Welcome to the New year!  I have a feeling that 2012 is going to be an EPIC year for everyone. This year, I have a plan!

I have decided that this is the year for me to focus on gratitude.  Every day I will list at least five things that I am grateful for in my life. This is plan number one.

Plan number 2 is that I have begun a list of goals for my life. Big goals, little goals.  A motivational speaker I heard recommended that we all list 101 goals for ourselves.  That’s really hard. So far I’m up to 27.

I heard an amazing statistic that less than 3% of all North Americans make a plan of what they want for their lives.  This seems a little crazy to my Libran mind, so I am working on myu list.  Which really made me think back to the influences of the people in my life who have helped me define my dreams and the things that I do in my life that fit well with my soul.

I think dreams come true because we want them to come true.  Dreams that are beneficial not only to you but to the world around you in some way, good for other people or the environment, well these dreams are somehow assisted by the universe by coincidences and synchronicity that cross your path, but again that can;t happen until you become aware of your goals and what you want for yourself.

If you think back to when you were young, maybe ten years old, can you remember what it is you always wanted to be? What was it that you wished for on your birthday cake?

I made the same wish on every birthday cake my entire life.  “I wish for a horse”.  I would pray that when I woke up the morning of my birthday somehow miraculously there would be a perfect pony standing under the maple tree at our house in Dorval.  I would hop on his perfect horse and go visit all of my friends.  This recurrent day-dream was the subject of my fantasies every year from the first memories I recall. one year I remember getting my helmet and boots.  It was about as close as I could get to a horse in Dorval.

My sympathetic parents sent me to riding camp every year and from when I was 19 and got my first car, those boots stayed parked in my trunk in the hopes that I would randomly meet someone with a horse who would invite me to go ride with them.  Funny enough, that actually happened, and when I was 21 I sold everything and bought Harmony, my first horse.  I was as inexperienced a horse person as anyone could be.  I had a basic knowledge of riding and care from the affluent camps I had been fortunate enough attend, but the best knowledge I got was from an old polish Calvary captain who really won my heart one night when he caught me sneaking a cigarette at 12 years old out behind his barn. In a thick Polish accent he reprimanded me, told me to put out my cigarette and meet him henceforth in his study.  This was terrifying.  My father had sent me to the Captain Wiazowski riding school, and I felt like I had entered purgatory.  His rules were strict, his demands vocal and I was in a teenage time of turmoil where I just wanted to be left alone to melt into the wallpaper.

But the Captain would have none of it, and soon i found myself standing in his office, in front of his dark wood enormous work desk, his big bronze polish horse statues and shelves and shelves of books. A green and brass lamp on the desk was all the light we had. It was eerie and terrifying. Surely he was going to tell me he was sending me home, for the rule I had broken was all but cardinal. Instead he told me to sit down and have a cigarette.  At first I thought he was joking, and so I just stood silently waiting for his next words of admonishment.  Instead he repeated to me loudly as though I may be a little deaf,

“Seet down and smoke”.

“What?” I asked again.

he looked at me with a raised eyebrow as if he felt I was defying him.  The fog lifted and I sat down.

“But I don’t want to smoke”, I said to him.

“I won’t do it again”, I promised, dreading with every fiber of my being the phone call he would inevitably make to my father resulting in causing him further disappointment in me. I was not exactly the easiest teenager to live with.

“SMOKE”, he snapped at me in his most  Captain authority voice.

I fumbled in my damp barn jacket for my cigarettes and matches I had stolen from the kitchen.  He saw this and raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Fine, I’ll just do it - I decided defiantly.

“Don’t go back there to smoke ever again.” he said finally after a few uncomfortable moments of considered glaring silence.

“ok”, I bowed my head praying for it to be over.

“Every night, after supper, you come smoke in here. After you clean the kitchen with Terry and rake the ring”.

“Rake the ring every night? We never do the ring every night!” I complained as if there should be some rule of fairness applied to the levity of the punishment.  But he knew exactly what he was doing. The Captain had commanded large mounted Calvary troops in Poland and held back the Nazi’s when they came across to Poland on their tanks he faced them on his horse. When Poland fell he travelled with his horses and men on boats and across the sea to go and fight them in France.  The had won 3 medals of honour and valour from three different countries, and had been teaching children since he landed in Canada in 1954.  This was a rare man I was going to scare or manipulate very easily.

