The Liberated Horse - Time, Feeling and Connection

The name of my horse whispering assistance reflects my philosophy of approach.

A liberated horse is one that through physical, psychological and holistic care is as close as it can be to a horse being completely free.   It would choose to be with you, rather than be free of you.  That choice is repeated every waking moment.

Liberation is neither a reckless pursuit nor a trade-off of benefits.   It’s a sense of belonging, a feeling of contentment, a sense of connection.  It’s a willing acceptance of limitations and a mutual respect of differences and boundaries.

I don’t teach a language of ‘equus’ nor do I pretend to ‘think like a horse’; tricks, treats, training systems and quick fixes won’t help you in the long term relationship with your horse.   Likely you’ll end up in dead ends; always asking for help or frustrated and exasperated wishing you were somewhere else.

To learn about your horse, you’ve got to learn about yourself.   Horses aren’t inanimate objects that you get out ‘to play with’ for an hour a day.   They are not ‘Barbie dolls’ to groom, plait and dress or perform for your pleasure – they have needs and they have feelings.   They’ll do wonderful and beautiful things for you (way beyond your imagination) - if you let them.

To introduce you to the most rudimentary elements of my philosophy:

Time

Time is not ‘universal’ and it is not ‘seconds’ ticking on a dial; nor is it biological or the rising dawn or the fading sunset.   It’s internal and it’s subjective; it’s different for every being.  An easier way to understand time, it to view its absence! Without constraints or social considerations – “how late or early would you normally arrive” to ··· an appointment.   Time has a value.

Time is also a cultural phenomenon, amongst humans; The Japanese are known to make business decisions in terms of generations, the ‘Mañana’ attitude of Latin’s completely frustrates the punctiliousness of northern Europeans.   But each is valid and has evolved to suit their needs.

When dealing with horse, time has no value – it is crucial to accept that.

Horses and nearly all animals ‘live in the moment’.  For them “Time” is like that being experienced by Buddhist Monk on the most serene meditation.  Other than the external constrains of day and night – time has no value.

Unless you can walk into that ‘space’ – you’ll never be at one with your horse.   As horses cannot become like us – we have to accept and respect their terms.

Horses and nearly all other animals don’t have self-awareness like we do.   The curse or gift of self-awareness is a profound difference.   Apart from being able to recognise yourself in a mirror (the basic test of whether you have self-awareness) it has huge implications.   Valuing time is just one of them. 

Feeling

Awareness of feelings or emotions is one of those ‘implications’.   Very, very few authorities on horses discuss the importance of feelings.   It may be because of a fear of being ‘anthropomorphic’ (giving human attributes to animals or things) which is a serious mistake.  But animals and plants have emotions.   And especially because they are not ‘self-aware’, they express them freely.   Plants grow better for people with green-fingers.

Emotions are ‘primeval’ and not thoughts controlled by the brain.   They are physical manifestations arising in the body which stimulate the vagus nerve and help ‘our’ survival.  A hard-wired ‘reaction/action’ often unconsciously detected by our senses.

Fear, Love and Anger (basic contrasting emotions) as well as Sadness, Joy and Grief are just the tip of the iceberg of what horses feel – all the time – in differing degrees.  Emotions are subjective, and what, fear is for me and fear is for you is different – just as again its different for one horse to another horse and logically, for every other individual horse.

Being emotionally aware is essential.   Specifically important as horses (in their natural chosen environment) do not exhibit ‘leadership’ nor are they ‘dominant’.   The band (and it is not a herd) of horses act ‘together as one'.   Depending on, replicating (transmitting) and responding to each others emotions.  They synchronise emotionally.  They do this with their highly developed senses.   

Be aware that they will 'mirror' your emotions and even those you have consciously or unconsciously 'hidden'.

This is the way to communicate with your horse.

Connection

The connection or communication between you and your horse is not  enough nor efficient or fluid through ‘aides’ or words or cues.   They don’t communicate this way.   Doing this requires them learning your ‘language’.

Everything is connected – be it through the: unconscious, thin-air, touch or stardust.  This connectedness is the means to communicate.  Just as with horses who are closely connected in their natural band – through their senses; you can also share this connection and subsequent communication.

You can share in their emotions; empathise with their emotions and communicate through their emotions.  Just as they do and they will listen to you and respond to you and communicate with you on an equal level and with the respect that you deserve, just as they would with anyone in a society that has no leadership nor dominance.

This method of enhancing communication with your horse will be completely beneficial and will change your relationship.   Your cues, 'aides' and commands will be more fluid, exact and even unnecessary...