WHAT'S IN IT FOR THE HORSE?

Many question the use of horses in competition and racing, and what the horses' benefits are in this. For the welfare of horses it is important to address how horses really are in the human world. In my inbox I have received numerous of articles discussing this, and for some reason all of them conclude that there is nothing good for the horses in this. The horses are victims of humans' ambitions and greed. These articles made me start thinking. I become curious of the article-writers's own stories, what are their baggage and what are the conclusions based on? How can we know that horses don't enjoy racing, how can we know what horses prefer? Are all horses the same, do all horses prefer and need the same kind of activity and stimulation?

On my journey of personal and professional development, I have spent a lot of time with horses in various settings. I have been so fortunate to closely follow horses kept the natural way, competing horses on amateur level, high level horses in dressage and show jumping, and racehorses on international level. I have spent time observing the horses and the interaction with the owners, working with the horses and treated them.

Spending time in one of the most successful racing-stables in the US gave me valuable information of horses' life in stressful situations. These were top trained athletes working hard, traveling a lot and competing often. What I met there was satisfied horses, happy horses, playful horses. The stable had a relaxed and calm atmosphere despite the hectic traffic in the aisle with grooming and showering horses, shoeing and massaging horses. The horses gave an impression of peaceful accept, joy and lifespirit intact. 

In contrast to this we find the ones who dedicate their life to give their horses a natural living, or as natural as possible. One of those I followed closely for a while was very into doing everything by the book when it came to proper natural feeding, pasture, the herd, treatments and training. The owner was very careful to follow guidelines from gurus within training, alternative treatment and naturla horsemanship, her drive force wasn't money to earn but the best for the horses. What did I meet there? I met horses with no spirit, no playfulness and horses who seemed bored. They were doing their job and excercises without passion and without impulsion. 

According to the articles it should have been the other way around. To me this is an important message; 

It is not about what you do, but how you do it. 

In all disciplines you find the success-stories and you find the sad stories.

This brings me back to the question of what are the platforms of the conclusions. As I see it, it has two aspects. The owner's and horse-handler's role in the interaction with the horses; it tells a lot more than if the horse is used in racing or as a trail-buddy. But for this story, more importantly; it is about the article-writers' point of view.

When you look at something from the outside - which glasses do you wear? What are you looking for? If you go into something to find out, and you look for negative aspects - guess what you will find. You see all the negative things you looked for, and more. You will see what you want to see, what fits you. This is all about your own baggage. Are you able to look completely objective on things you meet or do you put your own stuff into what you see? One of the most common things humans do when interacting with others, is projecting their own stuff to others. This is what came to my mind when I read these articles. Are they projecting their own stuff in this? Do they see clearly? Are they willing to turn the mirror in and have a look? What is it really that triggers them? By pointing out others failure you are projecting your own stuff on others instead of looking in and see why this is of concern for you. This is related to all aspects in life. To have successful meetings with others, you have to find the objectivity in yourself and be able to observe. If you are not willing to let go of previous experiences, this will color your point of view.

"...in order to help another effectively I must understand more thanhe, yet first of all surely I must understand what he understands. If i do not know that, my greater understanding will be of no help to him. If, however, I am disposed to plume myself of my greater understanding, it is because I am vain or proud, so that at the end, instead of benefiting him, I want to be admired..."

Søren Kierkegaard

This quote is about helping others, but is as relevant in this. To fully understand you need to have a deeper understanding for what you are looking into. You must be able to put your own stuff away so you can see clearly. If you look for something negative, you will find it. You can also turn this, if you look for something that can benefit you, you might end up only seeing the positive aspects. This can make you tumble. This is about the duality in life; everything in life has two sides, are you willing to look at them both? Do you accept all angles - the positive and the negative ones?

Horses are unique individuals; they have their own gifts and their own path, just like human beings. I believe that some horses enjoy the excitement of racing, while others prefer a natural living life with no stress, pressure and large amounts of training. Let us see them as they are, not as we are. It is all about seeing the horse, it is about awareness and it is about being objective - put your own stuff away and see it from another angle.

This can be related to your interaction with fellow humans as well. How do you meet others?

Horses are playful and they love to run, horses are in the moment, they are high spirited individuals who enjoy life - if they are allowed to.

So what's in it for the horse? That is up to the horse to decide, it can be a lot more than we are able to understand. It is your responsibility to read the horses you have in your care - see it without looking through your previous experiences. Put your own stuff aside, be objective and make clean observations.

There is a story behind everything - look into the story without shades

LEVEL UP WITH YOUR HORSE - LEVEL UP WITH YOURSELF

To succeed in your connection with your horse - to really succeed in the interaction – the aspects behind the technique need to be addressed. Techniques whether it is horsemanship, traditional dressage technique or other proved methods to train horses can be good tools by hand, but they can be an efficient way of hiding from something that is not so pleasant to feel. Handling horses is not so much about technique as it is about feel and touch.

The handler’s way of treating horses reveals where you are in your personal development. It is common knowledge that horses – and other animals – read you like an open book. It is your choice to decide what to do with the information given to you from the horses.

Are you so focused on doing the technique you have learned from a guru correctly, that you forget to see the bigger picture of you and your horse? Are you trying so hard to do it exactly the same way as your instructor showed you, that the joy of training is gone?

What is the correct method – who can tell?

Some branches of horsetraining are based on keeping the horse distanced from you. With long ropes are the horses not allowed to come close to you, if they do they are disrespectful. Often the ones who are most into working on keeping the horse on distance – and who succeed the most – is the ones who have most distance to self, distance to own emotions. By keeping this distance to the horse how will that connection become? By keeping distance to yourself how will you be able to connect with others – horses or humans? How will you be able to connect with yourself?

Others keep the rope tight to be in control. By controlling everything, can it be you miss something? Miss the crucial sign because you are too busy to control the horse. Too busy to keep the control that you end up fighting the horse? Often those who pick the fights and cling to the ropes, have a tendency of controlling their emotions and end up fighting their emotions.

A good leader is that the one who keep everyone on distance? Or is a good leader the one who have short leash, controlling every step?

A good leader is a confident leader. A leader who can differentiate situations. Who can see if this was a creative stunt that can lead to something positive, or if this is a situation that can lead to failure, danger or damage. A good leader is the one who is able to see the bigger picture and don’t get hung up in techniques. A good leader sees what is needed for this particular team to unlock potential and maximize performance. This is how it is in the corporate world, this is how it is in school and this is even how it is in the stable.

To master your own life you have to take the lead of yourself, you have to become the confident and balanced leader of your life. To become a good leader you have to be willing to improve you, to look into your own patterns. Being open-minded and curious is a good start. The more open you as a horsehandler are to look into your own patterns, the more you open up for the good relationship with your horse. You start to know your horse in a different way, and you got the confidence to find your own way and your own methods, you tailor your own path with your horse.

You want your horse with life-spirit, you want a horse who enjoys its work. Do you sparkle? Does your life-spirit flourish? Do you enjoy working with your horse?

To create a balance in your relation with your horse, you as a horse-handler has to dare yourself, challenge yourself. You have to be true with your own emotions. This is the basis of every connection with horses, of every connection with any animal.

Every individual is unique, every interaction is unique.

Cherish the uniqueness.