Right Relationship + Horsemanship
Let’s start at the very beginning shall we…because it all starts with relationship, right?
In the course of my career I’ve come to understand that there are two leading concepts that should be acknowledged when training, beginning work with, or creating a connection with any species of animal. Number 1 - Developing trust, Number 2 - Establishing right relationship. These two ideals really go hand in hand + should stand firm at the core of any training + conditioning we want to undertake with any species of animal, equine or not. It is my belief that right relationship should be deeply considered, contemplated + well established from the outset.
‘Over just the last two decades, science has radically altered its view of the arrangement both of life and of non-living components of the earth. New understandings are emerging that place relationship at the center. Biology and physics are moving away from a “reductionist” view of function, in which the activity of a living cell or an ecosystem, for example, is explained by being reduced to its parts, rather than including the relationship between those parts as essential to our understanding. Today scientists are admitting that this three-hundred-year-old scientific doctrine is far too simplistic, and are finding that physical substances work and exist in terms of highly complex, interdependent, and changeable contexts and relationships’.
So, what is ‘Right Relationship’ then?….For me, right relationship is a concept at the foundation of not just my animal training, but sustainable + practical living on a personal, every day level. It is the knowledge that there is no such thing as separation. Everything in our world is directly involved with us + we are involved with it. It is knowing our horses as a sentient being. Simply put, the ethos behind the concept of ‘right relationship’ could be something like ‘treat your horse as you wish to be treated yourself’. It is therefore our choice to take responsibility for not just the daily care + management of our horses, but for our own thoughts, beliefs, emotions, actions + relationships, + focus on them being positive ones. (see following blog post ‘Emotions = Energy-in-Motion. A Reflective Reality (+ how it affects our horses)’ to delve a little deeper).
Now, let’s take a brief look at how we can cultivate 'Right Relationship' with our horses + infuse it into our work with them.
#1. Daily care. Care that is focused on the horses well-being + how they interact with their physical + social environment. It is making sure our horses needs are met on all levels starting with physiological needs, safety needs + social needs. This can include things like our horses voluntary participation in their own care, providing enrichment, proper nutrition, assessing whether our horse has opportunities to express their species specific behaviours, + assessing environment or daily husbandry routines + techniques etc. (We will delve much deeper into this subject in future posts so stay tuned!)
#2. I want to build my horses up, not strip them down. I strive for my communications to always be direct, clear, respectful, patient + kind. This establishes a space of trust + safety where both parties can then become willing participants. On the outset this requires us to take the the time to set + establish intentions + personal boundaries. It also requires a certain degree of emotional awareness + control, an idea of our horses boundaries, limitations + thresholds, + true tangible presence or mindfulness. (All subjects for future blogs of coarse)
#3. Our training approach should be a progressive one. Essentially this means positive mental stimulation, continual evolution, growth or education. It means not becoming ‘stuck’ or focusing on one aspect until it becomes a negative, numbing or ‘aversive’ situation. Keep keepin’ on. Change it up. Move, progress always. Horses thrive on movement. Their health comes from movement. It’s intrinsic.
#4. and lastly yes, we can sometimes forget about our own wounds that might require healing, or the personal processes we may be going through + how they affect those around us, especially when we are engaging with our four legged friends. However, when we have a decent level of self awareness + insight into any ‘processes’ or emotion that may be playing out for us, we stand in a position where we are less inclined to project ‘our stuff’ onto our horses. When we consider, contemplate + then integrate our own healing journey we leave space for nurturing positive communication + relationship. In turn deepening the bond + connection between horse + rider. That’s a pretty wordy explanation + perhaps not very clear, but basically I’m saying It all starts with us + our own personal awareness. Tend to yourself FIRST.
Shifting our focus to right relationship with our horses can help us become ‘unstuck’ + assist us in moving past old or limiting patterns or belief systems. It helps us connect with our horses on an energetic level (which then improves our feel + timing) whilst deepening our awareness of relationship as a whole. The domino effect is then a drastic increase in confidence for both horse + human, + a heightened awareness of the importance of body, feeling, breath, intentions + mindfulness. All beautiful lessons that reflect directly on our personal life.
I will leave some quick questions below for you to ponder. Journal them if you feel the need. They are important + you’ll be surprised at what they uncover + clarify for you….’
What are your main priorities or ideals when working with your horses?
What does Right Relationship mean to you?
Is Right Relationship important to you + your relationship with your horse?
Is it something you feel you need to work on or something you feel you have a solid grip on?
Where will you go, what will you aim for from here?
I'd love to hear your thoughts + where your contemplation takes you.
Stay tuned!…Blog convos to follow include ‘Emotions = Energy-in-Motion. A Reflective Reality (+ how it affects our horses)’, ‘Keeping Frustration out of the Saddle’, + ‘Of Fear + Trust’. And after all of that we will then be heading on down the ‘Equine Welfare + Behavioural Husbandry’ rabbit hole!! Stick around! Can’t wait to share some more info + insights with you all! :) xx