The Point of Cowboy Tai Chi - self awareness in horsemanship
The skills that we teach in clinic’s and lessons and through the correspondence course are largely based off this thing we call “Self-Awareness.” We want to adapt that concept to interacting with horses on a variety of levels, primarily from a point of leadership and partnership.
I suppose one way to look at it is that we must mindfully be seeking a deeper level of self-awareness in order to develop what Ray Hunt and the Dorrance brothers called “FEEL.” Or feeling of the horse so that horse and human can learn to feel together.
If you have been around horses long enough, you will find that horsemanship attracts people who want to a “feel” of their horse to achieve that highest level of connection and communication. With that desire being an attracting factor, so much of how we help students is to begin creating Neural pathways that allow for mindful searching to achieve self-awareness.
I meet people all the time, whom, like myself, want to help horses and bond with their horse, but often get in their own way of achieving their goals. They in essence, (I know, I have been there in my life) cannot find a way to set aside their ego and emotional imbalance to see the horses needs clearly.
As the understanding of horses, Neuro Chemistry is recognizable and common knowledge myths about how horses think, feel, play and act need to be re-examined. Horsemen are going to have to adapt accordingly.
What I spend an increasingly larger amount of time coaching is how to help the student set aside their ego’s, low self-esteem and most importantly the unrealistic expectations of their horse. This requires one to face the fact that horses do not possess the brain capacity to have ego’s, or plot against us. They have reactions or respond with their own sense of reasoning largely based on their innate instinct to survive.
Simply understood, horses live in the moment, so we must learn to share that moment with them. This is called being present. A concept that is fairly elusive to our on-demand world availalble with a flick of the thumb.
When I see a human putting pressure on horses to hurry up and comply, as a result of being chased, abused, drugged or harassed, I will try and intervene on the horse’s behalf and cause the human to actively develop self-awareness. The results are generally wonderful for all involved too.
When I think back to my list of amazing teachers of Horsemanship, the very common observation they have, is, at least when they were working with a horse, they demonstrated a strong sense of self-awareness and emotional fitness.
Self-Awareness is having a clear perception of your personality, including strengths, weaknesses, thoughts, beliefs, motivation, and emotions. Self-Awareness allows you to understand other people and likely horses too, how they perceive you and your actions, your attitude and your responses to them in the moment.
How to develop and increase self-awareness around horses (and in everyday life)
1. Look at yourself objectively. Do the same for your horse!
2. Keep a journal, find a way to measure progress. Phases are a great measure of progress. Journal what phase you do on any given day, then check back to see if your horse is getting lighter! Our emotions often make us critical due to ego, money and time constraints.
3. Write down your goals, plans, and priorities, keep track of your horse’s progress and your own journey of growth.
4. Perform daily self-reflection.
5. Practice meditation ,quiet times or mindfulness habits. To apply this directly to your horsemanship, practice the art of doing nothing with your horse. Or add a meditation or quiet-time to your work out. (Life changing practice for my own journey)
6. Ask a trusted instructor to describe you and your progress with your horse. Education and experience see things that you may not know to look for yet!
7. Allow your horse to give you feedback and take it with a sense of humor and a shot of tequila. Some days, when we lack connection and emotional fitness, we can leave a not so positive feel on our horse. If your horse develops any sort of behavior that you would otherwise call: stubborn, cheeky, spooky, arrogant or naughty, this is likely your horses way of telling you he is not feeling safe or cool with what has been happening. Take a deep breath, think objectively and find a solution if you pinpoint something obvious.
8. Check your emotions at the gate. You can carry compassion and a sense of humor with you, nothing but positive feel should come from you. Your horse can only sense if you are excited or relaxed. When a horse feels our heart rate rise and sees our grumpy face, he only has the brain capacity to assume you are a hungry predator excited about eating. (Could be why he runs from you?)
Want to Be a Good Leader? Step One: Know Thyself around horses
The principles of Heartfelt Horsemanship are to create strong leaders, if only for horses.
1. Keep an open mind. Understand the horse’s idea first.
2. Be mindful of your strengths and weaknesses. Don’t go so far outside your comfort zone that you cannot come back.
3. Stay focused or the better way to say this is: Remember your intent. Be clear in your intent and keep it simple. Horses cannot think 20 goals at a time!
4. Set boundaries.
5. Know your emotional triggers and get help in coping with those.
6. Embrace your intuition.
7. Practice self-discipline.
Tips for improving your self-awareness.
1. Get out of the comfort zone. No one grows there. Adversely don’t go farther than you can safely manage. Build goals.
2. Identify your triggers.
3. Do not judge your feelings. Learning horsemanship is tough, and sometimes can be frightening. Be kind t yourself.
4. Don't make decisions in a bad mood around horses. You will regret it. Rather hang it up for the day and try when you are refreshed!
5. Don't make decisions in a good mood either, good horsemen are objective and neutral!
6. Get to the birds-eye view.
By Jamie Lynn,
Lead Instructor a Heartfelt Horsemanship
Clinician of Natural Horsemanship
Author