It seems like I’ve always had a horse.

Through university I managed it.

My first job.

Was mucking stalls.

Then I graduated from University with an Engineering degree.
I still managed to have horses in my life.

And

I still do.

I think that horses kind of define who I am.

When we recently sold our farm of 30 years and I had to pack up my stable to make way for a new family, it was tough.

Tough because it felt as though a small part of me,

NO – A H U G E part of me was being let go and I found it difficult to define myself.

Horses did give me purpose but more than that. They gave me ~ ME.

People often ask if I miss having horses. Short answer is YES!

Particularly when it is a warm summer morning and there is a light mist in the morning.

Now,

If they would ask me when it is a frigid minus 30, and I have to chop thru 3 inches of ice to get the barn door open because it was freezing rain all night. Then maybe,

just maybe,

I may have a different answer.

The big thing, I think is the purpose horses bring to us.

They bring us purpose.

That undeniable sense of purpose. More than the “blankets on, blankets off” routine or saving the OTTTB from a horse fly, it is the routine and sense of wholistic-ness (i just made that word up) that horses bring to the table.

They, horses that is, enhance your life.

All they do is be horse-like.

For all people, they give, young and old alike:

• an opportunity to understand the meaning of relationships
• to form us into well rounded empathetic people
• to teach us about us and our own persona.

“Sit with animals quietly and they will show you their hearts. Sit with them kindly and they will help you locate yours.”

— Unknown

~Unknown – you can help me out here! 🙂

Most people I know who have horses get the enjoyment of actually being with a horse.

What horse person do you know doesn’t like the sound of horses quietly munching on hay on a blustery winters night. The horses all tucked in and contentedly chewing.

There is something deep about that sound. It is a sound that brings a certain joy or “joie de vivre” to any horseperson’s life.

Who among us has heard that sound and said, “Gawd I hate that sound”?
I think it embodies our persona as horse persons.

Our horses, our charges, our external beings are content.

They are satieated.

They are, as best as we can tell – happy. Their aura (and I don’t want to get to “touchey feeley” here) reaches beyond themselves and into our own heart.

And I think this is one of the reasons that horses do give us purpose. Because they, as creatures reach us in ways we don’t quite understand.

Do you have purpose with your horse?

Riding with Purpose

Carrying on with the purpose theme.

Do you ride with purpose.

Do you have a meaning for your riding/training period?

This means…

Do you have an objective in mind when you put your foot into the stirrup?

This past weekend I had a plan.

A thought out exercise to get my client into a better place. A series of gymnastics designed to help her and get her horse ready to step into the next available competition. (If you would like more information on getting ready for a competition contact me here.)

The only challenge was, the horse wasn’t ready for the exercises and goal that I had in mind.

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So even though you may have a purpose and plan, there has to be a reciprocating alignment with your horse.

Poor “Parker” showed some unusual behaviors right from the start.

• he didn’t want to be caught – unusual
• he didn’t want his bridle put on – unusual
• he didn’t stand to be mounted – unusual
• he wouldn’t trot over a pole on the ground – unusual
• he would rush at mach1 a 6 inch raised pole – unusual
• he wouldn’t settle.

I, in my mind, could be seen crumpling up my exercise routine and throwing it over my shoulder or at the very least shelving it for another day.

So even a well thought out plan and purpose has to be fluid and changeable.

It turns out the Chiropractor was scheduled and found some significant mis-alignments in poor “Parker”. It could have been the severe thundershowers the previous day had given the ground a slippery surface and a simple mis-step resulted in a sore horse.
or

It could have been he really isn’t a “mudder” and *REALLY* didn’t want to do any of the exercises.

At any rate “Parker” got a massage and a couple of days off.

Back to Purpose

All that to say when you are with your horse you should have a purpose.

This means more than knowing you are going to ride.

This is a plan for your ride.

Specifically:

• for 5 minutes I will walk/trot to warm up
• for 10 minutes I will practice 2 point position
• for 10 minutes I will maintain a proper rhythm
• for 10 minutes I will perform proper transitions
• for 5 minutes I will walk/trot to “cool down”.

This gives you, the person, clear objectives. A segmented ride that has a thought process and a point.

If you are looking for more direction take a look at this post to help you develop your training goals.

The Importance of Purpose

Having a clear measurable purpose stops riders from getting lost in the vortex of riding.

How many times, for example, have you said you will just check your computer and then an hour later have found out that you have been scrolling endlessly on your social media. That is lack of purpose.

You don’t have a clear goal, so you fill your time with something.

If you have purpose and a plan you execute that plan rather than endlessly scrolling through your media.

Think of your media as your horse. So rather than just riding endlessly around, have a plan and execute that plan.

When you have clarity and a goal, you and your horse won’t get lost in a menial task or alternative agenda.

And

When it is done, you stop. You don’t keep going.

For example, if you are on a road trip. And you arrive at your destination, you don’t keep driving. You stop and enjoy the desination. Think of riding your horse in the same way.

Once you get what you wanted. S T O P

The last transition or circle or half pass is over.

Was it good?

All you can do now is set up the next one to be better.

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