Mind Vs Feet
“Connect with the Mind and the Feet will
Follow”
‘What do you mean by that Katherine?’
I will say this, I spend a lot of time
listening and working with horses.
Experience allows me to answer with conviction. Many so called ‘trainers’ can get a reaction
or have a horse submit to demands. Many
‘accomplish’ this by becoming the “dominant” leader.
But what goes on inside their minds, I often
ask myself, when we introduce implements such as a whip, sticks, ropes or even
spurs?
I often give a description to this as
follows, “This is no different than turn on your car, open the door, roll down
the street, then proceed to run after it and jump in”. This can really never
have a good outcome all the time, most often than not, the end result leaves us
with injuries along with a bruise to our ego.
The Introduction from human to horse starts
with a trusting partnership. Certainly,
both the mind and feet need to be addressed, but they need to be looked at as
an entire entity.
A horse’s mindset, has been such, that they
are prey to all the territorial pedators for hundreds of thousands of years,
where life preservation is their first thought. The humans have tapped into
this fear and now become the “dominant leader”. I would prefer to be the horses
“nurturing leader”. The reason being, I
would be the one they would trust and mimicking as a herd member.
Connecting with the mind allows you to
achieve what you are looking for, helping the horse set up for success. When I
ask a horse for participation in a ride, they are more than willing to be an
equal team member.
Not communicating with the mind can result in
our partners voicing their displeasure. The lack of understanding, demonstrated
as confusion and frustration, becomes the precursor to many behaviors such as
biting, bucking, rearing and kicking.
Once communication is established, the feet
can now follow direction with less resistance. Understanding a horses movement components, allows us to
direct them to follow in a dance like fluent motion. Even when eventing in the
saddle, less pressure is needed more response is shown.
We should never forget, we have not created
the method in which the horse’s feet move.
Horses in a natural herd are taught at an early stage of life.
Unfortunately when we get involved, their balance, movement and timing are
compromised.
This
process of working the horse’s feet, after you have connected with the horse’s
mind, resolves and eliminates stress. Challenge of authority and resistance to
perform, are now minimized.
Allowing you and your equine partner, more
time to enjoy each other, sharing the compassion of one living being to
another. Discovering new journeys with your horse having the ability to ask
instead of tell.
