Training horses is a path not a destination. Becoming a horseman or a horsewoman is not some elevated summit to reach but a journey to be undertaken. The way of the horse is a prescription for engaging the Universe. It serves as an algorithm for finding a more fulfilling life; maybe even a shot at peace and happiness, too.
Ray Hunt, one of the great sages of natural horsemanship, summed it up: “My goal with horses is not to beat someone; it’s to win within myself. To do the best job I can do and tomorrow to try to do better. You’ll be working on yourself to accomplish this, not your horse”.
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LGCT Shanghai warm up by Tian Xia for Equnews[/caption]Every time you step into the round pen with a horse, remind yourself that today you may stand on the threshold of a great new personal discovery. Each horse, in his own way, is ready to coach you.
And when your resolution to change – to work on the person you want to become – becomes heartfelt and sincere, then the horse will reveal his next great secret, his next great gift, to you. Horses are perfect teachers because they uncover your real motivation.
They tell you when you are wholehearedly committed or faking it, when you are making vow or just paying lip service. Horses see what’s holding you back. And when you find the courage to confront those shortcomings, horses will always reward you with a way to overcome them.
Working with horses on the ground is a simple, easy and safe way to see and feel spiritual concepts at work.
Horsemanship is another way, another vehicle, to achieve awakening. By altering how we visualize our relationships with horses, we discern a pathway leading to self-improvement, fulfillment and awareness. Horses connect with our souls, the part of us that links us to everything.
Horses help us find these bonds. The connections become as real as the ground we walk on.
