Horses don’t lie and other life truths

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So, I’m reading this book, “Horses Don’t Lie:  What Horses Teach us About our Natural Capacity for Awareness, Confidence, Courage and Trust” by Chris Irwin with Bob Weber. Bear with me while I quote a passage from the book. You see things are on my mind and, isn’t it just the syncronicity of life, that always has us reading just the perfect book, or hear just the perfect words, or stumble across just the perfect thing at the perfect time? Well I am reading just the perfect book right now.

“Horses don’t lie-they always tell the tuth with their bodies. There is no separation between what a horse thinks and what it’s body says. People, on the other hand, bluff and pretend and hide”.

“In other sports, if you’re not having your best day, it doesn’t bother your equipment. Your golf clubs don’t care if you slice and your surfboard doesn’t care if you fall off. Horses, however, care intensely. Remember, they are counting on us to provide clearly consistent leadership-we are the ones who are supposed to know what we’re doing…So an equestrian must possess more than physical skill. The rider’s mind must remain constantly focused on the moment-to-moment application of pressure and weight…constantly aware of the surrounding environment, looking for distractions. The rider’s spirit must calmly and confidently project straightforwardness into the horse. We ourselves must possess these skills of the body, mind and spirit so that we can impart to our horses the attributes of impulsion, balance, flexion, focus, awareness, trust, calm, confidence and willingness. I know. This is a tall order“. Mr. Irwin continues to express how we must be (in my words) our own authentic self, true to ourselves and just keep on trying….

“I’ll get better, but right now this is where I’m at and my intentions are honorable”.

Once again, I find a “horse” lesson is one of the best “people” lessons there is.

Deep Well Ranch2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, back at the barn, there are some possible changes on the horizon; there are definitely many things to think over here in my little land. They are not things I intend to directly address here just yet. At this stage, they are ponderings and possibilities on the horizon. I will think them over, sit with them, feel them, attempt to use the attributes discussed above to know what the best is and to know that whatever may come, “my intentions are [always] honorable”. And if I stray from those intentions, I’m certain my (embarrassing) horse will let me know.

Personal growth doesn’t come from avoiding risk, challenge and stress. We must make peace with it.

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“You don’t always need a plan. Sometimes you just need to breath, trust, let go and see what happens”

–Mandy Hale

one year, down

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home sweet

One year.

A few days ago marks our one year anniversary living here in the barn. What a (literal) ride it has been!

A few things I’ve learned so far along this ride:

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Hold on, but not too hard –trust me, your horse will just run faster

Know how to ride –and know how to take a fall

Crying is okay –as long as you wait until you and your horse (child, boss, etc…) are safe and no one is watching 🙂

Be wise enough to walk away from any nonsense around you  –running allowed

Focus on the positives –and soon the negatives are harder to see

Don’t take things too personally, even if it seems they are. Rarely do people do things because of you-they do things because of THEM –unless we’re talking horses and then that’s void, they are definetly doing it because of you!

Never mistake kindness for weakness –humans and horses. Believe me, a horse is powerful enough to hurt you but generally chooses not to

Do not come from a place of anger  –a moment of breathing can change everything

There is a HUGE difference between aggressive and ASSERTIVE  –again, breathe and stand in your confidence

Remember who you are at all times –see above

“Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear, or a fool from any direction” –old cowboy saying

Always jump on for the ride, never say no to an adventure, live passionately –and learn all you can while the ride lasts

Watch out for barbed wire

And don’t forget to enjoy the scenery

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Cowgirl luxuries

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This is how a cowgirl goes on vacation.

cowgirl vacation

Days Inn. 25 minutes from home. It’s funny how things change. How priorities change. As we change and grow. As we morph into new lifestyles and ways of being. There was a time when a vacation meant a plane, visiting family, or another country, an adventure. All of that still has it’s place. But, let me explain. It had been a week …more like two… of a sick baby yearling horse (better now), working with the new rescue horses, “riding” a couple of those semi-trained ones, pregnant mare checks (she still hasn’t had that baby!), I could go on but you get the point. Basically, it’s just life here at the barn amplified a little bit. We needed a quick and easy get-away. As I was saying, oh how priorities change. Luxury, by definition, now is a quiet uninterrupted night of sleep. No tractors, no hay deliveries, no pregnant mare checks, no sick yearling checks. No 6 AM feedings in the freezing.

vacation 5And lots of reading to catch up on. An indoor pool (in the middle of winter). For my daughter who loves to swim. Myself, a stack of books to read by that pool. For both of us, no stalls to clean, no dirt, no lessons, no boarders, no trail rides, no tourists.

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Other luxuries? Let’s see, I already addressed sleep. Oh, controlled heat. No fire to start. Just set that thermostat and relax. Water pressure. A nice shower anytime we want. It’s hit and miss at our place unless you shower in the middle of the night. At any point in the day, water troughs are filling, horses are bathing…all leads to almost zero water pressure in the barn apartment. Time. Time, for sleep, time for relaxing, time for crafting. We did get those valentine cards done!

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All of those things I’m whining about above, we love them. Honestly. We could move back into our old house. If we wanted to. We wouldn’t. We love our life. But every cowgirl needs a weekend of “luxuries”! Notice, she’s reading horse books even here? We know where her heart is.

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So we can enjoy the occasional quick couple of days of “luxury” and rejuvenate ourselves too!

vacation 2

vacation

…see you back at the barn…

“We need a renaissance of wonder. We need to renew, in our hearts and in our souls, the deathless dream, the eternal poetry, the perennial sense that life is miracle and magic”.

–E. Merrill Root

She’s at it again

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valentines 2She’s at it again. That same mischievious (in all the best ways) boarder. Valentine’s garland strung throughout the tack room when we arrived home late one evening after a long day gone to a horse show. She even took extra care to make sure our own pics where placed right above our front door.

valentinesI suppose whether you are in a relationship or not, it doesn’t matter if you have a horse (or just love a horse). That’s the most “stable” relationship. Sorry, I couldn’t help it.

“There is no secret so close as that between a rider and his horse” -unknown