EQUU8 students have exceeded expectations the past couple of weeks. They cause me to think before I answer a question. They are making eye contact with me and the volunteers. They are laughing from that place deep down in your belly that generates a smile that cannot be made by your face alone. They keep me honest. And some of them, venturing their way toward independence, are exploring their own horsemanship...guided by EQUU8's philosophy.
Some of you may not know about our horsemanship philosophy. I've blogged about how it can change your life, and how sometimes you can get a little lost on your journey. No one is perfect.
Therapeutically, horses can give us limitless gifts and teach life lessons, if only we would pay attention. Others might receive self-confidence, balance, or self-awareness. Others may learn about respect, boundaries, or compassion. And then there are those who are given not just two working legs, but four.
Today, some great changes were revealed in kids who, when they started last fall, expressed discontent for even being around horses. Some hated the smell and the dirt. Some hated their classmates. Others were fearful. Today was lesson 6 and they all demonstrated that they had learned how to lead a horse, walk, stop, get a soft feel, turn left, turn right, and release. As a reward, they all got to trot for the first time. And they all, sitting next to each other on the top bench of the bleachers, raised their hands when asked if they wanted to continue riding with EQUU8 when the school year was done.
One child today was frozen with fear of getting on a horse he hadn't ridden previously. He was afraid of heights and afraid of his horse taking one step. He was asked to breathe, pet his horse, think of a song, but nothing worked...he wanted down. So we counted to 10 and then dismounted him. We let him sit out for a moment and at the end of the lesson, he wanted to get back on, so he could experience what his classmates experienced...and he, too, trotted.
Just like humans, horses experience anxiety. They learn from from their experiences and (in my opinion) perform better for the release of pressure. We humans know that a lot of pressure can make us angry, irritated, or burn us out. If we are anxious, does pressure help us relax?
Yet pressure is often how people are taught to handle horses, and horses are often expected to be compliant regardless of being ridden by the inexperienced. If they don't perform, they often face stud chains, harsh bits, spurs, or whips. They get blamed for their reactions to being pulled too hard or forced to do something they don't understand.
At EQUU8, we strive to pay attention to the needs of the horse...as much as the needs of the rider. And that requires training. Lots and lots of training. But I'm notsomuch talking about training the horses...it's the riders, instructors, and volunteers who need training.
I'm going back to Buck's clinic this year and I'm taking two prospective EQUU8 instructors with me.
EQUU8 is teaching me so much. And over 80 miles of white dashes on the highway can't replenish depleted energy and raw emotion at the end of a day.
As for tonight, how do I feel about EQUU8? It's beautiful. Imperfect, but beautiful.
