June 2009 ~ Rider Horsemanship Newsletter

This Month’s Topic of Interest:
“Learning to Ride with Feel, Timing and Balance”

I’ve been thinking a lot lately, more than usual, about the depth of the relationship I share with my horses. And in my thoughts, I am brought back to the “Patron Saint of Horses,” Tom Dorrance. I have never had the privilege of meeting him, but I sure have spent time reading his words and attempting to “walk his walk” when being and doing with horses.

I have copied below a few of his famous quotes, for they keep reverberating in my mind and heart. I’d like to share them with you and if I may, put my own “spin on things” as they have greatly influenced my own work with horses and people. I’ll begin first with Tom Dorrance (TD) and then offer my perspective on how each has influenced me as both a student of the horse and teacher.

“The thing that I am trying to bring out here is this feel and timing. I used to say all there is to it is feel, timing and balance. I still can't improve on those three words, but there is so much that goes on within that.” – TD

“It seems to go in pieces. That's how it seems to go even for a horse. There's "time" in there; it's just as well not to crowd the horse if he isn't ready for it. You keep offering, trying to help as much as you can, without troubling him too much about it. Then, there will be a day when it will just clear right up.” – TD

“Listen to the horse. Try to find out what the horse is trying to tell you. All we are trying to do is fix things up to where he can find them; then it's the horse's idea.” - TD

“The best thing I try to do for myself is to try to listen to the horse. I don't mean let him take over. I listen to how he's operating: what he's understanding or what he doesn't understand: what's bothering him and what isn't bothering him. I try to feel what the horse is feeling and operate from where the horse is.” – TD

I can’t agree more with Tom’s perspective, for each has it’s own “time or space” as it shifts from one place (moment) to another. Feel can mean so many things between horse and human and for me depends on what we are both experiencing at that moment, together and apart – as individuals.

For me the meaning of “feel” relates to having a “feeling for and of my horse” (compassion or empathy), especially if he is trying and or appears frustrated or concerned about something I’ve presented.

Feel can also mean what I feel within myself, the guttural sensation I have, when around horses and/or doing something with them. It is an instant impression that I “feel” within that sends ‘shock waves” through my gut, often accompanied by tingling sensations through my extremities, sometimes even goose bumps. I also refer to this sense of “feel” as waves of energy that leave lingering impulses or sensations within and throughout me. Most often these sensations are alarms within me that are triggered by “feeling of” a particular horse’s emotional state and when listened to, can often save us both from stress and potential harm.

I also attribute feel to the emotional connection I share with my horse. The emotional contact I refer to is a level of consciousness, or mindfulness, when around horses. It “feels” like waves of energy, not visible by the eye but felt by the body, and comes in the form of “shock waves” that pulsate through me while every thing around me stands still, or motionless in time.

On a physical level, I also relate feel to the contact I share with my horse when using my aids, specifically my hands and the reins. This feel is what I often refer to as a physical connection or cue. An example would be when I ask a horse to “come into my hands” and soften as I gently make contact (offer a stroke on the reins that creates a vibration or message). This is another word for “feel” as it implies physical contact that communicates to the horse your request as well as offers you feedback from the horse.

For me, the importance of “feel” is being aware that in any one second (moment), feel can change and as long as I am in the present moment with my horse, I am able to “feel” the physical change, and/or guttural (intuitive) exchange of information between us. This leads to further, and deeper levels of communication between us, feedback…and, as long as I am in the moment, I will hear it, feel it.

Timing…well, that takes time and experience, or practice, at being both present and knowledgeable. The key lies in “knowing what to do, and when and how I am needed for my horse at that particular moment.”

And, balance…. I will surmise with just these few words “ finding synchronized movement when riding.”