Horsemanship-mutual respect

As I was reading on horsemanship tonight, I found an article that is really profound. It surprisingly shed much light for me to understand human relationship as well.

The writer reflected on how many horse owners were trying too hard to earn the affection of their equine companions by bribing them with "treats". I am quoting a part of the article here:

"The bottom line is a good relationship with your horse has very little to do with spoiling them. In fact it has little to do with love either, at least not the way we as humans equate love.

What a good relationship is based on is mutual respect. If you love your horse, then respect your horse enough to do what is in his best interest. This is far more important than fulfilling your own fantasy of a human like bond that horses neither understand or appreciate.

If you want to show your horse how much you care, make sure he has a clean water bucket, groom him today even if he is only going to get dirty again, exercise him, put an apple with his dinner if it pleases you.

At the end of the day what your horse truly comprehends and appreciates is his dependence upon you. He can depend on the fact that he will be safe, warm, fed and treated kindly by the partner at his side."

Horsemanship-Bareback Riding

I got to the ranch early this morning. After I gave Sugar a good grooming, we put the bridle on her. However, it looked like she was going to bite. Carol then whispered something gentle to her, petted her neck and Sugar immediately calmed down.

Carol told me there must be some traumatic incidents in Sugar's past regarding the bridle. She must have been hurt by someone. I feel sorry for Sugar. Horses just bear the painful moment and get on with it, until that memory comes back to haunt them. And it always does...

**
These are what I learned in my lesson today:

1. Always make sure the horse will be comfortable, not just us. Take care not to hurt her.

2. Don't get into the way of a horse-this one is especially for me!

3. Proper mounting and dismounting are physical skills. You have to lift your weight, jump high, and be very flexible. Not like me, crawling on and sliding off her back the first time!

4. Keep the proper equitation
Your alignment is right in the middle, sitting square and deep and balanced on the horse back. Now doing the right thing feels wrong after a lifetime of bad habits. Carol gave me some exercises to "confuse" the brain, so I don't hold on to the set habits and be able to build new posture and muscle memory.

5. Feel the natural rhythm of the movement of the horse
There was no saddle between Sugar and me today. I rode on her bareback only with a pad and a Navarro. Carol said that this will help me feel her muscle movement. After all, our goal eventually is to feel the movement of two bodies completely in sync.

Yorba Regional Park

I have a date with my mountain bike on Friday evenings. This week we decided to explore Yorba Regional Park.

This park is one-mile long with 175 acres of land. Although it is located alongside the highway, inside the park it is still quite tranquil. There are four lakes with connecting streams and plenty of trails for equestrian, cyclist and pedestrian use.

There was overcast and very few visitors were in the park. I cruised along Santa Ana river. It was quite chilly. I could hear and feel the wind blowing on my face. I wondered why it took me so long to get a bike. It has given me so much companionship and enjoyment.

Conditioning for Dance

One of the curriculum for my summer school is "Conditioning for Dance", This class is offered to both dancers and non-dancers. It combines techniques and skills from dance, exercise and various body therapy programs such as pilates, yoga, Alexander, etc, to enhance flexibility, strength, postural alignment, balance, coordination, circulation, endurance, and movement memory.

We have to study the human anatomy. There are so many technical terms to memorize. I felt like I am reading a medical textbook.

My instructor Kathryn admires the human body. She said that the more she studies human anatomy, the more she is in awe with how splendidly we are created.

We had an assessment of our postures and our skeletal allignment in class the other day. Now I know what was out of alignment in my normal posture. Perhaps that is why I am so clumsy. I am on a mission to fight this annoying condition.

I can always spot the dancers in our class. Their bodies are lean and toned and they move confidently. Looking at them gives me motivation to improve my own.

Horsemanship-Grooming and Bonding

I met Tigger at the ranch.

Tigger looked like a white horse. But Carol told me he was actually born a gray horse. He got white eyelashes but gray eyelids. This was how you could tell he was actually a gray horse. But over time his hair grew lighter and lighter. If you looked carefully, there were actualy still gray spots on the body.

Carol showed me the tools-the scrubs, the brushes, the combs, etc, and the safe and efficient procedures to groom him.

"They are enormous creatures. You just don't want to get hurt when they accidentally bump into you, hoofing or kicking"

I asked her if they liked to get groomed, She said yes. If they made some special sound, their mouth chewing and their eyes half closed, they were enjoying it.

