Horse Skills Tips - Learning to Be Present

ReLearning to Be Present...

 

The rate of mental distraction and emotional chaos I see people bringing to their horse interactions nowadays seems to be increasing (at an alarming rate.)

With access to SOOOOO much information thanks to technology, many good-intentioned equine enthusiasts are trying to become more aware of "options" in how they interact with the horse or understand his behavior. People are more aware of how tack, health, farrier care, diet, sleep can affect their horses. Some become interested in scientific approaches and research and studies, others are continuously finding "new things" they want to adjust or change with their horse.

Whatever the focus or belief system, I believe the most overlooked, crucial aspect, and yet least "popular" to acknowledge in what influences the horse- is the human, their mindset and emotions, their energy and intentions, their assumptions and anticipation.

I want...

Yeah, but...

My horse should already...

Why can't the horse just...

Why does the horse always...

We have done this so many times and he doesn't get it...

Most folks who are in this group or who are of similar mindsets, would probably agree they are not seeking robotic responses from their horse. Their goal is to create an equine partnership. They want to build trust while having safe horse experiences.

So the simplest answer- and the hardest skill- is to first learn to be present. I know right now the world is in chaos, and it is hard to silence the deafening rhetoric and challenges of our daily lives... But if you are going to choose to spend time with your horse, please for your equine's sake perhaps experiment with the following...

Notice on the drive over to the barn or wherever you keep your horse, where are your thoughts? How are your emotions? Are you carrying physical tension? Is your body sore or coping from an injury that leaves you physically unbalanced?

As you go to approach your horse, catch, halter, and lead him:

Where are your thoughts? Are they horse related? Distracted by other activities at the facility? Do you assess the horse in the present or start the session based on assumptions or what occurred previously? Do you acknowledge his communication? Are your emotions triggered by the horse's responses? Does your physical tension increase as your horse offers unasked for behaviors? Are you triggered to anticipate by the horse's responses? Do you mentally checkout or avoid if the horse communicates or reacts in a certain manner? Do you ever take the time to re-set mentally, emotionally, or physically during the session?

The above questions are crucial to build a quality foundation of trust with the horse- but it STARTS with the human's commitment to recognize what they are contributing. Recognizing how their mental, emotional and physical state will directly influence the timing and quality of real-time communication, the effectiveness of it, directly influences the horse's mental availability, try, trust, willingness, reasonableness, and adaptability.

The first "step" in making changes is to first become aware of what one is currently doing. Learning to recognize patterns in human thoughts, emotions, behaviors in the horse interaction helps pinpoint "where" one can start to experiment with making changes to become more available to help the horse succeed.