Anyone who has been around horses for any length of time knows how smart they are. Most horses have the brain development of a nine-year-old, which allows them to use verbal and non-verbal cues not only to communicate but to learn. When you meet a horse or go to your stall, he not only listens to your voice and the tension or bell it carries but more importantly your body language. Are you tense and nervous or calm, happy and centered?
Yesterday was a rough day, I decided to take this week off and really focus on my work – no more messing around on the internet. It sounds so simple but when I’m at my “working” computer there’s so much other information my eyes seem to want to look at. Did George Clooney marry you say? Well, I have to look at the pictures. The latest American starlet just got a DUI? I need to take a quick peek. These kind of distractions can end up derailing me for hours so I decided to stop looking at the latest ‘news’ and focus on what actually makes me money – equestrian training and e-courses.
Meanwhile, I changed my internet player and it was supposed to run faster but it didn’t – it got slower. Super duper slow and I was working on a sales page for an upcoming contest and it was almost done when I lost it all. I was really frustrated with the lack of technology that had to be at my fingertips and on call 24/7! I turned off my computer and headed to the barn.
The one thing I have taught people and have always tried to practice myself is this: I empty my mind and raise my vibration before I see Zeus. Normally I can do this pretty easily, but I’m human and sometimes I don’t take my own advice.
Once I met Zeus in his booth, he was very calm and pensive. I usually look at him, give him his treat and greet him forehead to forehead, which always puts us on the same page and allows us to communicate better. He was looking at me with his big, soft, brown eyes – asking if I was okay. Horses have always been able to get me where humans have failed. Their thoughts are true with no ulterior motives. They just seek to help and connect on a level that many humans never master.
This may sound funny or a new concept to you, but I always told my horse exactly what was going on with him or me. When I said I was “frustrated” he simply said “well you’re here now, let’s do something”. Just like that, I snapped back to reality where my frustrations didn’t seem like such a big deal after all.
Not only do horses bring me back to the present moment and what’s really important (which is usually right in front of you), but they also teach us how to forgive others by shining light on ourselves. It is a mirror of us yet a much clearer image of light than we could ever be. One of the huge perks of being able to be around horses every day is the rare opportunity that you have to be able to change. Horses do not hold back in frustration, anger or fear. Feelings appear and then disappear. For example, when you teach your horse a new move, he doesn’t know what you want but tries and tries to please you. A lot of times he will fail to get it right in the end, but if he seems frustrated, it might just be because of the inability to satisfy you versus our point of view that it makes the move right down. There is a huge difference from both points of view and you should always strive to put yourself in his shoes.
When you learned to post to the right lead, you may have failed a few times, but each time you would pick yourself back up and keep trying. It was an important step in your progression as a rider and one that once you get it, you will never forget it and you will never have to re-learn it. It’s like riding a bike and it becomes so easy for you that you probably don’t remember how hard it was when you were learning to do it. If you have a good relationship with your horse, he will try to please you to the point of injuring himself. They will jump fences that they may not be physically ready for but they will because you asked them to.
When I got into my car, I was grateful not only for the connection and the feeling that when I’m in the barn, there’s nothing else for me, except for the 1,200-pound animal with a very intelligent and sensitive brain. It teaches me to be a better human than all the human beings I have ever met. Forgive your horse when he fails and give him the space to try again until he gets it right. Trying should always be rewarded because without it you have nothing left to work with. Also, don’t forget to forgive yourself, we all make mistakes even when we think we’re doing the right thing. Horses don’t own up to your mistakes, so why should you?
I’d love to hear your comments and thoughts on this article, please let me know what you think! My website is http://www.equine-24.com.
with my love,
Joule