Thursday, August 15, 2013

Lightness, Not Push or Pull


We want to have lightness in our lives.
Not Push or Pull.

There are times to be firm in situations such as with children.  Yet how to be firm can be a choice how to act too.

Horses are very sensitive.  As horse trainer- clinician Buck Brannaman says, "They can feel a fly land on them". 
They're sensitive to energy, their surroundings and others.

Lightness of aids-working with a horse can win over any kind of pushing or pulling.  Especially with an animal as big and strong as a horse.
There are ways to work with an animal and have cooperation.

I'm continually fascinated with horses and the interaction with them.

Lightness comes up.
It sometimes requires one to take a different approach and not react.

I've had moments when riding when it was such a lightness and connectedness I could almost hear the "music of the dance".  Wonderful.
Yet I've also found it's not just when riding. 

Some moments in my day at volunteering at LAH farm.

I had finished cleaning one paddock with a small amount in the wheel barrel.  I moved onto Lady's paddock.
I did Lady's paddock and the wheel barrel was getting full.
I had to do her stall next.  For a moment I thought about dumping out what I had.  I spoke of it-  yah  I talk to myself.  But I didn't follow through.  I thought I'd just finish the stall.
Lady was in her stall.  I gave her a couple of nudges on her side and asked her to move over.  She didn't move.  I tried again, and she just kept eating.
With a sigh, I thought.  Then I choose to go dump the wheel barrel and come back to it.
I dumped out the wheel barrel and came back to her in her stall.  This time I made sure I was more light about it and gently asked "Can you please step over. She did.  I asked for one more step over.  Good- perfect.  I thanked her.
Was it my pushing?  Did she pick up on my wants to dump the full wheel barrel or just finish? Did she feel my uncertainty?
Perhaps
I gave her a pat.

Another time it was Cozmo.
I was going to enter his paddock.  He greeted me at the gate.  He was being sort of nosy and wanting attention.  I moved his face away and said, "Can't I just come in".  ( yes I talk to them) He just stood there.
He didn't want to be pushed away.
I had an idea.  To take a different approach.  Use this big brain with the sensitivity.
I thought "he wants to be near me".  So I moved to the corner of the fence and asked him to come to me.  He did.
Guess I got it right, because I then was able to enter the paddock.  I talked to him as I cleaned.  Good

Reframing to lightness.
Clearer, softer message.