If you give a mouse a cooke...

IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE: I often find myself thinking of this story when I am trying to explain the "why" of a horse training concept. Most often it comes into my head when I am trying to describe the things that led up to the current issue, and then what the likely progression will be.

"If you give a mouse a cookie, he's going to ask for a glass of milk. When you give him the milk, he'll probably ask you for a straw. When he's finished, he'll ask you for a napkin. Then he'll want to look in a mirror to make sure he doesn't have a milk mustache..."

It is as important to understand where a concept fits in the timeline, or big picture, of your overall horse as it is to understand the individual training technique or drill. No interaction with your horse or training moment is isolated. There is a cause and effect for each and every movement, cue, feel... It is the madness and the beauty of horse training, everything is connected. Everything.