(Photo: flickr/Steven Lilly)

I do not believe in the old adage that is often said by riding instructors all over the world when a student falls of their horse. “If you fall, you have to get right back on again and ride that horse!”

Falling re-instills a sense of humility of which great strength and wisdom can be drawn. It takes us out of our comfort zone to examine some of our weaknesses, our ego and the shadows we often don’t like to face. And I will be the first to admit, it sucks.

More and more, I am watching as the new generation of children coming through our doors have had everything moved out of their way so they are successful with everything they try. They have been set up to succeed with every task with a heartfelt goal that it will boost their self confidence, self esteem and harbor positive self image. But what happens when they fall? What happens when they fail? Some of them will try again and be coaxed to move through the motions of getting back on the proverbial horse. Most of them though, they quit.

They quit because they were momentarily embarrassed, or because they weren’t the best anymore or because they were worried about being judged. They quit because they haven’t been taught how to persevere, to work towards their goals or how to re-evaluate the path on how to achieve their goals when they meet resistance.

I personally feel we need to learn how to fall gracefully and go through the motions of learning how to get back up. This means teaching the art of failing. To fail is to grow. For only when we feel most vulnerable do we allow feelings to flood in that expand our awareness of where we are going. It helps us to develop the critical thinking skills and more importantly the ability to honor our feelings as a part of the process.

Riding and working with horses is a journey. There is never such thing as knowing it all. You can’t, for each horse is as unique as you and I. We are constantly learning and growing in all directions in our physical, emotional and spiritual selves; if we allow it to happen. The horses that grace our lives as teachers allow us the space to take this journey with them. To rise and fail, like the tides of an ocean. To crest and fall. To find stillness and tranquility. Peace.

Next time you fall, stop and feel. Learn. Change. Grow. Then get back on.