WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?

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!