Carol said that she disagreed with those who thought grooming a horse had nothing to do with horseback riding. "It is bonding time. It is important to bond with your horse."

I learned that when a horse is in the herd, they will groom each other. I also learned that horses like companionship. If they do not have other horses, they will take human, or even dogs or chickens as companions. They just don't like to be alone.

I scrubed his hair and combed his mane, like giving him a massage I petted him and talked to him. I pampered him.

What a difference it made after grooming. Tigger looked refreshed. His hair was radiant, shiny, and smooth. I walked this beautiful and content horse back to his stable.

I have never taken care of an animal in my life, except that I have kept and fed a fish before. But I don't think that counts. It was strangely satisfying to have served Tigger. I enjoyed my bonding time with him.

Target Episode

There was no very vanilla soy milk, no eggs and no root beer left in the refrigerator tonight. I looked at the clock: 9:15pm. Super Target in Brea was going to close at 10pm. I hopped in my car and drove off.

***
10:00pm at Target: An employee saw someone still wandering from aisle to aisle.
"Sorry, Madame, the store is already closed," He said politely.
"I know Sir... but I cannot leave your store...I cannot drive my car...I cannot find my car key...." I looked at him, mumbling.

I have discovered that my car key was gone when I got to my car after checkout.
I had no idea how and where I lost it. I checked with the cashiers and customer service lost and found immediately but there was no sign of it.

The young man joined me to retrace my steps in the different departments I have visited tonight. Unfortunately I have wandered off more than grocery needs.

Soon he was paging the manager and the manager was paging the entire staff in the superstore:
"A customer is looking for a black square leather key ring with a car key..."
Our search team grew bigger and bigger...

***
Finally a security guard running towards me, handed me the keys, as if he was giving a child her lollipop.
"Where did you find it?" I was exhilarated.
"Someone had found it at a corner earlier and gave it to me." He said, panting.

There was a very good ending to the rescue effort: A very grateful last customer was able to leave the store, and very happy employees that could go home.

Horsemanship-School in Session

Today is the first day of school. I arrived at the ranch in the morning, carrying my text book, Horseback Riding for Dummies by Audrey Pavia. I wore a shirt and jeans, without any jewelry. I found a pair of old rugged riding boots in the saddle room that fitted me. I love the simplicity of the uniform.

My instructor Carol led me to the stable where the school horses were. She said that it was important to make your presence intentional to the horses. Like me, they are easily frightened and they would panic. You don't want to startle them.

My school horse was called Sugar. What a sweet name literally! I only know how to greet her with a whisper and a smile. Carol then taught me some simple horse language to talk to her.

"Everyone will eventually come up with their own language," Carol said.

First she gave me an introduction on the mind of the horse and the equine society. She taught me how to enter the gate and put a halter on a horse. I practiced several times with Sugar. Even though it seemed like a simple task, there were a lot of practical wisdom and safety precautions of the procedure.

She showed me how to lead the horse out of the stable and walk into the arena.

"You have to walk side by side with her, keeping her with your pace. Although you have your space, and the horse has hers, she cannot invade yours, but you can cross hers," she said.

In the arena, Carol showed me ways to guide a horse on the ground, communicating with the lead rope. It wasn't exactly easy for me.

"You know, I am clumsy," I admitted to my instructor.

"Well, you will learn new skills. You will learn multitasking. You will learn to relax and be alert. You have to be in charge. You will have to become her leader," she affirmed me.

I think I sort of understand. However it does take a wise and strong leader to do it in a firm and loving way, like a parent with a child, or a teacher with a student.

There are a lot of subtlety and nuances to the techniques of telling the horse what is on your mind. You tell her what to do, not what not to do. You communicate through your body language and with your tack.

"There is a zen-like quality to the relationship of human with horses. A horse can sense your aura. If you are relaxed, she will feel it. If you are nervous, she will be too," Carol reminded me.

I walked Sugar back to her stable. I took out the halter on Sugar and closed the gate between us. I looked back at Sugar. She was resting in the stable, munching the hay.

"We are actually predators to the horses. They can easily kill us. What they need to do is just to kick us. The fact that they are willing to be with us; let us put a halter on them and ride on their backs; and learn to follow our commands; is truely amazing," Carol said thoughtfully.

I looked at Sugar again. She was such a magnificient and beautiful creature. And she had just taken a walk with me, submitting to my will.

It is indeed amazing. I am in awe and feel a deep gratitude.