Today I wanted to talk to you about a lesson I often find myself teaching, many times over. It is about noticing how your horse is responding to you, emotionally and physically, at any given moment.
Ideally, when we are playing and working with our horses, we can see into the future if we see where we are in the moment. If we know where we are in the moment, we have a 50-50 chance of going one way or the other, which we can then influence. The model below may be useful in helping you see and name where you and your horse are in the moment, then see a positive future and act choicefully in that direction.
Of course, we want to stay in the middle area of the model, but that is not guaranteed because with horses, everything is in motion. We need to read where we are in the moment and then add the proper motion or emotion to maintain the right balance.
My point is: if you know what will likely happen before it happens, you can influence a positive direction.
Find your mark and know what it means. Do I like where I am? Or should we try to move a little one way or the other? As we put motion to the horse's feet we can tip the scale one way or the other. You can use this model as a new way to study, contrast and understand the dynamics of the moment as you work or play with your horse. Notice that Courage is the result of Curiosity and Trust over time.
