Listen…The Horse Whispers by Marilyn Bonnett
Frustrated because you can’t get the same responses from your horse that the trainer gets? Well, the horse is frustrated too, and if the horse could intervene, he would say “whoa” to this partnership. The horse is in the middle and becomes very confused. There are mixed messages being communicated in the horse relationship. You are a talented rider, but there’s a missing link in the partnership with the horse. The missing link will enable the horse and rider to be a successful team. It is imperative as a rider that you learn the skills of your horse and the training cues use to send the messages to get the best performance, but most importantly you have to listen to your horse to send the right communication. The following tips will give you the tools to accurately interrupt your horse communication and respond with a clear message.
Being aware
Like with people, communication with horses is a give and take process: you cue, they listen and they respond, then you listen and respond. Failure to listen is the biggest cause of communication breakdown, whether it is with people or your horse. When you are really tuned into what you see, feel, or hear, then you are listening. You are aware, and use all your senses to receive and understand the information that is being communicated. Yes, even from your horse. What is done with the information depends on the meaning it has for you. To communicate with your horse you must first acquire self-awareness. Be particularly aware of your hands and legs sense these are your means to deliver the cues. It is very possible to communicate mixed messages to your horse if you are thinking one thing and sending a different message with your body. Next listen to your horse, feel his body communication, look for visible sign language, then respond to his needs with the correct cues. As your awareness increases, your horse will become more tuned into your message. It comes naturally for him. Do you tune into yourself and your horse when you ride and show?
The instinct
The horse is a creature of awareness and instinct. It is very in tune to its environment and ready to adapt to changes such as; weather, stalking animals, and feeding time. They listen and feel and trust their instinct to protect, provide and perform. Your instinct plays a significant role in the show pen. When you are aware and in tune to yourself and your horse your intuition becomes active. You can learn to trust your instinct to get a clear message to your horse. Instinct comes from your heart and soul. It is comfortable, feels right and very connected to a passion, like showing your horse. Intuition is not logical. You think logic and it comes from the mind. Logic is driven by past experiences or fear of the unknown or what might happen. The more you regularly exercise and use your intuition; the greater your accuracy will be for adapting and communicating what is right for you and your horse in the show pen. Can you adapt to what you feel from your horse? Do you trust your instincts in the show pen?
Letting go
Boy, is that easier said than done… Letting go is about doing your job as a rider. Taking responsibility for and focusing on the things you can control. Separating you from everyone and everything else. When you detach from what is out of your control you automatically function, think and live in the present. There is no fear, no worry, no doubt, otherwise know as mental emotions. These emotions interfere with your performance and ability to activate your instincts, trust and confidence to do your job as a rider. The key is to align your thoughts, the mind, with intuition and trust yourself and your horse. Everything happens in the present and when you are present, you make things happen. Are you living and riding in the present?
A starting point
Riding should be fun and simple, so select one tool to take your equine team to the next level. If your tuning in and listening skills need strengthening, start with being aware. You must have this strong foundation to support and build the other skills. Once you have sharpened your awareness, select the next tool that comes easiest for you. Focus on one change at a time. Change is a process. You have spent years developing the way you presently communicate, so don’t pressure yourself to learn, internalize and apply a new tool tomorrow. Create strategies to help you support your transition from learning to applying. Every time you ride to practice your physical maneuvers, also practice your new mental strategies. This enables you to become comfortable and second nature with your new tools before you apply them in the show pen. Remember to celebrate every small step closer to your end result and the progress you achieve. You never have to do anything alone, that’s why partnerships are created. How will you make it happen? Do you need a success performance coach?
Believe
It really doesn’t matter weather you are communicating within the horse or human relationship. So often we just don’t feel or listen beneath the words or trained cues in order to be connected or in tune with each other. Our fears from the past and the worry of what is to come, prevents the focus necessary for success. Trust your instincts and keep your focus on what you are doing right now, live in the present. Don’t look back and don’t worry about what is ahead. You communicate what your mind is thinking. Your nonverbal language, body movements and tension, is what your horse feels first, instead of what you ask for with the trained cues. You can develop and polish the skills of trust in yourself and with your horse, if you deepen your communication. Relax and let go of what might happen, what you have to do to win or whom you have to beat. Get in touch with your feelings and what your gut is telling you. Don’t think with your mind, it is exhausting. Be positive about what you and your horse’s capabilities can accomplish. Connect and be one through a powerful synchronized relationship. Believe that communication affects the outcome of your performance in and out of the show pen; make things happen for you.
