Consistency, like technique, is the enemy of Connection with your horse.
Consider this. If I continue to do the same thing over and over again, I am not allowing for any development in my relationship with my horse, I am not allowing for any development of his or her understanding, I am not allowing for any change or growth and my horse will feel unheard and express that unhappiness in some kind of sadness or tension or even misbehavior.
Development of your relationship, development of my horse’s understanding of what I am looking for, change and growth in all kinds of areas, can cause change even in one session and in fact if it’s a good session together, these kind of changes WILL be happening in just about every session.
I know, I know… You’ve heard some very famous horsemen and women talk about consistency being important. But if they are good at what they do, look at what they are REALLY doing. I swear they’re so good at it and it’s so automatic, that they don’t even notice what they’re doing. They are responding to the horse’s needs in the moment. They are supporting that horse to be the best they can be, in the most effective way for THIS horse, in THIS moment.
And we ordinary people can be that good too.
Connection, connection, CONNECTION… and even more Connection… is the answer to every problem. The deeper our Connection, the more easily we understand our horse. The more we understand our horse, the better and more effective each response will be to whatever is going on IN THE MOMENT.
And the more our horse will love us.
Your comment on the blog about consistency, and what good trainers ACTUALLY do, as opposed to what they SAY they do, reminds me of the exact same comment from Mary Wanless about good riders!
Also, a lot of the old books on classical horse training started from the premise that the horses were fully stabled, so there was a real need for loosening and warming up the horse, which would of course be repetitive……………!
Awareness is everything hey? 🙂
You are so right about connection being the best way to approach horses. A friend asked me to evaluate a mare for re-homing. I went to Duchess’ stall window to hang out with her and had the impression that she had an edge. I was in my “horse evaluation” mode which is judgmental, ie looking critically at their bodies. Sometimes she would stamp a foot which I discounted to flies landing on her. She was also a little “lippy” not nippy but which felt like annoyance. I asked the stable helper about her and he said that a few weeks ago she lost her long time companion next door – a mare that had seizures that they put down. Currently she was rotating stall run with another mare which meant she was indoors more than normal. I went back to her stall and mentally apologized to her and opened my heart to her for her loss. Her attitude changed significantly. She became calm, like “finally, you listened to me.” It was an important reminder for me to look at more than just the body of a horse. Thanks for your work.
Oh Nina – what a gift when we hear/feel/know their story. It invariably changes things.