Chevy's Musings on Horsemanship Theory: The Concept of Mañana

"'Mañana' means tomorrow...and that word should be part of the anthem for every training program. Good training takes patience-there is always tomorrow."

-The Art of Hackamore Training by Al Dunning and Benny Guitron

The concept of Mañana has been a difficult concept for me to wrap my head around. My Midwestern work ethic and upbringing makes my first response to this to be, "don't put off until tomorrow what you can do you today." When I sit and think about this concept a little more, I start to see that it doesn't mean to put things off for tomorrow. When I think specifically about working with horses, it makes sense that you would take the time it takes, and go by the horse's schedule. You aren't going to cram first saddling to flying changes into one single day! No, you will go "poco a poco" or little by little to slowly teach each piece to the horse. You don't rush, push, or hurry the horse. You take the time to do it right, do the best you can, and enjoy the journey just as much as the destination.

Because there is always Mañana.