28/07/2025
Today I caught my horse and went for a ride.. what did you do?! 🐴 This is a fabulous post.
🪜 The Yes Ladder - Join the Experiment on Habit, Horses, and Hilariously Low Expectations
Let me tell you about a little thing that might change your life—not in a “moved house, quit caffeine, and gone vegan” kind of way, but in a beautifully simple, sneakily powerful, and slightly soggy-horse-rug kind of way.
You see, what I wish to offer you is not another hype-fuelled productivity hack or spiritual awakening via manifesting and a vision board. No, it’s something far more radical: a small habit. Just one. But one that might help you finally make time for your horse again—without guilt, overwhelm, or the need to subscribe to some $799 course.
🧠 Where This Genius Idea Comes From (Not Me)
This isn’t even mine. I pinched it—shamelessly—from my good friend Kathryn Christieson, fellow cohost of our insightful and popular podcast, Canter Therapy (check it out if you haven’t).
Kat came up with a method that somehow combines Zen minimalism, behavioural psychology, and the stubborn resolve of a horse girl who refuses to let life win. She calls it... well, she didn’t call it anything.
But I’m calling it:
✅ The Yes Ladder
Every step is a choice. Every choice is a win.
🧪 This Isn't Just Kat's Brilliance: It’s Backed by Actual Science-y Stuff
This isn’t just Kat winging it in the paddock while attempting to meditate with Roger (her horse) through her heart chakra. This method aligns eerily well with some of the most well-known and useful motivation and time management techniques:
The 5-Minute Rule – Just do 5 minutes. That’s all. If you want to stop, stop. It’s like sneaking broccoli into lasagna: minimal protest, maximum benefit.
Kaizen – No, it’s not a boutique gin you can only get at farmer’s markets. It’s the Japanese philosophy of tiny, continual improvement. Small steps. Long-term change. Big yes.
Cognitive Behavioural Activation – The fancy psychology way of saying: motivation doesn’t come first. Action comes first. Then motivation goes, "Oh crap, I guess we’re doing this," and follows along.
Decision Trees / If-Then Planning – Make micro-decisions on the fly. If yes, then do this. If no, walk away like a velvet-robed queen who made a choice. No drama. No shame.
BJ Fogg’s Tiny Habits Method – Start with something so small it’s like driving to the gym without getting out of the car. Celebrate the parking. Anchor it to your routine. Build from there. It works. Seriously.
🐎 So What Is This Yes Ladder?
It’s Kat’s rule. And it goes like this:
Every day she goes to the paddock, she must catch Roger and bring him to the tie-up rail.
That’s it. That’s the bare minimum. That’s success.
But then—then—she asks:
“Can I brush him?”
“Could I pick out his feet?”
“Could I saddle up?”
“Could I do a few minutes of groundwork?”
“Could I mount and just sit there like a meditating potato?”
“Could I ride for 5 minutes?”
“Could I ride for 30?”
At any point, she can say, “Nope, that’s me done,” and pop Roger back out.
And he goes off thinking, “What a chill and clear human. I like her.”
But if she keeps saying yes, the next thing she knows, she's had a full session, cleaned his feet, improved his contact in canter, played with some laterals, and solved world peace.
(Okay, not that last bit. Yet.)
🪜 The Yes Ladder in Action
The Steps:
Catch your horse – Must do. This is your baseline. You win just for this.
Can I brush them today? → Yes? Brush them.
Can I saddle up today? → Yes? Saddle up.
Could I do a BFY check (Backward, Forward & Yield – one of my exercises from my program, it’s simple but super helpful for focus)? → Yes? Do it.
Could I do a groundwork session (e.g. lunging circles)? → Yes? A few minutes is enough.
Could I mount and sit? → Yes? Sit and breathe.
Could I ride for 5 minutes? → Yes? Ride a few laps.
Could I ride for 30 minutes? → Yes? Awesome, let’s go!
🥳 Important Rule: Celebrate Whatever You Achieve
If you only got to brushing, you win.
If you only caught them and had a brief identity crisis at the tie-up, you still win.
Why? Because you showed up.
Because you’re moving forward.
Because guilt-free momentum is better than imaginary perfection.
🎯 Pro Tips for Maximum Success
Pick one horse. Don’t try to be Mother Teresa of the Herd. Just choose one equine to focus on.
Don’t let the weather trick you. Rain is just nature’s shower. You’re already wet. Five minutes of groundwork won’t kill you. You’re not a marshmallow.
Experiment for 10 days. That’s all. Ten days. No contract. No cult. No shame.
💡 Why This Works (Besides Magic and Good Intentions)
Because horses thrive on routine.
Because humans thrive when they have good habits.
Because your brain is more likely to do a task when the threshold for success is comically low.
And because it’s so much easier to make a decision when the horse is already standing in front of you.
That’s it. That’s the whole secret.
Catch the horse.
Try it. Let it change your life.
And for god’s sake, celebrate the bloody tie-up…
or the fact you even just thought about it.
📣 One Last Thing…
If you’re a coach, trainer, in a horsey group, or just have mates who could use a win—hit that share button.
Someone out there needs permission to catch their horse and call it a success. Be the legend who gives it to them.❤
IMAGE 📸: Meet Roger - he is at ladder step 6 - is it a yes or no to getting on board?
