
into that situation confident in my ability to lead he’s gonna reflect that
ability to lead he’s gonna reflect that
ability to lead he’s gonna reflect that confidence and that respect back to me
confidence and that respect back to me
confidence and that respect back to me Thunder taught me a ton of lessons but
Thunder taught me a ton of lessons but
Thunder taught me a ton of lessons but we had to sell him shortly before my
we had to sell him shortly before my
we had to sell him shortly before my youngest sister arrived and it was
youngest sister arrived and it was
youngest sister arrived and it was several years before I really got to
several years before I really got to
several years before I really got to feel like I owned a horse again I’d been
feel like I owned a horse again I’d been
feel like I owned a horse again I’d been taking riding lessons at a local stable
taking riding lessons at a local stable
taking riding lessons at a local stable and I always wanted these horses to
and I always wanted these horses to
and I always wanted these horses to trust me like the girls in my books they
trust me like the girls in my books they
trust me like the girls in my books they always had these amazing bonds with
always had these amazing bonds with
always had these amazing bonds with their horses but I never really managed
their horses but I never really managed
their horses but I never really managed to click until I met Monty I I came in
to click until I met Monty I I came in
to click until I met Monty I I came in one day for my riding lesson I was told
one day for my riding lesson I was told
one day for my riding lesson I was told hey Stephanie go get that big Appaloosa
hey Stephanie go get that big Appaloosa
hey Stephanie go get that big Appaloosa out of the back let me clarify something
out of the back let me clarify something
out of the back let me clarify something thunder was short for a horse he was
thunder was short for a horse he was
thunder was short for a horse he was barely tall enough to avoid the pony
barely tall enough to avoid the pony
barely tall enough to avoid the pony category Monty not so much and on top of
category Monty not so much and on top of
category Monty not so much and on top of that he was half blind I was more scared
that he was half blind I was more scared
that he was half blind I was more scared about climbing on top of this horse than
about climbing on top of this horse than
about climbing on top of this horse than I had ever been about anything in my
I had ever been about anything in my
I had ever been about anything in my life up until that point but I thought
life up until that point but I thought
life up until that point but I thought back to what thunder taught me gritted
back to what thunder taught me gritted
back to what thunder taught me gritted my teeth and I climbed on top of this
my teeth and I climbed on top of this
my teeth and I climbed on top of this guy
guy
guy the confidence that I did not really
the confidence that I did not really
the confidence that I did not really feel deep down and I don’t know if it
feel deep down and I don’t know if it
feel deep down and I don’t know if it was the fact that I’d been riding for a
was the fact that I’d been riding for a
was the fact that I’d been riding for a while so I was finally starting to get
while so I was finally starting to get
while so I was finally starting to get to know what I was doing a little bit or
to know what I was doing a little bit or
to know what I was doing a little bit or if Monty was just crazy trusting or if
if Monty was just crazy trusting or if
if Monty was just crazy trusting or if maybe it was that fake confidence but
maybe it was that fake confidence but
maybe it was that fake confidence but whatever it was the moment I asked this
whatever it was the moment I asked this
whatever it was the moment I asked this 1500 pound mammoth to step out
1500 pound mammoth to step out
1500 pound mammoth to step out I knew something was different see what
I knew something was different see what
I knew something was different see what most people don’t understand is when you
most people don’t understand is when you
most people don’t understand is when you ride a well-trained horse that horse is
ride a well-trained horse that horse is
ride a well-trained horse that horse is listening to every single cue you give
listening to every single cue you give
listening to every single cue you give them everything from how you turn your
them everything from how you turn your
them everything from how you turn your head or your shoulders something
head or your shoulders something
head or your shoulders something seriously as subtle is dropping your hip
seriously as subtle is dropping your hip
seriously as subtle is dropping your hip into the saddle can change that horse’s
into the saddle can change that horse’s
into the saddle can change that horse’s direction around the arena when you
direction around the arena when you
direction around the arena when you train when you ride a a well-trained
train when you ride a a well-trained
train when you ride a a well-trained horse literally every movement tells
horse literally every movement tells
horse literally every movement tells that horse where to go
that horse where to go
that horse where to go prior to this the lesson horses I’ve
prior to this the lesson horses I’ve
prior to this the lesson horses I’ve been riding either they were too numb or
been riding either they were too numb or
been riding either they were too numb or I was way too green to really understand
I was way too green to really understand
I was way too green to really understand the importance of those movements but
the importance of those movements but
the importance of those movements but when I got on Monty everything changed
when I got on Monty everything changed
when I got on Monty everything changed when you ride it’s a partnership you are
when you ride it’s a partnership you are
when you ride it’s a partnership you are trusting the horse you’re riding to
trusting the horse you’re riding to
trusting the horse you’re riding to watch the ground in front of him to
watch the ground in front of him to
watch the ground in front of him to avoid tripping and falling and breaking
avoid tripping and falling and breaking
avoid tripping and falling and breaking both of your necks and he in turn is
both of your necks and he in turn is
both of your necks and he in turn is trusting you not to steer him into a
