Mary Carter
Most of us who have time, money and emotions tied up in our horses want to see them healthy, strong and mentally focused. Most horse people spend a lot of time learning new methods, training, feeding just the right food and buying just the right gear. All of this does pay off.
Your horse does not ride by himself, or show by himself or make decisions for himself (most of the time, that is). You do all of that for and with your animal. You are part of the equation. You and your horse are partners in each other's lives as long as you are interacting, working and enjoying one another
What your body does directly affects your horse. He/she is trained to take cues from you to carry out a certain result. If your body is out of alignment or in pain or unbalanced in some way, then this will affect your horse. Let's say that you have low back pain and you favor your right side because your left hip and leg are tense and in pain. See how sitting in the saddle in this physical discomfort will change the way you are postured and the way you hold your hands and the way you breathe. So now be the horse for a moment, and see how someone on your back who is tight and rigid on the left side will affect your body. Frequently a behavioral problem with a horse is physical in nature.
You and your horse mirror each other and you both have a great influence on each other's bodies, minds and spirits. If you are having a really bad day and you react to your horse in an emotional manner, he will react back with a certain type of behavior.
Therefore, it is really important that you take care of you!
I have watched people on horses who seem as though they never breathe! Look at their horse. Tension breeds tension. Watch a horse that favors one side and look at the human's body. It usually is unbalanced in some way. The next time you are upset with your horse's behavior or performance, try looking in the mirror.
I once had a young horsewoman say to me during a massage that she would never get on this horse again because it was so difficult to work with and she could not get close to it. I responded by offering the suggestion that she and the horse had something in common and they could both teach something to each other. Months later she told me that mare was the best horse she had ever had.
Balanced humans create balanced horses .
Mary Carter, BA, MT, is a Holistic Practitioner, Icelandic Horse breeder, and owner of Heart to Heart Horse Ranch where she offers sessions for the horse and rider in balancing each other, as well as massage therapy, acupressure, Reiki, and cranio-sacral therapy. For articles, information and a NEW* Healing Circle for Horses where you can put your horse in the circle for prayers/healing meditations for any type of healing, whether physical or behavioral, visit her web site at www.hearttohearthorseranch.com