Your and your horseβs peace is more important than whether or not people see the value in what youβre doing. When you shift from prioritizing constant progress that abides by industry competitiveness to enjoying the individual process of growth and bonding alongside your horse, it tends to ruffle feathers. When you break free from relying on the validation of industry standards and fast paced training programs that prioritize quick fixes above wellbeing, it often makes those who are not ready to do so feel threatened. And in this state of defensiveness, they may try to degrade you. They may insist that rewards based training is ineffective, pointless or βjust for tricks.β And you may feel that pull to prove them wrong, even if it elevates your stress and makes the peace youβve found start to feel like a chore that you can only be relieved from if people validate it. Donβt buy in. You canβt earn respect from people committed to misunderstanding you by playing their game. Continue on your own path and find validation in the peace you find and what positive changes that YOU know you see in your horse. Other people need not agree, if they stick around watching you for long enough, the peace and belonging youβve found will be tangible. The level of competitiveness and how much people are pushed to compare themselves to others in the horse world is so toxic. Breaking free is hard, donβt let people drag you back down.