---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To change your horse you must first…"
description: "\"To change your horse you must first change yourself!\" — Clinton Anderson"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c43/clinton-anderson-42481_change_to-change-your-horse-you-must-first-chan_974881.jpg"
---

#  To change your horse you must first change yourself!

![“To change your horse you must first change yourself!” quote by Clinton Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c43/clinton-anderson-42481_change_to-change-your-horse-you-must-first-chan_974881.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c43/clinton-anderson-42481_change_to-change-your-horse-you-must-first-chan_974881.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c43/clinton-anderson-42481_change_to-change-your-horse-you-must-first-chan_974881.jpg)

> “To change your horse you must first change yourself!”

[Clinton Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-anderson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Personal transformation is prerequisite to influencing others or systems.

**In simple terms:** Change yourself before trying to change others.

Key Takeaway

Self‑reflection precedes external change.

Themes

self‑improvement leadership influence

Mood

reflective determined

Type

advice motivational

When to use this quote

- team leadership
- political reform
- personal coaching

Key Concepts

psychology behavioral change

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you model the change you desire?
- What personal habits limit your influence?

A Different Perspective

Changing others without self‑change often fails.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horse/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/)

## Related quotes

> [The change between horse and buggy to automobile is a big change and there hasn't been a major change since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-change-between-horse-and-buggy-to-automobile-is-a-big-change-and/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [All men have their appointed time; that's something no horse can change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liu-bei/all-men-have-their-appointed-time-that-s-something-no-horse-can-change/)

[Liu Bei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liu-bei/)

> [Power is what is required to change the universe - to change yourself into what you might like to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/power-is-what-is-required-to-change-the-universe-to-change-yourself/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [“Sometimes you have to realise that things will never change if you don’t make a change yourself, and sometimes, you need to realise that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-eriksson/sometimes-you-have-to-realise-that-things-will-never-change-if-you/)

[Charlotte Eriksson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-eriksson/)

> [When a horse and rider understand each other, they develop a strong bond of mutual trust and respect. There is no limit to what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-anderson/when-a-horse-and-rider-understand-each-other-they-develop-a-strong/)

[Clinton Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-anderson/)

> [It's foolish to bet on a horse without talking to him first. I know it seems silly to ask a horse who's going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gracie-allen/it-s-foolish-to-bet-on-a-horse-without-talking-to-him-first-i-know-it/)

[Gracie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gracie-allen/)

> [Indeed, all things move, all things run, all things are rapidly changing. A profile is never motionless before our eyes, but it constantly appears…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-balla/indeed-all-things-move-all-things-run-all-things-are-rapidly-changing/)

Giacomo Balla

> [For those that feel that being kind hearted to people got you nothing but rejection and hurt, do not let that change the person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigitte-nicole/for-those-that-feel-that-being-kind-hearted-to-people-got-you-nothing/)

[Brigitte Nicole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigitte-nicole/)

> [I would tell 17-year-olds to be proud of who you are. Don't try to change yourself for others. Focus on school and your future.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lea-michele/i-would-tell-17-year-olds-to-be-proud-of-who-you-are-don-t-try-to/)

[Lea Michele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lea-michele/)

> [When life changes to be harder, change yourself to be stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-life-changes-to-be-harder-change-yourself-to-be-stronger/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [No matter what you do, your person comes through. You can't completely change yourself on the screen. I had in mind someone colder and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-caron/no-matter-what-you-do-your-person-comes-through-you-can-t-completely/)

[Leslie Caron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-caron/)

> [“Often change yourself, when you see that people envy you : they will start to change themselves too, but at that time YOU will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alen-sargsyan/often-change-yourself-when-you-see-that-people-envy-you-they-will/)

[Alen Sargsyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alen-sargsyan/)

> [Every man worthy of loving you won't make you change yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumer-willis/every-man-worthy-of-loving-you-won-t-make-you-change-yourself/)

[Rumer Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumer-willis/)

> [“Do you know what the worst part about relationships is? Trying to change yourself enough that someone else believes that they want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-donnelly/do-you-know-what-the-worst-part-about-relationships-is-trying-to/)

[Jason Donnelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-donnelly/)

> [“Shifting from a superior/inferior paradigm to a strength-in-difference paradigm was kind of a good news/bad news situation. On the downside, I had to admit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debby-irving/shifting-from-a-superior-inferior-paradigm-to-a-strength-in/)

[Debby Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debby-irving/)

## More by Clinton Anderson

> [When a horse and rider understand each other, they develop a strong bond of mutual trust and respect. There is no limit to what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-anderson/when-a-horse-and-rider-understand-each-other-they-develop-a-strong/)

[Clinton Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-anderson/)

> [Sometimes you have to go through some ugly stuff to get to the good stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-anderson/sometimes-you-have-to-go-through-some-ugly-stuff-to-get-to-the-good/)

[Clinton Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-anderson/)

> [Don't let anybody's opinion kill your belief in yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-anderson/don-t-let-anybody-s-opinion-kill-your-belief-in-yourself/)

[Clinton Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-anderson/)

> [Average talent, plus hard work and dedication, will always beat talent by itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-anderson/average-talent-plus-hard-work-and-dedication-will-always-beat-talent/)

[Clinton Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-anderson/)

> [Always be humble enough to learn something new. Otherwise, it's only a matter of time before your knowledge becomes outdated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-anderson/always-be-humble-enough-to-learn-something-new-otherwise-it-s-only-a/)

[Clinton Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-anderson/)

> [I believe the more knowledgeable you are as a horse owner, the better leader you are and the more you’ll enjoy your partnership with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-anderson/i-believe-the-more-knowledgeable-you-are-as-a-horse-owner-the-better/)

[Clinton Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-anderson/)

> [Frustration begins where knowledge ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-anderson/frustration-begins-where-knowledge-ends/)

[Clinton Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-anderson/)

> [Be black or white with no shades of gray. In other words, don't be a nagging mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-anderson/be-black-or-white-with-no-shades-of-gray-in-other-words-don-t-be-a/)

[Clinton Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-anderson/)

> [Horsemanship should be fun. By learning how to control your horse in any situation, your confidence will greatly increase. When you're confident, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-anderson/horsemanship-should-be-fun-by-learning-how-to-control-your-horse-in/)

[Clinton Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-anderson/)

[Explore all 10 Clinton Anderson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-anderson/)

## More Change quotes

> [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/)

[Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/)

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/)

Phil Hogan

> [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/)

[William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/)

> [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/)

[Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/)

> [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/)

[Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/)

> [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/)

[Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/)

> [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/)

[Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/)

> [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/)

[Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/)

> [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/)

[Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/)

> [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/)

[Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/)

> [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/)

[Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/)

> [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

[Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "To change your horse you must first change yourself!",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Clinton Anderson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-anderson/to-change-your-horse-you-must-first-change-yourself/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Change"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-anderson/to-change-your-horse-you-must-first-change-yourself/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c43/clinton-anderson-42481_change_to-change-your-horse-you-must-first-chan_974881.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c43/clinton-anderson-42481_change_to-change-your-horse-you-must-first-chan_974881.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c43/clinton-anderson-42481_change_to-change-your-horse-you-must-first-chan_974881.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“To change your horse you must first change yourself!” — Clinton Anderson",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Clinton Anderson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-anderson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "To change your horse you must...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-anderson/to-change-your-horse-you-must-first-change-yourself/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-anderson/to-change-your-horse-you-must-first-change-yourself/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
