When asked to train and work with horses I am often asked “How long will it take”. My answer is always the same “I don’t know”. I am a great believer that a horse will give “it” when he is ready and patience is inevitably the most important tool and technique that any teacher must possess. Patience is taking the time necessary and being able to wait something out or endure something tedious, without getting frustrated or angry or using force. Having patience means you can remain calm and wait, even when you've been waiting forever, whether that’s days, weeks months or years. It is a skill we can all acquire and work on and we should all seek in our interactions with horses. It is the basis of a sound solid and trusting relationship which I believe is the most fulfilling. Employing patience means that when “it” is given freely, without force or coercion or any falsehoods then you know it is a gift from the horse and that triggers the most humbling feeling within your soul. Recently I have experienced my relationship with my own horse Tiano reaching a deeper connection with his willingness to give and offer me more. Each step we have taken together over the years I know when “it” has been achieved through this feeling that I get from him. All I have really done over the years is stay true to my training beliefs and be a consistent and dependable friend, observing and rewarding his offerings however slight. This takes patience and at times immense self-control. Tiano has recently offered me this most humbling feeling of gratitude when after 6 years I once again asked Tiano to lie down. I did nothing new but apply the same consistent ask with a tonne loads of patience. There “it” was. He lay down at my feet and we shared a moment. “It” had happened not through force or tricks but just by an offering from the horse. So, when you find yourself stuck in a rut with your horse try to remember that they will offer when the time is right and perhaps use their feedback as a way to work on your own horsemanship skills, patience being one of the most important skills we can foster.