trusting you not to steer him into a
trusting you not to steer him into a wall or off a cliff
wall or off a cliff
wall or off a cliff since Monty couldn’t see very well he
since Monty couldn’t see very well he
since Monty couldn’t see very well he trusted me to do both because of that he
trusted me to do both because of that he
trusted me to do both because of that he listened very very closely very intently
listened very very closely very intently
listened very very closely very intently for every cue that might tell him how to
for every cue that might tell him how to
for every cue that might tell him how to stay safe and I found out that same day
stay safe and I found out that same day
stay safe and I found out that same day there’s a flipside to that trust see
there’s a flipside to that trust see
there’s a flipside to that trust see after our riding lessons me and the
after our riding lessons me and the
after our riding lessons me and the other girls would go out and we’d let
other girls would go out and we’d let
other girls would go out and we’d let them you know walk around the track
them you know walk around the track
them you know walk around the track while we rode and this was don’t tell my
while we rode and this was don’t tell my
while we rode and this was don’t tell my riding instructor our chance to kind of
riding instructor our chance to kind of
riding instructor our chance to kind of goof off so we would drop the reins we
goof off so we would drop the reins we
goof off so we would drop the reins we we goof around a little bit and I
we goof around a little bit and I
we goof around a little bit and I realized as we get out to the track I
realized as we get out to the track I
realized as we get out to the track I could not do that because all of a
could not do that because all of a
could not do that because all of a sudden I realized that if every single
sudden I realized that if every single
sudden I realized that if every single time I moved on this horses back he was
time I moved on this horses back he was
time I moved on this horses back he was taking it as some kind of cue on how to
taking it as some kind of cue on how to
taking it as some kind of cue on how to move in a
move in a
move in a his body to stay safe I could never give
his body to stay safe I could never give
his body to stay safe I could never give him any kind of reason to regret giving
him any kind of reason to regret giving
him any kind of reason to regret giving me exactly what I was asking him for
me exactly what I was asking him for
me exactly what I was asking him for that mutual respect that mutual trust
that mutual respect that mutual trust
that mutual respect that mutual trust build this magical undescribable
build this magical undescribable
build this magical undescribable relationship between Monty and I every
relationship between Monty and I every
relationship between Monty and I every single timely Road but I never owned
single timely Road but I never owned
single timely Road but I never owned Monty so he was sold rather suddenly and
Monty so he was sold rather suddenly and
Monty so he was sold rather suddenly and we’d had such a deep connection it left
we’d had such a deep connection it left
we’d had such a deep connection it left me raw to lose him overnight I mean how
me raw to lose him overnight I mean how
me raw to lose him overnight I mean how do you tell a 14-year old girl that her
do you tell a 14-year old girl that her
do you tell a 14-year old girl that her best friend in the world was just sold I
best friend in the world was just sold I
best friend in the world was just sold I was completely heartbroken and I didn’t
was completely heartbroken and I didn’t
was completely heartbroken and I didn’t even know if I wanted another horse it
even know if I wanted another horse it
even know if I wanted another horse it was gonna take an equal broken up messed
was gonna take an equal broken up messed
was gonna take an equal broken up messed up horse to put me back together but it
up horse to put me back together but it
up horse to put me back together but it was sham who taught me to piece together
was sham who taught me to piece together
was sham who taught me to piece together the lessons I’ve learned from these
the lessons I’ve learned from these
the lessons I’ve learned from these other horses that everything comes down
other horses that everything comes down
other horses that everything comes down to what we put into the mirror and
to what we put into the mirror and
to what we put into the mirror and sometimes we don’t even know what we’re
sometimes we don’t even know what we’re
sometimes we don’t even know what we’re asking for when we first got Jam he was
asking for when we first got Jam he was
asking for when we first got Jam he was actually named star and we renamed him
actually named star and we renamed him
actually named star and we renamed him Shazam because he had a very special
Shazam because he had a very special
Shazam because he had a very special talent he could we renamed him Shazam
talent he could we renamed him Shazam
talent he could we renamed him Shazam like the superhero cuz he could
like the superhero cuz he could
like the superhero cuz he could transport himself and his rider ten feet
transport himself and his rider ten feet
transport himself and his rider ten feet away in the blink of an eye if he saw
away in the blink of an eye if he saw
away in the blink of an eye if he saw anything that might eat him like a piece
anything that might eat him like a piece
anything that might eat him like a piece of paper stuck in the fence but for the
of paper stuck in the fence but for the
of paper stuck in the fence but for the most part shame and I got along great I
most part shame and I got along great I
most part shame and I got along great I mean seriously we tore up those
mean seriously we tore up those
mean seriously we tore up those fairgrounds we raced through the
fairgrounds we raced through the
fairgrounds we raced through the paddocks around the tracks there was one
paddocks around the tracks there was one
paddocks around the tracks there was one day I remember we literally were chasing
day I remember we literally were chasing
day I remember we literally were chasing the shadows of the clouds as they raced
the shadows of the clouds as they raced
the shadows of the clouds as they raced across the grass we had fun but there
across the grass we had fun but there
