Intention and Horses- Improving the Equine Partnership

It is very easy to come up with all the reasons why you can't or to avoid and delay addressing things with the horse.

Much of what we initially consider as being "horse issues" typically are an accumulation of smaller undesired moments, reflecting our level (and lack of) awareness, mental presence, and intention.

It can be a steep learning curve, learning to let go of "have tos," while revisiting to assess where the "holes in our horsemanship" are. Then refining our communication with the horse to support him as he learns to try.

The amazing thing with horses, as a herd animals, is that they want it to work. As soon as you show up, and you're there, at the moment, without criticism or critique towards the equine or yourself, but you're trying, the horse senses it immediately and offers changes in his curiosity, interest, and search.

Intention changes everything.

* The intention to make him comply often creates resistance and a fight.

*The intention to force him to accomplish a task without quality communication often causes mental avoidance and a physical brace in the horse.

*The intention to "hear the horse" and acknowledge his communication, allows for a two-way Conversation to unfold and many opportunities for refinement, while offering him support, and building his confidence through his learning journey.

If we learn to start each session with first bringing awareness to ourselves and perhaps shifting our mindset, energy, emotions, thoughts, and intention, the interaction with the horse can evolve from tolerance or compliance to willingness and try

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