August 8, 2008
Caroline Rider Natural Horsemanship Newsletter
This Month’s Topic
of Interest:
“Creating Oneness
with Our Horses Through Movement”
What is oneness? Here is a definition I am most familiar
and comfortable with: the quality of being united into one.
For me, oneness with another being occurs when we are united
in thought and movement. Sometimes it occurs when another
finishes my sentence, or moves in the same manner (rhythm)
and direction as me. When I am with my horses, our movement
together can unite us: me mirroring them and they mirroring
me. I achieve this by staying tuned in to the phenomena, or
my senses. The senses (sight, touch, hearing, smell and taste)
keep us grounded and allow for us to stay connected to what’s
real and what’s happening – the “now” thus keeping our minds
quiet, no longer distracted by thought or distracting chatter.
Staying connected to the present through our senses is so
important when relating to horses. It keeps us in the “ the
moment, the present and in the now.” Our horses are ALWAYS
in the present. That’s what makes them snort, jump and constantly
scan their environment. As prey animals they take in everything
through their senses and are programmed to react accordingly
for survival.
So, how do we achieve oneness with a horse that reacts to
everything? We begin by manifesting ease in our minds and
body. Ease is equivalent to providing comfort for our horses
– their basic need for feeling safe and no longer threatened.
We can present ease by practicing the following 3 awareness’:
1) clear intention (where we going together, as partners);
2) position (where our body is in relation to theirs)
and 3) creating or being in movement (movement creates
pressure and takes it away). This is not about technique but
about approach: the intention of moving towards a problem
or task at hand. The approach should be flexible and adjust
to fit the situation, or horse that presents itself. Here
is where timing is everything and as long as we stay in the
moment with our horses we will understand where we need to
be, when we are needed and why.
For those of you not familiar with my approach, it is manifested
in the Tao beliefs. My business partner, Chris Himmel, and
I have written our definition of the Tao and how it relates
to horsemanship:
“The Tao of Horsemanship presents a wider worldview with
learning rooted in nature and timeless wisdom traditions (meditation,
breathing, interconnection and awareness). The Tao of Horsemanship
offers techniques based on a holistic perspective, and teachings
and practices intended to foster oneness, partnership and
harmony between horse and human; all of which can convey to
all of life. A paradigm of beliefs, attitudes and practices
set towards service, honoring natural harmony in the world
around us, embodying this harmony within us and living to
a person's own nature.”©
Just remember, you can achieve oneness through awareness of
the phenomena and practice (forming habits). Staying present
with our horses through the phenomena is as EASY as breathing.
If you’d like to learn more, come join our next Holistic
Horse and Human Workshop in September!
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