Take the TIme it Takes so it Takes Less Time...

My partner in this journey is a 9 year old, Left Brain Introvert, quarter/paint horse named Maliki.
He doesn't like to exert too much energy and wants to know "what's in it for me?" when I ask him to do anything. Lately he hasn't had a positive look on his face when I get him. For those of you who are thinking, "horses can't get "looks" on their faces..."; believe me, they can; anything from sweet and innocent to thumbing their nose at you.
In readying myself for going to the center I've been watching all the (Parelli) material I have. In one of them Linda, Pat's wife, is talking, "You'll keep hitting a wall: 'can't get my horse to stick to me...', 'my horse won't meet me at the gate...', 'my horse isn't positive around me...'." "You know what that wall will be labeled? 'You didn't take the time.'" Oh boy, and 'Time' is a 'Key to Success' and a 'Quality of a Horseman'. I don't know if any of you reading this have ever had something hit you right between the eyes- it's not the best feeling. Well, hearing her say that hit me like a 2x4. That's exactly what my horse is doing! So that night I resolved to spend undemanding time with my horse for a week. Today was day 2 of that. Now, it hasn't been above freezing for the last couple weeks but I had to do it- despite the cold. (My mom earlier said she couldn't understand how or why I do it. "Love. Thats it. Nothing else could make me.")
Anyways, by the time I got out there today the sun was down and it was getting cold(er) fast. I sat and let them all sniff me for as long as I could (til I started shivering actually). I wanted to play somewhat with him. Now, here's the cool part, he put his head into the halter and kept it down so I could tie it, followed me without resistance, played several "games" with barely any force from me, trotted multiple laps in a circle even offered to circle a foot or so away. He then backed towards me, without any pressure on his tail or the rope, went sideways with me still behind him and finally trotted with me back there!! For him that was amazing! I could barely contain myself :) I stopped there, took his halter off and walked away. When I heard him follow me and come up to walk beside me I knew I'd gotten "it" for that play session. I fed em all and left.
My toes may be frozen and me barely able to speak since my lips are so cold, but knowing that the relationship between us is getting that much better is well worth it. "Take the time is takes so it takes less time." Man, those words never were so true.