| True horsemen know their most important lessons in | | | | tummy ache and is "trying" to tell me! I was not listening |
| life have come from their best friends- horses of | | | | to him. I felt really badly once I realized he had good |
| course! Horses teach us to listen, to observe, and | | | | reason for his behavior. He was trying to tell me, his |
| patience. Without learning these skills, you won't be | | | | "trusted friend" how he was feeling and I was not |
| successful with horses. They tell us how to listen to | | | | listening because I was too wrapped up in myself and |
| them on a level beyond just the surface and what | | | | my busy day to recognize the obvious. |
| appears obvious. For example, one day while grooming | | | | This is an example of horses teaching us to "listen" to |
| a usually quiet natured, willing, and mild-mannered horse, | | | | "observe" and to "think." Had I not known the typical |
| he was acting quite peculiar from his normal behavior. | | | | behavior of this horse, I probably would not have |
| He would simply not stand still as I brushed on him, | | | | recognized that this guy was hurting and that is why |
| squirming side to side, lunging forward on the cross ties. | | | | he was behaving so anxiously. But, I did know this |
| I'd had a busy day at work, was tired, irritable, and his | | | | horse, and once I looked beyond the surface, the |
| behavior did not help my attitude! I reprimanded him | | | | answer was right in front of me because he was |
| several times for not standing still, until he lifted his back | | | | trying to "tell" me what the problem was. I guess he |
| leg and kicked forward with it towards his belly. That | | | | trusted me enough to know I'd eventually "get it" even |
| was it, "this cantankerous behavior will not be | | | | though I was a bit slow! Point here, slow down and |
| tolerated," I thought. So I smacked him in frustration, | | | | "listen" to your horse! They actually tell you quite a lot if |
| and then looked at him and his wild-eyed expression. | | | | you let them. |
| Finally, the light-bulb went off with me! He's got a | | | | |