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It was a sunny winter afternoon and the two ponies were grazing far down the field. If it's wet and horrid they will often stand by the shed or gate looking out for me or something to liven the day, or in early anticipation of my evening visit with buckets and hay (see photo). On a sunny afternoon they are less enthusiastic about seeing me, so it is more challenging to change their ideas.
When I enter their domain, I leave my world of time and expectations. I try to unclutter my human mind and stop thinking of problems or life, I am in the moment. Yoga and meditation have helped me understand this, although I don't practise either regularly. Once you let go of human thoughts of intention, you can start to connect with equine minds, and become approachable. You also hear and feel more intensely, possibly as animals do.
My plan was to
groom and check them over, remove burrs from matted forelocks, go for a walk
and do some stretching and flexion exercises with Fina. But this is no fixed
schedule and it is not even in my thoughts once through the
gate. The old adages, of taking more time to take less time, or taking the time
it takes, apply, and what we did
would depend on the horses.
I first observe them peacefully grazing, and assess that neither pony is going to make a move towards me today. Seraphina loves people and can rarely resist coming to see me or offering her back for a scratch. If that happens, Lucie who may appear to be concentrating on eating but misses nothing, will eventually and nonchalantly come and join us. Today the first move would have to be mine.
I zigzag slowly down the field, observing where and what they have been eating, where they are rolling and pooing. Fina now looks up and watches me. I sense she is thinking about moving so I look at her invitingly but don't move nearer. When I think I see a weight change I take an encouraging step to meet her, and she starts to move. (Mind, flexion, weight, feet, as useful to recognise the sequence in the pasture as it is in groundwork and training.) I go to meet her, as the thought to come to me was hers, like an invitation. We greet, touch, connect and spend time enjoying that. Eventually I raise my energy a little and turn, suggesting she accompanies me up the field. Sometimes the connection is enough for us to move together, today it takes a couple of tries before I draw her with me. Initially I fall in step with her, soon I will take the lead and set the pace and line.
It is uphill and there are lots of rest stops for a fat pony but no hurry, I take turns with her to suggest a pause, this stop start strengthens the empathy and connection. I note that our progress has drawn Lucie into the movement. She will follow slowly. By the time we arrive at the shelter, Fina is in step with me and Lucie a few metres away. They both look expectantly at me. I produce brushes and Fina moves up for scratches with the curry comb. She is very tactile, Lucie less so, so it is often me who fulfils her needs for mutual grooming. I see her try to instigate mutual grooming with Lucie who will oblige briefly then walk away.
After a couple of minutes, interestingly, Lucie moves in and takes Fina's place by moving her away. I love it when Lucie actively requests my attention. She offers her underneck and sure enough there are lumps and some ticks hiding in her fur. These done, I profit by attempting to untangle her mane and forelock, both full of small burrs. I need to work gently but fast, before Lucie loses interest, but today she is soft and patient. Fina becomes impatient for attention and nuzzles me and I ask her to wait. How good is that, my horses are competing quietly for my attentions, asking me to touch them, wanting to be with me.
I haven't yet put halters on, I do so now just so I can ask Lucie to stay if she decides to leave. I rarely tie them up these days. I always ask for their participation in everything we do. I remember a time when I would always halter and tie a horse to do anything. As I free groom them in mutual cooperation, the thought makes me smile. I don't pick up feet, I show my intention and they offer their feet. If I offer a halter they put their nose into it. Yes, I taught them to do that and now it is a learned automatic response but it is mutually beneficial. Doing the same thing the same way is not just mechanical, they can find confidence in a repeated pattern of activity. And they can always say no. If they aren't quite ready I wait until they are. This isn't letting them make decisions, I make the suggestion, observe their response; they know what I want, but if there is a wind or strange noise they need to analyse and are feeling momentarily unconfident and unsafe, I wait, showing empathy and patience. I don't go "do this now!" I share the moment and ask again so they can feel safe about it and this builds confidence and connection. Never waste an opportunity like that.
After grooming I suggest a walk. Lucie suggests going up the lane and I let her lead us to a favourite grazing spot. She would have jumped up a wall to get there quicker and I did say No to that idea, she has osteoarthritis but can still jump on the good legs. Sometimes the leader needs to take control and look after the herd for their own safety. I put her behind me and lead them safely up the path. Lucie and experience have taught me so much about the importance of when and how to step up and be a good leader in their eyes. So after a few minutes grazing, which was their idea, I pick up my energy and take it and the horses in another direction, going somewhere. They follow my suggestion without question and we move as a group.
It has been a while since I played with Seraphina and asked her for some effort. She is a low energy good doer and rather than restrict her grazing in summer I try to turn the fat into muscle. I can't do much during winter except some stretches and movements. I don't want to 'make' her do things but at the same time it is for her own health. I try to help her find healthy movement and enthusiasm and we do things together. Because of her unspoilt nature, she doesn't put up objections, and it is easy to tap into her natural willingness and curiousity. If I teach her something like a full turn or a pattern we go very slowly through a teaching process, breaking it down into little bits day by day before trying to put a movement together. I have been teaching her to go around me in a close circle. Being more interesting than grass is challenging with horses but if you present your ideas in a non threatening way, offer with suggestions or energy, be prepared to wait or to accept the smallest try, a thought or flexion in the required direction, I believe horses will offer in return, and your ideas become theirs. I love the moment when she 'gets' it, when she stops asking questions (is it this? like that?) and 'owns' the pattern. Why teach her these things? I think that stimulating the brain and alleviating boredom is something that most horses will be motivated by. Make them feel good about themselves and confident in their environment when you are with them, never let them feel wrong or push them through thresholds. Provided the learning process and presentation is non threatening and participative, and that one observes the horse closely for signs of stress that is likely to be too much for them to handle so that they are unable to learn. Timing is everything and any pressure involved is an offer, a suggestion, rarely insistence (I have written about my thoughts on use of pressure previously here https://muchmorethanriding.blogspot.com/2017/04/pressure-stress-timing.html)
Unless we do nothing with our horses and ask nothing of them, we will not be having a conversation. There will be no communication and without communication, no understanding and connection.
Today I went to
the pasture... My horses and I spent time together, we did a few things and I believe we all felt good and got something out of it.
