After a long weekend with two events and a private demonstration, I feel like a train has run over me. I spent a lot of time on my feet and they and my hip are letting me know they are unhappy.
This morning when I went to the barn, I found that some sort of critter had dug a hole under it next to the entrance to the tack room. I know it wasn't there yesterday. Happy Monday!
The Difference in Being Mindful with Horses
Yesterday morning when cleaning the barn and doing the final setup for the Open Barn/Demo Day I decided to let Ace and Patty out to graze a bit. When I went out to move them back into the barn so I could go in the house, eat, and change clothes I was in a hurry. Then it started raining! I was not being mindful of what I was doing. I was a little aggressive with the tool that I had taken out to help me move them back to the barn. And, of course, they didn't cooperate. It took me much longer to complete this task than it should have.
I know this happens. They feel when I'm in a rush and frustrated. I have a woman, Raven, staying here and helping me with some administrative stuff and she was observing the fiasco.
During the demonstration, Patty was a champ. I'm a little hesitant to put Ace in with people because he likes to grab clothing with his teeth and not let go. The participants left early, so I asked Raven if she'd like to do some work. Then I asked her if she would let me put Ace in to see how he would work. Her eyes got wide. Ace is 17 hands, a tall horse. When I got him, I was a bit intimidated. I reassured her and said I could put Patty in. She opted for Ace.
Ace has only watched Patty several times and has never been in the round pen to do Gestalt work with someone. He was great until he grabbed her coat and wouldn't let go. Was he testing her boundaries? Then he went around the pen finding things to chew on. It was like he was telling her she didn't have to be the good girl and fit into what she felt were societal norms. She could misbehave like him. Overall, he was great, and I will observe him some more to verify with him that this is something he wants to do with me. Boundaries may be something he excels at. I must set them frequently with him as well.
Afterward, I let them out to graze for a while and went to the house to do a few things. When it was time to get them to feed the Raven asked if she should help (she hasn't been around horses much). I explained to her that the earlier escapade had been totally my fault. I had been in my head and in a hurry and they felt that.
She did help and it was much smoother. We guided them back to the barn and got them in with little trouble. The difference? I had chosen to be present with them and they responded accordingly.
Is your current mindset more like the first scenario or the second of getting the horses into the barn? Does your life feel like plain vanilla ice cream or is it on the spicy side like salsa? I'll be having Sunset Connections with the horses on Wednesday evenings. This is a safe sacred space to explore and can lead to more peace in your life. Click the button below to sign up or connect with me here and we can explore the possibilities.
Breathe and set your boundaries.
Make a Connection in the comments below.
Onward!
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