It’s important to be consciously aware
of what you are thinking when you are around your horse because thoughts are
powerful things. Thoughts create energy,
and horses can read energy like nobody’s business. We create positive energy by thinking about the
things we like and want, and negative energy by thinking about the
opposite. All that energy we create with
our thoughts flows around us in countless invisible streams every second of
every day.
Horses create energy as well
because their instincts are unconscious thoughts. While mindlessly going with the flow of your
horse’s energy is fun when he’s behaving the way you want, it’s a different
story when he’s not. If you are not
aware of what you are thinking, you can easily wind up in currents of negative
energy.
Those trips begin the moment you zoom
in on the unwanted behavior you horse is presenting… when you start fretting
about it (“Oh my gosh, something is wrong with my horse.”) …over-analyzing it. (“What is upsetting him, is he in pain, could
he have had a bad experience?”) …letting it freak you out (“He won’t settle
down! He keeps rearing!”) Next thing you know, you begin expecting unwanted
behavior (“She’s in heat so I doubt this is going to be much fun.”) …predicting
it (“If you put my horse on crossties he will flip out.) …getting
more of it (“He used to be pretty easy to catch but now it takes me 20 minutes.”)
It’s never more important to
think about the behavior you want from your horse than when you’re not getting
it. That’s when you must put the power
of your thoughts to work for you. For example,
let’s say you begin lunging your horse and immediately he starts flying around,
turning his butt to you and kicking out. Now, you must be aware of what your horse is doing so you can keep yourself safe. But at the same time, you should take a deep breath and
ask yourself, “What do I want my horse to do?” Formulate a clear answer in your head and then focus on that. You will instantly begin creating your own
positive energy; thereby giving your horse the opportunity to read it. Invite him into your energy rather than letting
yourself get sucked into his.
Focusing on the behavior you want
helps you be patient. That’s important
because energy has momentum and it takes time for momentum to shift. If you’re thinking patience is not your
strong suit, that’s because you’ve been going about it all wrong. You’ve been trying to be patient while
thinking about what you don’t want. That
only causes frustration, and it’s impossible to be frustrated and patient at
the same time. But thinking about what
you want makes you feel good, doesn’t it? That’s why we all like to daydream. We love imagining getting what we want. So if think about the behavior you want your horse to give you, you will find
yourself melting into the moment…perhaps even enjoying it… no matter what your
horse is doing. That’s patience!
Focusing on what you want gets
you asking the questions that lead you to getting what you want. “Why won’t my horse trot calmly? Is the answer to that question what I really
want, or do I really just want my horse
to trot calmly? Hmm, how do I get my
horse to trot calmly? I wonder if this
will help?” That’s the noticeable turning
point - when your thoughts become actions and you start trying things to get
what you want. Things you may have heard or read about or seen …or simply pulled
from your greatest source of inspiration – your own imagination.
Focusing on what you want not
only gets you headed in that general direction, but it helps you recognize subtle
signs when you your horse starts heading in that direction too. Reward even the tiniest hints and your horse
will happily hitch a ride on the flow of your energy. You can then begin narrowing down the
specifics until you get exactly what you want.
Positive thinking is not magic,
but it certainly creates magical moments. So be mindful to think about the behavior you want from your horse and go create your own!