across the grass we had fun but there was a flipside to this and there was
was a flipside to this and there was
was a flipside to this and there was another day I remember flinging myself
another day I remember flinging myself
another day I remember flinging myself off of him at the end of our riding
off of him at the end of our riding
off of him at the end of our riding lesson absolutely furious because even
lesson absolutely furious because even
lesson absolutely furious because even after owning this horse for two years it
after owning this horse for two years it
after owning this horse for two years it wasn’t really trust during our lessons
wasn’t really trust during our lessons
wasn’t really trust during our lessons he was so busy trying to figure out
he was so busy trying to figure out
he was so busy trying to figure out where he wanted to go and what he wanted
where he wanted to go and what he wanted
where he wanted to go and what he wanted to do and how he was going to get there
to do and how he was going to get there
to do and how he was going to get there that he never bothered listening so I
that he never bothered listening so I
that he never bothered listening so I flung myself off of this horse and I can
flung myself off of this horse and I can
flung myself off of this horse and I can play
play
play my instructor that this horse just won’t
my instructor that this horse just won’t
my instructor that this horse just won’t do what I tend to do and calm down just
do what I tend to do and calm down just
do what I tend to do and calm down just like that and she explained to me Steph
like that and she explained to me Steph
like that and she explained to me Steph he’s just giving you what you’ve asked
he’s just giving you what you’ve asked
he’s just giving you what you’ve asked him for see after so many lesson horses
him for see after so many lesson horses
him for see after so many lesson horses who were numb to the requests to go
who were numb to the requests to go
who were numb to the requests to go faster I love the fact I never had to
faster I love the fact I never had to
faster I love the fact I never had to ask twice for Shyam to fly but by
ask twice for Shyam to fly but by
ask twice for Shyam to fly but by choosing to leave him as that wild horse
choosing to leave him as that wild horse
choosing to leave him as that wild horse 90% of the time I was trading that for
90% of the time I was trading that for
90% of the time I was trading that for the horse who do everything I wanted in
the horse who do everything I wanted in
the horse who do everything I wanted in the arena I realized that day you can
the arena I realized that day you can
the arena I realized that day you can ask your horse for two different things
ask your horse for two different things
ask your horse for two different things and he’s always going to give you the
and he’s always going to give you the
and he’s always going to give you the one that you asked for with more
one that you asked for with more
one that you asked for with more conviction regardless of whether you
conviction regardless of whether you
conviction regardless of whether you understand the consequences Monty shamon
understand the consequences Monty shamon
understand the consequences Monty shamon Thunder taught me a lot but most of all
Thunder taught me a lot but most of all
Thunder taught me a lot but most of all they’ve taught me that the world is a
they’ve taught me that the world is a
they’ve taught me that the world is a mirror and just like a mirror reflects
mirror and just like a mirror reflects
mirror and just like a mirror reflects back both the acne and the dimples the
back both the acne and the dimples the
back both the acne and the dimples the bulges and the beauty so does the world
bulges and the beauty so does the world
bulges and the beauty so does the world around us so I’m constantly asking
around us so I’m constantly asking
around us so I’m constantly asking myself what part of my life am i
myself what part of my life am i
myself what part of my life am i frustrated with well part of my life my
frustrated with well part of my life my
frustrated with well part of my life my unhappy about am i asking to be a leader
unhappy about am i asking to be a leader
unhappy about am i asking to be a leader but then I’m putting myself in a
but then I’m putting myself in a
but then I’m putting myself in a position to be taken advantage of and
position to be taken advantage of and
position to be taken advantage of and and challenged and then wondering why no
and challenged and then wondering why no
and challenged and then wondering why no one wants to follow me or am I asking
one wants to follow me or am I asking
one wants to follow me or am I asking for trust without first proving to
for trust without first proving to
for trust without first proving to myself and my partner that I’m worth
myself and my partner that I’m worth
myself and my partner that I’m worth that trust but are yet
that trust but are yet
that trust but are yet am I asking for peace and calm verbally
am I asking for peace and calm verbally
am I asking for peace and calm verbally and in every other area of my life
and in every other area of my life
and in every other area of my life reacting wildly see what I’ve learned is
reacting wildly see what I’ve learned is
reacting wildly see what I’ve learned is that I can’t blame the mirror for what I
that I can’t blame the mirror for what I
that I can’t blame the mirror for what I see there it’s what I choose to put into
see there it’s what I choose to put into
see there it’s what I choose to put into that mirror that influence is what I get
that mirror that influence is what I get
that mirror that influence is what I get back and I have complete control over
back and I have complete control over
back and I have complete control over what I put into that mirror so if the
what I put into that mirror so if the
what I put into that mirror so if the world reflecting back to me and to you
world reflecting back to me and to you
world reflecting back to me and to you exactly what we put out I’ll leave you
exactly what we put out I’ll leave you
exactly what we put out I’ll leave you guys with one question to ponder what do
guys with one question to ponder what do
guys with one question to ponder what do you see in your mirror thank you
you see in your mirror thank you
you see in your mirror thank you [Applause]
”
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