I wanted to clarify the word "respect."  I learned from my instructor's that if they taught me that one plus one was two, and two plus two was four -

October 14, 2010

 

Unbelievable, but realistic and true.  I am documenting this to myself tonight, in the hopes of writing more in a new journal, or continuing this one.  I had an extraordinary evening with my horses tonight. 

 

I have learned that you ask for what you wish from a horse with the slightest of cue.  Whether, it be, a move of your seat, a slow pick up of the rein, the intention (which should be first,) or the follow through to the point of pressure – but not “pull.” 

 

All of the above is about “RESPECTING YOUR HORSE.” 

 

I now realize the power of that sentence. 

 

The respecting of your horse.

 

Means that you ask something of him, and if your love is true, your respect is true (just like in a human/human relationship) your answer from your horse

 

Will be true.

 

What I am saying is, ask him without the rope.  Ask him/her!

 

If you have shown him (I am thinking, even once) on a rope halter to go to the right, the left, a hind quarter, a front quarter, a whoa, a go over there!  Maybe, if we treat them as smart as we are, they learned it the first time we showed them.

 

Point is,

 

 

This a.m. I saw my horse (the alpha) Jester turn his head slightly to the left while looking at my horse Gator.  Gator moved off to the left.  Now, I am talking a SLIGHT tilt.  I had never been aware of this first (maybe third, what do I know) cue from a horse to another horse to move. 

 

Gator moved from the slight tilt of Jester’s head.  Now, I should mention to my fellow horse lovers that yes, I know the mean moves, the ears back, the snake head, etc.  This was different.  What I saw and have never seen was the look of the eye, the suggestion, the “you go away,” thought and slight tilt. 

 

I kept thinking about what happened between them all day.   I knew that I wanted to speak horse.  Then, I thought of how politely they “first” ask.

 

Maybe, this is unusual, because it was between two dominant horses.  Usually, when it is between a dominant horse and a lower horse I never see the steps of asking…

 

OH MY GOSH, I just realized what I just said.

 

A lower horse would be learning the cues so he is prompted abruptly with the “you move now, cue.”  Where as the

Older horse that knows the “cues” is given warnings and he should KNOW them already!  Which means something I learned just recently in a lesson.  When you know your horse knows what you are asking and you are STILL going through the phases of “ONE, TWO, THREE,”

 

He has already learned the “one, two, three,” so go from one to three!!!

 

So, how does “RESPECT’ play in all of this?

 

I am thinking it is HUGE.

 

Tonight, I was moving horses from one area to another.  I decided to “play,” with them.  Started asking two of them in the one area for motion.  Oh, but what was different??

 

I DIDN’T have a rope!  I didn’t have a halter!

 

I just thought, “play” and motioned with my one hand for movement, and pointed with the other.

 

I had one horse on a bridge, and one horse the alpha, standing and focusing on me. 

 

All from my hands and energy and love.

 

Lots of kisses, praise, and fun.  They told me that if I respected them, then they didn’t need to be on the end of a rope.  They are smart enough to know what I want.  Oh, and they love me enough to try!

 

It was unbelievable.

 

It really was.

 

Now, I understand why the Indians rode without a saddle or bridle.  They gave their horses the respect they deserved, and treated them as equal. 

 

So, tomorrow, I can’t wait to ask my horses for more!!!!