Take One’s Time

Slowly, I’m in a hurry. An expression that no longer has any meaning in our modern society. Nowadays, everything has to go fast. The internet, cars, projects and so on. All this speed to achieve results that are often just mediocre or acceptable.

Slowly, I’m in a hurry. I heard this phrase during an equestrian harnessing course. I must admit that at the beginning, I didn’t understand the essence of this phrase. I remember exactly where, to my great displeasure, we stoof for hours talking beside a harnessed horse without really doing any practice (that was my opinion at the time). Two years later, I understood the exercise. The importance of taking one’s time in order to go faster.

Slowly, I’m in a hurry. “But why take one’s time,” some would say. I was in that category not so long ago. Others would say, “Time is money.” 

Slowly, I’m in a hurry. As for me, this sentence has taken on meaning with my work with horses. Someone you’re greeting for the very first time won’t be good on the first try. Learning speeds are different for everyone. Therefore, to avoid disasters, it is necessary to apply this maxim to the letter.

Slowly, I’m in a hurry. When the lessons are well implanted in your animal’s head, it will then be possible to go faster. 

Slowly, I’m in a hurry. Time is money, of course, but when these lessons are badly assimilated, time will be wasted for sure.

Slowly, I’m in a hurry. Every time I do a job, or practice a new learning exercise, with my Canadian horse, I think of this phrase. If I go too fast, I might miss an important element, or even worse, the animal might miss a detail. Repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat and repeat some more. And again; repetition.

Small details that lead to satisfying results. It only takes one maxim, “Slowly, I’m in a hurry.”

Carl Olivier Avon is a forestry technician, a job he loves. Being very versatile, energetic and full of ideas, he has a very special role in the Kinadapt team. With him, work is always more fun and efficient. Passionate about forestry without machinery, he specializes in log hauling – that is, working the forest with horses, including the Canadian horse. You will not see him much with clients, but working behind-the-scenes on all kinds of innovative projects. He’s our modern-day “coureur des bois”.