An Evolution In Horsemanship

Hi Everyone,
I have been absent all summer. Hmmm. What is that about?

I have been working on renovating my website as my work is evolving faster than I can write about it or get my web designer to cut and paste. So, I have been working on it; which is code for I have done nothing to improve its content until I figure out what it should look like. Does that make me unsure of my job? ABSOLUTELY NOT.

There is an evolution is horsemanship happening like no other in history and I have been riding the cutting edge of it along with a group of like minded professionals who are very powerful in their work and message.

My personal work has taken the course toward a way for the horse owner, rider and coach to understand, experience and explain feel. Feel is not an elusive concept to be experienced by the few and understood by less. It is within the reach of all who love horses.

I have been working on the concept of leadership. I don't think we should be leading horse's. Leave that to the stallion or mare in the herd. Horses look to us for guidance and decisions. So let's guide and decide. All they want for us is to help relieve their stress connected to living in such an unnatural and alien world that wreaks havoc and battle within the instincts they were born with. Are we asking them to forget what and who they are? Are we breeding the horse out of the horse? Perhaps we want for them that which has happened to humanity. Misery does love company. We have forgotten who we are, so let's help the horse get there too. (*sigh*).

We have forgotten how to listen to the horse. We are too busy talking.

It is like being in a noisy New York Restaurant. (no offense) Everyone talks above everyone else, but no one gets or feels heard. Do you want to put your hands over your ears and run? Precisely my point.

My work is about working with the horse with understanding, consciousness and awareness of who the horse is and perhaps with it, opening myself to change. I have been doing a lot of changing: Ergo, the absence of new website offerings. Once a person understands that part, then what do you do with it? Plenty.

The horse has been trying to remind us who we are as beings, which would surely help us, but would absolutely make their lives easier too. Gone would be the days of power struggle and human dominance and coercion; replaced by mutual understanding, trust and love.

Does that make us weak and unempowered?(which is a popular fear) No, it encourages strength and confidence.
Does it mean that we no longer ride or work with horses as part of our interaction with them? Heavens no. I believe horse's take their jobs very seriously. I think they enjoy them if they are acknowledged for their part in the success of whatever the job may be. It might mean that sometimes their ideas are better or greater than ours. They deserve at least half of the credit don't you agree?

If you give a horse his voice, he will listen to yours. When you give a horse his choice, he will seek and be grateful for your guidance.

The series of workshops that I have been giving this summer; Liberty and other Conversations with your Horse, have been a work in progress meant to inform and educate. It is a shame that a few thought that by participating, they would be given the magic tools to perhaps take a nap with your horse in the pasture or read a book while he generously props you up with his front legs and selflessly offers you shade. Levades and piaffes at liberty are lovely tricks, but if done without care, serves to increase stress in the horse and he is left without the guidance he seeks. We must learn to walk before we can run. That might mean that your job is to simply walk your horse on a lead rope...with consciousness awareness and consideration; a far cry from what we have been doing all these years. Some students may have left disappointed and with misunderstanding that this was not remedial work. Others have seen the empowerment in simply walking with the horse with understanding and compassion.... How LIBERATING for both! I congratulate all who stepped up out of their comfort zone. You are truly special people.

I must add that with new material, even the teacher learns. I made a few mistakes. If anyone left unempowered, it truly my fault. It frustrates me when I know I haven't pierced the wall of understanding. Horses and humans deserve the same consideration when learning. I hope to do better as I fine tune the presentation.

The entire concept of Liberty needs reexamination. It is the most disturbingly misused, poorly taught and misunderstood aspect of horse/human interaction.

Liberty is the same whether working on the ground, in the saddle or without rope or rein. Liberty is the freedom to choose, the freedom from undue pressure or constraint. It is the giving of and owning respect and knowledge that you matter....It is the same for the horse as for the human.

Horses don't need our "leadership" or guidance when in the herd. We could use theirs for sure. However, they are smart enough to seek our guidance when in our world. We must learn how not to abuse the privilege.

More to come....

That is what I have been doing this summer.