From then on, every night, after enduring my duties I would stand uncomfortably while the Captain would wait for me to go into his office.  The first night was horrible.  I lit my cigarette and had no clue what to talk about to this old crotchety man; the silence was truly deafening.  Then he started to ask me questions. The smoking issue was never again discussed.  So began a dialogue with someone in a way I had never experienced before. he asked me questions, and seemed truly interested in what I had to say about things.  he believed that children had a take on how the world was doing, and he would value what i said.  It evolved in a way that i became curious and started asking him questions too.  he evolved from being the crotchety old man to a trusted teacher.

My riding changed then too.  I remember I won the entire horse show that year.  I always thought that this girl Anne was a much better rider than I was. But ultimately I won because of my joy in the moment of riding.  I don’t remember the class, but I do remember how my horse felt, his gliding trot along the long side of the arena.  It was the first time I had really relaxed and let my horse move forward with no inhibition.  That was why I won that show.

A good teacher is someone who helps you find a way to let the animals guide your learning, like the captain did for me.  He helped me define a vision for my life just because he was someone whom I respected and he respected me back in a way I understood and that contributed to my understanding of my life.

This new year, I am here on my beautiful farm and I can;t help but acknowledge that it is the small moments in life that create the bridges to the bigger dreams.

Anyone can ride a horse; a blind person, a paraplegic or a terrified housewife and even my husband - everyone can ride! Riding gives us a feeling of working with something ”greater than ourselves”. It takes us away from our worldly woes and moves into present time and space.  Riding is the ultimate human-animal cooperative task. And yet…riding no longer impresses me. I believe we can take our relationship to horses MUCH FURTHER than simply training yet another generation of riders to “bend the horse’s will” to our own. This is not the way things are done here.  Want to impress? Show me someone with a whole-horse approach in every equine interaction.  There is a bigger picture with horses, and simply arriving at a barn, brushing, tacking, riding, untacking and going home does not make you a horseperson. Show me your horse in a frightening or new situation and then show me a handler that is willing to take the time to bring understanding to their horse rather than run them through a situation because the ride is more important than the adaptation of the horse, then maybe you’ll get my attention. Show me a trainer that is willing to take all the time in the world to break a green horse or to guide a student in understanding equine behaviour in conjunction with their training and maybe you’ll get my attention.  Other than that, it’s all old school and traditional trainers have some catching up to do.

I get kids all the time from two local riding schools in particular, who come in absolutely clueless about what their horse needs.  Oh,  they can be nifty little riders, able to leap a tall fence with an unwilling horse. But when I take their saddle away, they find they have no balance or capacity to judge their horse’s actions and move with them. In the saddle they are permanently poised in 2 point position, as though they have never been taught anything but the be ready for the first jump.  Their legs are hiked up short in the stirrups and land somewhere up around their ears. They have no balance or equilibrium and it is obvious that they have been taught that their main concern should  always be in getting their horse to do what they ask of them no matter the circumstances.  These are often the students of traditional show trainers, and I know this because I was that kid. Let me save you some trouble.

I have worked with horses for a very long time now; about 5 1/2 dogs years to be exact, or 35 human years.  It was at about the 25 year mark where a thinly disguised veil was lifted and I  realized that for all of my years of training and hard work  I had come out lacking in basic and fundamental principles of the horse.  Oh, I had read a plethora of books and I had spent hundreds of hours in the saddle, with a variety of well intentioned coaches barking orders at me from the ground while I would effectively grip my horse inwards and move them through excercise that were meant to develop fluidity and muscle tone.  In all those years, i only had one coach who would make us stop half way though the lesson to gently reinforce our horses. But now, here I was with my own farm and my own school, and all those hours of classes melted away and I was faced with the stark realization that I still had a great deal to learn, not about riding, but about the fundamental principles of equine behaviour.   This was a stark and humbling realization, and as most seasoned horse people for a long time I thought I had all the answers and if it was done “my way” then that was the only correct right way to do things.  I was so convinced of this, having been taught the right way of doing things by well-intentioned schooling barns, riding schools and personal trainers over 30 years, that I had forgotten about what my horses needed and found that this mentality only asked what can the horse do for me, and knew only that I had a schedule and a way of doing things that they must adhere to.  I can’t even begin to count the number of people have crossed my path or come to Willowcreek claiming how they haven’t ridden in 20 years always because of some horrific trail riding experiences they had at various ( but usually one) trail riding facility. great adventures replete with being launched into the air unceremoniously,  being clothes-lined in the forest and running home at break neck speeds, all with no helmet. It was enough to make the hair on the back of your neck stand up.

