Your horse is a mirror

I just had a rather interesting conversation with a friend. We were discussing how our horses really reflect our personalities. Sometimes this is good, sometimes it shows us things about us we need to change, and sometimes we are too distracted to notice. Here's a few examples:

• Your horse is skittish and can't stand still

• Your horse is pushy and disrespectful

• Your horse barges into your space uninvited

• Your horse makes his own decisions without regard to your desires

Breaking this down a bit, we could match these traits with human behaviors:

• You are stressed out about work and are feeling a bit (or a lot) of anxiety.

• You have a very dominant personality and maybe are a bit pushy, Perhaps you feel the need to have your own way.

• You like to be in control of others in your life and have an aggressive personality.
  

• Again, you are very dominant, maybe even aggressive in nature. Perhaps you are quick to make decisions that effect others in your life without consulting them first.

As you can see, some of these traits are not quite desirable. When we 'see' things in our horse that reflect on us, we know we don't like or appreciate that behavior in him, but often fail to see that we are acting or being the same. It is always a humbling moment to see that the least favorite thing your horse does, is something you also do.

This happened to me for the first time a few years ago. I was training my draft horse when my trainer said he needed more consistency and dependability from me. That he even needed a commitment and a schedule. I will never forget that moment. I wanted to run for the hills! You see, I was not consistent with anything in my life. I'd been a stay at home mom for about 8 years and had gotten into some bad habits. I didn't even have a lot of consistency when it came to my kids, and forget a schedule. What schedule? I thought, "I'm supposed to do these things for my horse and I don't do them for my kids?" I had to realize that I had to BE those things, not just for certain moments, but I had to actually become them. It was tough. It was scary.

I learned a lot from that horse, and continue looking for ways, in him, to improve myself.

Let me know if you've had an interesting moment learning about yourself, from a horse.

L





Loretta

the natural horseman
clear communication/visible results

New pictures

Loretta

the natural horseman
clear communication/visible results

Piero the escaping pony

I have these spaces between my fence sections and my barn. I call them people walk throughs. They are a little wider than I had wanted when my fence was built, but I figured, "Oh well. I have a draft and a thoroughbred. Can't imagine ever having anything small enough to fit through this little 18 inch space." Meet Piero.

He not only can fit through, he can move the obstacles I put there in an attempt to keep him in!

Yesterday I went out to throw them some more hay. I noticed Piero was missing. I couldn't find him so I got nervous and started calling his name. I felt like I was calling my kid to come home for dinner. So I go to the tack room, quick grabbed a halter and lead and headed for my gate. I'm calling his name the whole time, and then I see him trotting across my neighbor's field toward home. Not wanting to scare him off and have a loose pony roaming the neighborhood, I just watched him for a moment. He approached my fence line, put his head over, and said, "Did you call me, mom?" A bit surprised, I walked over to the gate and said, "Piero, glad you're back. I was worried about you. Why don't you come in and have some hay with the others?" And through the gate he came.

Maybe this does not sound surprising, but there is grass in my neighbor's field! And that is what he wanted in the first place.


Loretta

the natural horseman
clear communication/visible results

Reading before riding lessons

I am a very visual learner. About 16 years ago I started taking riding lessons at a lesson barn again. The advanced flat class was before mine, so I would go early to watch the lesson. My riding improved dramatically just by going to observe these better riders every week. Then my instructor recommended a book, Centered Riding, by Sally Swift. I got it, read it from cover to cover and again noticed an improvement in my riding. I began to realize I was very visual.

I happened to run across this book on the Internet and think it is a great idea.
Click Here!
I would not suggest substituting the book for instruction, however I believe it would serve a good purpose. Especially for those getting back in the saddle after a period of time, or first timers. Some folks just have NO idea what they are getting into with lessons. I had a little girl come for a lesson with rubber rain boots on so big they were falling off of her! I thought I had specified hard soled boots with a heel, but I guess maybe the message wasn't clear enough. Perhaps the information in this book Click Here!
would've mad eit clearer to the parent.

I just thought I'd share those thoughts with you and forward on the resource!

Happy Trails,
Loretta






Loretta

the natural horseman
clear communication/visible results

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Loretta

the natural horseman
clear communication/visible results

Lessons on Love from a Draft horse

Alright, this is a little off topic, but it's been bugging me, so I need to talk about it.

I've been considering my relationship with my horses, and trying to figure out what is ahead for all of us. Scottie's been a bit heavy on the forehand lately, and just plain strong at the canter.(remember that rope halter we ride in?) I really don't want to put his bridle back on him, but I'm not sure we can do much else other than trail ride without one.

Astro is the perfect little pony. I was thinking to maybe learn how to do cross country with him. But then I feel guilty for not doing it with Scottie. So I was considering the inner lessons Scottie has taught me through the years. And then I had this seemingly crazy thought. What if Scottie's true purpose is to teach me. These types of things, not about riding. And going right along with the crazy theme, I had a flash to my husband.

Lessons on love from my horse? Am I crazy?

I have to give a little background here. My husband is wonderful, charming and very affectionate. Always telling me how beautiful I am and how much he loves me. I, on the other hand, am not very affectionate. So he ends up feeling like he has to ask for love and it makes him very sad. Getting back to the horses which is why you are probably here....I have noticed that Scottie doesn't really like, or want, a lot of physical affection. Astro will let you rub and scratch on him all day. But Scottie will turn his head, then walk away. And it makes me feel a bit sad. Do you see where I'm going with this? Could my draft horse actually be teaching me a lesson on love? So maybe, just maybe, as I become more aware, I will understand in a deeper way how my husband needs more affection and how it makes him feel unloved when he has to ask for it.

