19/09/2026
A STORY ABOUT TIME
This story totally changed how I look at spending time with horses and has greatly impacted my approach to training horses.
When I got Mazirah, she was young and green and very high spirited. I was young and inexperienced.
She gave me clear feedback about my lack of skill by being hard to catch, having a pissy mare’s expression, rushing, bracing and being very pushy.
It broke my heart because I only had the best of intentions and I really wanted to just be friends with her.
Mazirah was clearly the horse who impacted my life the most. Without her, my life would have gone down a VERY different path.
so - the story:
Many years ago, I was at Equitana in Essen, German, and watching the evening show of a well-known trainer.
He told a story that really stuck with me.
He said to imagine that your horse has two timers.
On one shoulder is a timer that has been running since the day your horse was born. It simply counts all the hours your horse has already lived.
On the other shoulder is another timer.
But this timer only counts the good hours spent with humans.
The hours of training, riding, groundwork, handling and relationship building when we are doing things FOR and WITH our horse .
The hours well spent building education and relationship in a way that respects the horse.
And every hour where the horse felt used, pushed or forced, or had a bad experience, would even take time off that timer of quality time.
The idea was to make the number on that second timer - the hours of doing things TOGETHER and FOR our horse - grow consistently and become as high as possible in relation to the number on the other timer.
And sadly, for some horses that timer is even in the minus…
I remember I had tears in my eyes when he told this story because I immediately had to think about all the time wasted with Mazirah.
It had a huge impact on me and on how consciously I spent time with Mazirah from then on.
Because it made me ask myself:
💜 WHAT were my true motivations? If I was very honest about it?
And there were quite a few egoistic reasons…
Was I doing something because it benefitted Mazirah?
Or because I wanted to advance our training or just have fun?
Because I wanted her to perform something?
Maybe even because I wanted to be able to show off some fancy stuff?
I became very careful about our time together and started thinking about how I could structure each and every session so that she could have a positive experience too.
I thought about how I could incorporate more things into our time that were simply for her pleasure and not always with the purpose of advancing our training.
I stopped blaming her when things didn’t go well and took full responsibility for the quality of our relationship.
Doing things FOR and WITH the horse took on a whole new meaning for me.
I wanted to make every hour spent with her count and go on that “timer of quality time” because I knew that in the past, I had wasted many, many hours already.
And I stopped pushing spending quality time with her “for later” because I realized that our time together wasn’t endless.
I better use the time I had with her with full awareness.
And today, I am very glad I did.
I always thought Mazirah would become at least 30 years old as she always was the most vital, strong and happy horse.
💔 But in 2023, she passed away way too early at just 23 years old due to a severe colic. The day before she was still galopping across the pasture, happy as can be.
And I am so thankful that I spent those last years being aware of that quality timer with her.
When she passed, I could honestly say without feeling regrets or guilt:
“Yes, I have done my best for Mama-Maz. She was a happy horse, had a great life and trusted me. She knew I loved her.”
Of course, I wish I could have had many more years with her.
But I am so grateful for the years we did have and for what she taught me during that time.
It is easy to just do things TO our horses without taking their emotions into consideration.
Just because it is considered “normal”.
Just because we are in a rush.
Just because we think we can do things differently “later”.
It can be difficult to leave our ego behind and truly do things FOR the horse and TOGETHER with the horse .
But it becomes so much more fulfilling once we do.
Think about this for a moment:
How many hours are on your horse’s “timer of quality time” in relation to the number of hours on the timer of lifetime? Is the timer maybe even in the minus?
Mazirah really is the inspiration behind the Relationship Fast Track Course
The course wouldn’t exist without Mazirah and everything she taught me about relationships with horses.
RFT is about learning use every moment you spend with your horse to go on the "good timer" - not only when everything is easy, but especially when your horse is nervous or tense, when something isn’t working, when you need to set a boundary or when you simply don’t understand each other.
Mazirah left me much earlier than I ever expected. But through everything she taught me, she has already helped thousands of other horses and their owners discover a softer, more connected and confident way of being together.
In memory of Mazirah, I am very much looking forward to coaching this years RFT course starting September 28th.
If you would like to join me for Relationship Fast Track 2026 and learn how to make more of the time with your horse go on that “timer of quality time”, you can find all the information via the link down below.
Places are limited so that I can ensure high level of support for all participants.
Enrollment closes as soon as all available places are taken, or on Wednesday, September 23rd at the latest.
The course starts on September 28th.
Will you join us on this special 6 week journey?