Back in those days, we were just beginning Willowcreek Stables and so I took a huge ego swallowing gulp and began to ask basic questions again to people who I saw dealing with horses in a unique manner.  I was introduced to a group of horse trainers that held a more forgiving and understanding and flexible mentality with horses. It was easy to for me to see the immediate and pervasive effects of relating to horses and humans on a basis which emphasized effective ground communication prior to riding. In other words, it wasn’t all about riding.; this was a huge awakening for me. It’s like it gave me “time and space” to try new things and not feel rushed that each horse I trained become a perfect balanced riding horse.  This was in fact, no longer even the goal and the new thinking was incredibly refreshing for me.

But horse people are funny. Everyone thinks they’re right and that what they know is pretty much everything that needs to be known. Every horse trainer will tell you “there is always something to learn” with horses, but I can tell they don’t really mean it.  A statement like this amongst most traditionalists is simply a cover up for false humility. At the end of the day, the majority of these types of trainers are looking for the potential output and workability of a mount, and rarely will they adapt their own program to suit the physical or psychological needs of the individual horse. It’s all about how “useful” an animal can be.

But “usefulness” is relative only in the terms of which you can apply it to a client and how you view the horse-human relationship.  Trainers must ask themselves what they are trying to bring to clients: I would say to these ineffective traditional trainers that they can look past the immediate and obvious and become aware of the deeper and more important effect horses have on their clients.

Beyond taking little girls to competition level riding, beyond launching themselves over wooden posts for our entertainment and beyond the constricted and difficult fancy moves of a dancing dressage performance, horses bring something more. It’s just that these trainers have not incorporated that awareness into their training program.

Admittedly we all do our best, but there is a stepping up that has to occur. A widening of the mind when it comes to how we interact with the natural world on a global level, and the very fact that we have horses available to the public can enable this greater empathic approach to the natural world on a grand scale; horse really provide a fast track tool in helping people reconnect with nature on all levels.

I have found a great untapped market in the world of people who want to interact, understand and bring affection and care and help to the horses here at Willowcreek. When I am thrown out into the off farm “real world” I am sometimes shocked at how far some people still have to go to become aware of the power they hold in guiding human interactions with these animals.  It’s not about the ride. Anyone can ride. That’s the easy part.

In my case, we have a great variety of clients with a huge spectrum of needs. Of course riding is indicated as the ultimate partnering up between the horse and client, but it is not the first priority.

It’s our job to help each other be better. Think big! Don’t let anyone tell you that you are incapable of ANYTHING. That’s the bottom line.  I take comfort in the fact that there are others like me out there and they have been great teachers for me.  Maybe one day we will see a greater cooperation between barns but for now I’ll leave those old school thoughts where they belong which is anywhere at all..but here at peaceful WillowCreek.

Most people agree that horses are magnificent animals. No one can argue this point. But they are much more than costly  lawn ornaments, sporting partners, work mates or pleasant diversions for those blessed with the resources to be able to keep them as pets.  Horses, by their nature, attract a strong human bond.   They challenge us, and require that we be the best of ourselves as a It is because the horse is such an accurate mirror of ourselves, that inevitably, spending time with them in any capacity will teach us about ourselves.

In the last decade, there has been a strong movement towards partnering with horses to heal individuals who suffer from stress, disconnection and mental illness. It seems that the calibration of energy by the horse can actually help to uplift the spirits (energY) of their human counterparts.  Their gentle accepting nature helps to foster courage and a willingness to expand one’s view of the world.

It is not uncommonto hear a story of a hot high minded horse becoming completely placid and willing when in contact with a child who is calm, gentle and fearless because they simply don’t know any better. That same horse can come into contact with a seasons rider, who will see it’s physical language and know immediately that it will be a difficult mount.  The rider right away will gear his mind and body to the challenge, and of course the intuitive horse will respond in kind.  As riders, we are all aware of how our own energy effects our horses. The trick is in how to control it and communicate effectively with the horse, transcending the fear or frustration that we may be feeling.

The human horse bond has been illustrated through painting and literature literally since the beginning of human history.  Cave drawing show us the right away, humans understand the importance and magnificence of the equine.  The paintings discovered on cave walls as early as 30,000 years ago as seen in the cave painting named “Spotter Horse Panel”. Even in this primitive compilation, the pre-historic artist has taken the time to be very attentive to detail, almost reverantly representing this animal.  Even when the main benefit of the horse to man at the time was as a source of food, it is still represented in a   majestic fashion.  Society was built upon the backs of horses. Once the horse was no longer deemed useful as a work mate, it’s career as a sporting companion began.  Sadly, in our human attempt to compete and win, we have heaped decades of abuse and misunderstanding on our partners.  Our lack of respect for our environments and the creatures that live with us, has been clearly and sadly reflected in our abuse of this animal.

The horse built our society, and we showed it no mercy. It won at sports for us, and we showed it no understanding. And today, it is ironic that if we want to continue living as we do, but without the negligence and conflict, we will do well by simply studying the horse’s behaviour in its natural state.  Once again the horse  is an integral and important part of creating forward motion in human society.

