Lessons of the Horse || The Importance of Developing Solid Foundations

Following is the first instalment of a 3 part article series written for Local Horse Magazine - circa 2014

“Your horse is a mirror to your soul.  Sometimes you might not like what you see… sometimes you will.”

~ Buck Brannaman ~

Can you see the wisdom in the above quote from Buck Brannaman? My own personal experience of working with various horses throughout the years has lead me to the conclusion that whatever weakness I can find in my horse, I will most probably find it within myself.... multiplied!

And so I put to you -

Do you wish your horse to be trained...then train yourself.

Do you wish your horse to be relaxed...then ensure you are free from tension + anxiety.

Do you wish your horse to be disciplined...ensure you are disciplined.

Do you wish your horse to be educated...then study + practise more. Educate yourself to become a better horseman first.

Do you wish your horse to be gentle...practise compassion.....

…the list goes on...

It is my belief that through interacting with horses you can experience a greater sense of self awareness.

BUILDING SOILD FOUNDATIONS – trials of change + growth

I am very thankful for the fact that my personal understanding of horses, their behaviour + my own idiosyncrasies has come from many different teachers, + through a wide variety of disciplines, over many years. Variety is the spice of life as they say! However, having said that, every time I move on to a new skill or discipline, I have to deal (once again) with my own mediocrity. Being a beginner is difficult no matter how you look at it, + it becomes even more difficult when you believe you have mastered or progressed faster with something else or in some other discipline.

Learning something new is hard. Actually, most episodes of change + personal growth are hard. It's human nature to resist change as it is generally simpler to leave things as they are....BUT...I am here to tell you that the more time you spend on building a solid foundation, the LESS DIFFICULT it becomes. Just like putting good foundations into your horses. When you take the time to develop a solid foundation for your horse it will produce a soft, willing, relaxed + confident animal. Do you believe it is not the same for your own life?

So what is a solid foundation? It is a sturdy base you can build upon + depend on with no fear of it crumbling away or toppling over the more you add to it. Building solid foundations (in life + with your horses) takes time, persistence + patience.

In my experience the effect of a good, solid foundation in your life as well as in your horses improves issues like stress management, self esteem, confidence (within in yourself + also in the world around you), emotional strength + control, + generally develops a more positive experience all round.

On the other hand, a lack of a quality foundation usually expresses itself in negative experiences + emotions. Lets look at say an off the track Thoroughbred. Generally speaking, as a riding horse, they seriously lack a solid foundation, yes? This lack of foundation usually manifests through one, or a number of the following behaviours - lack of confidence, spookiness, stress/flight behaviour, over sensitivity + a lack of response to basic aids etc. Now their 'foundation' to be a good race horse might be just right but when that horse doesn't cut it on the racetrack + now has to try to become say an Eventer, then we must take the horse 'back to basics' + start laying those all important foundations. Try taking an off the track Thoroughbred straight from the track + putting him around a cross country coarse + see where you end up! With out a proper foundation in your horses training he won't be able to progress to his full potential or be able to maintain his performance. Anything you try to build on is more likely fail, to crumble + fall. You will also encounter many more training blocks + problems to address.

So, what of you + your life. Truth is a lack of proper foundation in YOUR life will have exactly the same outcome as a lack in your horse. For us personally, this goes for all aspects of our life; relationships, health, businesses, families, friends....the list goes on + on. In building a solid foundation in all areas you will learn more about who you truly are, why you react in the ways you do + wether you are being fulfilled in your life at this point in time.

I could add to this article a handful of exercises to do with your horse at home that I believe will help instil a solid foundation, however, this series of articles won't encompass training tips + tricks. I write them in the hope it may help to CHANGE some PERSPECTIVES when it comes to their horses AND their own lives. Because making a change in one, you end up helping the other. If you need to build your foundation of knowledge to help start building your horses foundation, then there are countless numbers of DVD's, articles, books etc from very well known trainers that you can get your hands on in an instant. Just remember: 1- learn as much as you can from whomever you can (some of the best advice I have been given has been via the hands of everyday horsemen, not the 'celebrities'), + 2- only take on board what resonates with + works for you + your animals.

Wether focusing on building your own or your horses foundations remember to base them on your goals. You'll have smaller goals along the way but just think of them as the grains of sand in your concrete mix....you cant pour the concrete to create your solid foundation with out the grains of sand right? Don't be in such a rush, living is in the journey, not the destination anyway. BE AWARE, SIMPLIFY, CLARIFY + FOCUS. Have a plan + stay open minded! Like there is no use going into a training session with your horse without a plan + the knowledge that things may not go exactly as YOU maped out, so it is with life! Make sure everything you are brining into the 'round yard' is adding to you or your horses foundation + not subtracting from it. It really is as simple as that.

I believe the process of developing programs for building your own foundations is a personal one. So stay open to receive the small nuggets of wisdom as you progress. You may not notice the small corners you turn along the way, but the cumulative effect will be more than worth it!

So go create that budget, pay those bills, make those lists, fills out those forms, nurture your relationships, build those friendships, study, structure the framework of your life + that of your horsemanship journey on a solid base. Confidence in yourself + a feeling of security are great gifts....not just to yourself but to your horses as well. Thankfully, through my persistence to provide my horses with the foundations they require to become a more willing partner, they inadvertently brought to light the lack of solid foundation within my own life.

...+ so until next time, I shall leave you with these very wise words from the amazing Ray Hunt -

'You are not working on the horse, you are working on yourself'...

Next article.....Of fear + trust...understanding relationships || Embracing change + learning to let go