Today, out of the blue I walked up to my husband and gave him a little kiss. Honestly, I couldn't remember the last time I just walked up to him and kissed him like that. Thanks Scottieman, you did it again. Who would've thought I could add a lesson on love to all that horse has taught me??!!



Loretta

clear communication/visible results

Piero Training day 5

These days you can't wipe the smile off of my face! I did some more ground work yesterday with Piero. We played the catching game and got some pretty descent video of it. I'll be posting it as soon as I figure out how! I had him moving around the open field, keeping his attention on me, before I caught him. After I put the halter/lead rope on him I asked him to do some flexing which he is consistently improving on. I am very pleased with the way he recalls and wants to please me.

Today he did some running around. Wow, that little guy is FAST! He out ran Scottie! It was a pretty amazing sight to see.

Yesterday under saddle Piero was terrific. We walked, halted, and trotted around for about 15 minutes. I have not asked anyhting too difficult of him. I had him halting very square and on a dime with not much more than a 'halting thought' on my part. I can't wait to ask him to canter. I'm a little puzzled by the change in him, can't quite figure it out yet. He is much more relaxed and happy now than even a week or 2 ago. Perhaps he simply feels like he belongs here, maybe more wanted? I took my feet out of the stirrups and was bumping my legs all over him, nothing. No reaction at all. I even patted his rump while on him, and still nothing. (I had been told that that sent him to the moon and back.)

This picture was taken yesterday. I will take a better pic and load it next time. My daughter took this, among others.

Anyone have any ideas on his behavior change? I'd love to hear your comments.

Loretta

Piero's Training Day 4

Wow. I am so excited! I worked with Piero yesterday, and he was super! He is really catching on to the ground work and understanding that I am the herd leader-all the time!

So, yesterday after a short round of ground work, I groomed him and tacked him up. We did a little more ground work, sending back, halting and following, then I got on him. Wow. I was so surprised. When I went to visit him before he came to live with me, I was told that when he was under saddle he was very full of it. They couldn't touch him behind the leg or on his rump. And had to ride with their legs away from his side because of his sensitivity. I knew I felt from the beginning that he was misunderstood, and I guess I was right on there. He was perfect under saddle. It's been two weeks since he arrived and I've not asked much of him except for the little bits of ground work that we've been doing.

He was calm, quite, just wonderful. I had my legs flapping all around him, and took my feet out of the stirrups, put them back in, and he was fine. I turned around and patted his rump, no problem. We trotted and I got an immediate halt when I asked. All this with very light contact. I almost felt like he was saying thank you and that he was very greatful that I took this approach.


I am confident that he will have no further issues and will be quite easy to sell. He has been to shows at Upperville and Frying Pan!

My theory on Piero's previous misbehavior: When the owner let her friend borrow him, they started using him within a couple of days for lessons. I believe that he did not have a human herd leader, and that was the main problem. Do all horses need that in order to behave properly? No. Not all do. However, some do. And maybe that's a good thing. Maybe those are the ones that still have theior original horse spirit in them. They are, after all, herd animals that look for leadership. I read an article written by the dog whisperer and he said that dogs need 1. discipline/direction 2. exercise 3. affection IN THAT ORDER.
I believe it is the same for equines. We want to be loving and doting on them, but that is not really what they are looking for. These things are human desires that we put onto our equine friends. Now that we know better, we can not only better communicate, but better coexist with one another.

More on that thought tomorrow!

clear communication
visible results

Training Tip - E Energy

When it comes to horses, the word energy has several meanings. At first glance it might seem that energy is simply something your horse has (a lot of!), or doesn't have. What I am going to talk about here is the field of energy surrounding the horse, and us for that matter.
You know how some people, and horses are just always 'on'? And sometimes when you are around someone you leave feeling drained for no apparent reason? This is the kind of invisible energy I am talking about.

The picture here is Astro, my 4 yr old paint pony. Astro has terrific energy surrounding him. He is easy going, always happy and willing to please. Nothing seems to phase him at all. Scottie, my draft, also has great energy, but it is different. His energy is more nervous, he spends more time on alert, being the important herd leader and prey animal that he is.

Why even talk about this? Because when working with any horse, being able to tune into their energy will enable you to connect to them faster. Use your intuition and sense what the horse's energy is directing to you. My intuition has increased tremendously since I began my training business. I literally get feelings, or thoughts of knowing something without knowing how I know it. (whew-got that??)

When doing ground training with any horse or pony, part of the process of interacting with the animal is a direct connection of energy. The horse feels your energy. When you shake the rope and ask him to take steps backward, you are creating energy through the lead rope to the halter.

You've probably heard it said not to work with your horse if you are upset with him, or in a bad mood. It is the same principle going on in this case. The horse will feel that pent up emotion, and respond to it. There is no question he will feel your negative energy. Just come back tomorrow when you are in a better frame of mind.

Interestingly, these concepts can also be applied to the children in our life, or any relationship for that matter. I remember when my daughter was a baby. I was stressed out a lot, it had been 12 years since I had a baby. When I got stressed, she wouldn't nurse, and did a lot of fussing.

I'd go so far as to say most all of what we do with our horses can be applied to the people in our lives. There are several top notch natural horsemanship trainers who now make a living by conducting seminars for corporations!

Sorry for getting a bit off topic here! Energy is a passionate subject for me. Being a reiki master I am very aware of my energy and the energy of those around me. I will say that my horses have some of the best energy around! If you'd like more information about reiki, please visit:
Moon Dance Reiki or http://reiki.org
Hoping the snow melts soon,

Loretta
clear communication
visible results