I practice and teach "invoking the Dralas"; energy beyond aggression. One of the things I have experienced in my very ecclectic life has been the outcome and emotional consequence of aggression. You see, I have ended up close to some very aggressive people over the last three years and I can tell you right now - it makes it next to impossible to relax! Our horses are often the "sponges" that absorb our emotional, energetic discharges and (having experienced such things in blatant ways), I can assure you it makes a being hypervigilant. Our horses either become anxiety riddled trying to avoid "setting us off" or shut down completely to hide within a cocoon... waiting for it all to end somehow. I am glad that I have "been there" because I am more aware now than I was three years ago just how deeply the toxin penetrates and how important it is to fill the well of experiences for our horses, our dogs and each other with pure, positive experiences. Eventually, the negative ones will be diluted, then replaced by the better ones. I'm working on it for myself. I know I was supposed to feel what I felt to increase my empathy, but it was sure annoying at the time (painful & confusing to be frank). So, relax your horse by showing him common courtesy, compassion and respect. Then he won't have to defend himself and become unable to relax! COMMUNICATE by also listening!