By using these lessons,  you will find that your life becomes much less conflicted, your relationships develop smoothly, conflicts that do naturally occur, can be easily rectified, and you will find yourself perhaps enjoying your moments more, living in gratitude and confidence.  You can repay this wisdom.  Spend some time at a nearby ranch, a friend’s stable or in your own backyard if you’re lucky, and simply observe the communication.  They can be your greatest teacher, given a chance.

I am rarely perplexed by my horses any more.  I don’t often have to wonder for long as to what they are thinking or planning on doing.  I used to ponder them wistfully for hours; visions of childhood Black Stalions and Black Beauties pranced through my head, giving me a shaky foundation upon which to build a relationship with a horse.  These perceptions of horses as well disguised humans who thought and emoted like us pervaded my early horse training. Every fault or error or injury I incurred on a horse  I took ”personally”.  Allot of us suffer with horses in this way; it’s an illusion.

How often have I heard… “My Horse doesn’t like me“…ugh. How many times do I have to say it people…please.

Horses don’t think that way. It’s too simple. That’s the way HUMANS think.

The most important lesson we can emulate to our children is a basic love for the earth and the life on it. On this, many of us agree.   They will have an incredibly heavy load to carry in the next few generations and we are obliged to show them the importance of their actions. I know this is right every time I am re-amazed by the incredible sentience of any animal, I am really reminded that God, or whatever you believe, lives absolutely everywhere and if we keep behaving as if we are seperate from It, it is evident that we are going to create further disaster for ourselves and our children.  I know this sounds dramatic but we seem to be at the point that everyone needs to be looking for better solutions.  You just have to keep an open mind.

So, the beginning of my relationship with horses was tentative and fearful and entirely based on fiction. But I have had many years experiences that have shown me that “reality” with horses is far more fruitful and magical than even my  imagination or those books could ever have conceived of.  Therefore, although my horses and I  are pretty accustomed to each other, we never entirely take each other for granted.   Their behaviour is as much inside me as mine probably is understood by them.  The Divine energy that sees fit to intercede on my behalf reminds me of the benefits of humility. We can all get to a place where we think we can stop learning something that we may know a great deal about and coast on our previo9us merits. But life, as I am discovering, doesn’t ever coast.  It is in constant motion and trying to stop it is like trying to stop the ocean with a spoon.  The minute I learn one thing with my horses, I am inevitably propelled towards something else. 

HERE’S THE THING…

I was caught completely off guard tonight when Otis walked up to me while I was trying to blanket him and began for the next ten minutes to do the strangest thing I have ever seen a horse or any animal do. At first he refused to stand still (strange) insisting upon standing directly in front of me and not beside me as usual.  Then he began to lick my left arm up around my shoulder in a strange and rhythmic and insistent way; as if he was super focused. First I hasve never seen an animal do anything so utterly concentrated for so long, unless they were really neurotic which Otis isn’t.  Second, I have never had this kind of experience with a horse and it was abit unnerving to tell you the truth.  Horses who have thoughtfully licked me in the past have often come back with their teeth, and so I must admit I  was on the edge for a moment or two, but his eyes were half closed and he looked so happy; this couldn’t possibly end badly I told myself.  Even a massive trailer suddenly bouncing on the road behind him did not deter him. To tell you the truth, I was beginning to wonder after the first 5 minutes if he had lost his mind. He looked high.   I concealed my nerves well enough because Otis’ strange licking went on, and on, and on….thoroughly soaking my grey flannel hoodie in horse spit.  It was pretty disgusting actually.  

At some point though well past 8 minutes, he stopped, and moversd   I just laughed and walked away wondering what in the hell that was about?

Maybe he could smell Mac on me, from who’s pen I had just come. Mac has a tumour in his eye and so maybe Otis recognized the scent of illness and sought to do something with it, but what? Was he trying to make my arm feel better? Does he sense my own inner distress at the personal events in my family right now?  I have read about those animals that have strange healing powers and can detect illness in their owners.  I can’t say if I would ever be really prepared to entertain such a possibility, but I have to say stranger things have happened in the past few years, so I’ll leave it up to my horses once again, to keep the world a mystery to me.  

Happy Halloween

Boo!

Josee

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Connected Living Support Group

Beginning October 29 & 30

(Echart Tolle & Wayne Dyer live feed event! Please join us for this awesome afternoon)

3:00 p.m.  - 4:00 p.m.

Cost: free

Please let me know of your attendance.

(514) 898-8966 or info@willowcreekstables.com