Relax

Hot Dogs

Decades ago, an ex-husband used to pick on me because of my Vegetarianism (short marriage!). He would stand in front of me with a hot dog in his hand and say, "Lips and rectums (I'm paraphrasing to be polite) - that's what they make hot dogs out of"... then he would EAT the hot dog! I was young and blonde, but not dumb! It didn't take long for me to move along to another life... but the impression that one silly act made upon me was important. People will eat absolutely "toxic" things without a second thought! So, it is no surprise that people will feed their animals even less healthy things. But REAL food is all around us. I was taught, as a teenager, to eat only things that will rot; just eat them before they do. If we fill our bodies (and our animals' bodies) with chemical-free, nutrient rich, enzymes filled foods - we will all thrive. I am Vegetarian. It's work to balance my protein (amino acids) and I fall short sometimes... and I've been known to eat a Tofu hot dog (you know what comes to mind every time!) and I'm not my perfect weight, and I love cheese and homemade breads... but I can guarantee that I will never knowingly eat "lips or rectums". I'd rather eat a pinecone.

Half Pass Right at Trot

"All my horses can breathe"

Classical Dressage

The Dressage horse should learn early in his schooling to stretch the topline by relaxing the neck forward and down - not to curl the neck or bring the nose back behind the verticle; but instead to enliven the top of his body with stretching that developes the musculature to carry him in suppleness.

Perceptions

Whatever problems come to us from beings or inanimate objects, if our mind gets used to perceiving only the suffering or the negative aspects of them, then even from a small negative incident great mental pain will ensue. For it is the nature of indulgence in any concept, whether suffering or happiness, that the experience [will be intensified by that indulgence. As] negative experience gradually becomes stronger, a time will come when most of what appears before us will become the cause of bringing us unhappiness, and happiness will never have a chance to arise. If we do not realize that the fault lies with our own mind's way of gaining experience, and if we blame all our problems on the external conditions alone, then the ceaseless flame of habitual negative deeds such as hatred and suffering will increase in us. That is called: "All appearances arising in the form of enemies."
-Dodrupchen

Well of Experiences

This concept is not new - it is quite Buddhist in nature and origin. We all have a "well" or collection of the things that have happened in our lives (and for reincarnation - previous lives lived) that determine our expectations in the Now. This holds true for our horses (and dogs, etc.) just as it does for us. If our well is full of positive, uplifting experiences, we will tend to expect positive things from those around us and from situations. Should we have a well filled with negative experiences; disappointment, cruelty, pain, conflict... we will expect the same from new situations, at least until they prove themselves to be different. Working with horses, we are adding "drops" to their wells of experience - if they have had predominantly negative experiences with humans, of course they will expect more of the same and prepare, each in his own unique way, to be "assaulted" again. If mostly positive drops fill a horse's "well", he will remain open, friendly, trusting in new situations. As the human partner, it is our duty to replace the negative drops with postitivity with daily edifying and loving care. Just like pouring cream into coffee - eventually the cup will be filled with cream when the coffee has become diluted and finally replaced.

The Holistic Horse

Horses have represented many things to many cultures. We now share a new path with Equus - one of healing each other on many levels. From a "beast of burden" to a warrior companion to provider of transport and partner in sport and art, horses came along with us through the millenia and now stand beside us as we heal ourselves. I have a student whose severe head injuries in a car accident left her in a coma for months, then unable to keep her balance for years. Her horse became her physical and emotional therapist and now, decades later in her '70's, she still rides him! I worked in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy for years and a very violent, very large 11 year old boy overcame his rage by overcoming his fear with the help of my horses - after months of trying to lift the hooves of my gelding, Dorje, he held up and picked a front hoof one day and told me that he wasn't afraid anymore. I knew that he meant he wasn't afraid of much more than just horse hoof lifting! My horse is healing me; your horse is healing you. From the extremes of Autism and bone breaking injuries to the simple struggles with stiffness, aging and motivation; horses open us to our strengths, listen to our sorrows, stand beside us without judgement and dance with us if we just allow ourselves to dance!!!