Get your FREE “Successful Performance Tips” pocket card
at: www.insuresuccess4u.com or call toll free 1-877-600-COACH (2622)
Being aware
Like with people, communication with horses is a give and take process: you cue, they listen and they respond, then you listen and respond. Failure to listen is the biggest cause of communication breakdown, whether it is with people or your horse. When you are really tuned into what you see, feel, or hear, then you are listening. You are aware, and use all your senses to receive and understand the information that is being communicated. Yes, even from your horse. What is done with the information depends on the meaning it has for you. To communicate with your horse you must first acquire self-awareness. Be particularly aware of your hands and legs sense these are your means to deliver the cues. It is very possible to communicate mixed messages to your horse if you are thinking one thing and sending a different message with your body. Next listen to your horse, feel his body communication, look for visible sign language, then respond to his needs with the correct cues. As your awareness increases, your horse will become more tuned into your message. It comes naturally for him. Do you tune into yourself and your horse when you ride and show?
The instinct
The horse is a creature of awareness and instinct. It is very in tune to its environment and ready to adapt to changes such as; weather, stalking animals, and feeding time. They listen and feel and trust their instinct to protect, provide and perform. Your instinct plays a significant role in the show pen. When you are aware and in tune to yourself and your horse your intuition becomes active. You can learn to trust your instinct to get a clear message to your horse. Instinct comes from your heart and soul. It is comfortable, feels right and very connected to a passion, like showing your horse. Intuition is not logical. You think logic and it comes from the mind. Logic is driven by past experiences or fear of the unknown or what might happen. The more you regularly exercise and use your intuition; the greater your accuracy will be for adapting and communicating what is right for you and your horse in the show pen. Can you adapt to what you feel from your horse? Do you trust your instincts in the show pen?
Letting go
Boy, is that easier said than done… Letting go is about doing your job as a rider. Taking responsibility for and focusing on the things you can control. Separating you from everyone and everything else. When you detach from what is out of your control you automatically function, think and live in the present. There is no fear, no worry, no doubt, otherwise know as mental emotions. These emotions interfere with your performance and ability to activate your instincts, trust and confidence to do your job as a rider. The key is to align your thoughts, the mind, with intuition and trust yourself and your horse. Everything happens in the present and when you are present, you make things happen. Are you living and riding in the present?
A starting point
Riding should be fun and simple, so select one tool to take your equine team to the next level. If your tuning in and listening skills need strengthening, start with being aware. You must have this strong foundation to support and build the other skills. Once you have sharpened your awareness, select the next tool that comes easiest for you. Focus on one change at a time. Change is a process. You have spent years developing the way you presently communicate, so don’t pressure yourself to learn, internalize and apply a new tool tomorrow. Create strategies to help you support your transition from learning to applying. Every time you ride to practice your physical maneuvers, also practice your new mental strategies. This enables you to become comfortable and second nature with your new tools before you apply them in the show pen. Remember to celebrate every small step closer to your end result and the progress you achieve. You never have to do anything alone, that’s why partnerships are created. How will you make it happen? Do you need a success performance coach?
Believe
It really doesn’t matter weather you are communicating within the horse or human relationship. So often we just don’t feel or listen beneath the words or trained cues in order to be connected or in tune with each other. Our fears from the past and the worry of what is to come, prevents the focus necessary for success. Trust your instincts and keep your focus on what you are doing right now, live in the present. Don’t look back and don’t worry about what is ahead. You communicate what your mind is thinking. Your nonverbal language, body movements and tension, is what your horse feels first, instead of what you ask for with the trained cues. You can develop and polish the skills of trust in yourself and with your horse, if you deepen your communication. Relax and let go of what might happen, what you have to do to win or whom you have to beat. Get in touch with your feelings and what your gut is telling you. Don’t think with your mind, it is exhausting. Be positive about what you and your horse’s capabilities can accomplish. Connect and be one through a powerful synchronized relationship. Believe that communication affects the outcome of your performance in and out of the show pen; make things happen for you.
Get your FREE “Successful Performance Tips” pocket card
at: www.insuresuccess4u.com or call toll free 1-877-600-COACH (2622)
posted by Dolores at 2:55 PM
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