Become A Yes

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I often say “no” when I mean “yes”, afraid of the unknown, and even more afraid of making a mistake. I build walls of protection with my answers often being, no. Young and inexperienced in being myself, I agreed to be a no person for as long as I could, so as not to hurt or disappoint or displease. Not surprisingly, things often felt badly.

I began to understand the same is true for the horse.  When I am constantly saying no to the horse, I am usually reacting to its expression of life, out of my own fear. For the horse this can feel like they are trapped. The results of my constant “no” can result minimally in brace and resistance and consequently the very circumstances I am avoiding, I am actually creating.

Out of my commitment to the horse feeling relaxation and freedom, I became a “YES”.  For me there was an inner revolution. I began to feel inspired by the horses needs. I let down and let go of control by allowing the horses energy to flow freely through me. I let out slack in the rein, relaxed my body and became a YES.

I denied the calling no longer and began the journey into becoming a student of the horse, fully enjoying the mysteries and gifts of an ever expanding learning.

Turn your “NO” into a “YES”.

A yes to humility, love, life and yes to the horse having their natural abundant full expression!

By Donnette Hicks 

Source Of Life

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Through the course of my life, I am often touched by the beauty of nature. Life provides a path of understanding by showing its illuminating brilliance through nature as its loving guide. The unsuspecting blossoms of the cherry tree always blooms on time, as its creation has the energy of natures intension. It starts as a sapling reaching for the sun, it then grows into a tree and the day comes when it explodes into an symphony of blossoms.

I am grateful for knowing I too am from the same source of life. When I practice self care by feeding my daily growth with the beauty and abundance offered, I too bloom into a symphony of creativity always giving my heart to all who are of like kind. Human blossoms on the tree of life.

When I observe the horse. I am inspired to learn the Equines language and by doing so I begin to find a universe of new understanding. The Equine is guided by a wordless universe that is inspired by the same intension the cherry blossom are influenced by.

Acknowledge the creative inspiration that flows through you. Know that all life is empowerd from a bountiful universal sourse.  

By Donnette Hicks 

Respect

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I will always have another opportunity: the horse always tell me so. Mistakes can come at a high ex spence for the horse and some mistakes will land me pilled up in the dirt. Rightly so if the horse put me there.

I am just not your average human when it comes to learning from my mistakes. I have to fall so hard that I almost have to shatter the desire to reassign the lesson which I’m trying to learn. I try incredibly hard to not learn such a lesson when it comes to making mistakes with the horse.

The best gift one can give ones self is self respect. A significant moment to give this gift (for me) is at the moment I identify the horse is reflecting I am making a mistake. I then feel a sense of love and patience for the horse and myself. I am constantly checking in with the horse from moment to moment to adjust my feel and timing before they mirror their unhappiness.

For me at giving myself a hand up, with self compassion and self understanding. Shows up for the horse as well. They feel it when I am hard on myself.

When we recognize that our entire worldview is based on how much respect we have for ourselves, we will begin to see we have in us infinite possibilities for improvement with our relationship with the horse. 

 

By Donnette Hicks 

Birth

image I am inspired by new birth. New baby foals, flowers, trees and new understanding in our already established relationships with our horses.

What will I find in my exploration of today’s observations? Knowing that all horses are unique and are honest in their expressions. I have to ask myself how can I grow and carry myself in relationship to the horse? What will I do with my heart. Will I show it with my actions?

When life gives birth it does not say “oh wow I’m scared let’s not do this today” No birth is unstoppable as it is part of the greatest force in existence.

Be inspired by the energy and beauty of new birth.

Recognize that we are always connected to the origin or sorce of where we came from.

Feel the excitement of experiencing the energy of birth in our daily choices with horses. 

By Donnette Hicks 

 

Facing Reality Heals Lives

 

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Do you give back as much as you take from the horse?

It is often overlooked how much humanity takes from the horse. Many of us get snagged in the illusion of a fantasy that’s driven by our ego’s identity. This keeps many blind to the horses reality.  Humans lose track that they are not their truck, Levi’s, house or horse nor their BMW, breeches or live-in trailers.

One example is in the understanding. the equine as a nation, has lost their natural habitat. They no longer have the ability to move free of human population. It often does not occure to the human that the horse is not designed to be born in confinement. Fenced in pastures, padocks and box stalls are human creations. The horse does not have a choice, as their population has grown and their freedoms have been taken away. Their truest nature is to not be in human hands. They did not volunteer to be born into our limitations. They do not understand when they are first approached by what nature constitutes for them as a predator.

I remember Ray Hunt in his clinics contributing something along the line, and I am paraphrasing,  that if he was born into this world as a horse, he would be the wildest bronc anyone had ever seen. For me I felt his point was,  that the human needs to wake up to the reality of what horses are being put through. For me, I heard Rays empathy as a painful understanding for the horses plight in human hands. I also heard his admiration for the horses need for self preservation.

I have gone through years of pondering what is my role in the horses journey with humans. I have suffered looking directly at I too am a human, asking for the horse to live in my world, void of having choice.

In my feelings of empathy, I find myself asking,  “what do I give in return for asking the equine to live in my world” My top answer has taken years to develope. It is that I am to get really honest about THIER needs. Not MY needs. This is where one really faces themselves and asks the “why do I do this” ?  This very question has led me to seeking an in depth education of all aspects of the horse.  Environment, physical health and emotional needs being top contenders.

Taking responsibility for educating ourselves in all aspects of the horses reality, by facing how we impact thier lives, is how we become awake and responsible.

For me, I will never be able to do enough. In facing this raw truth, I have dedicated my life to giving back everything I can for what humanity has asked of these noble innocent beings.

Facing reality heals lives 

Acknowledging the innocence in all living beings, brings awareness, to what is sacred and beautiful in our own soul 

By Donnette Hicks 

 

A Meaningful Pause

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When working with horses its wise to make space for a meaningful pause.  We do not need to be in chaos to take a breath, often taking a moment to ourselves results in a higher level of understanding and freedom for our equine partners.

When we don’t pause with the horse we are perpetually hurrying from one idea to another, from one action to another and sacrifice the richness of feeling for the horses needs. This often results in the horse bracing against us.

Pause and breath 

Create meaningful space with yor equine partner 

By Donnette Hicks 

Creating A Base Of Support

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Setbacks happen on the path to achievement. Think about it—when a new born foal first begins to rise after birth , they often fall with their first attempts. They find their way as their legs begin to create the base of support they need to rise.

Just as new born foal, our own falls teach us to build a better foundation to stand upon.  Sometimes those “falls” can be quite helpful—they can show us what we may need to change about our plans. The only way they spell failure is if we decide to abandon ourselves because these slips have happened.

Embrace the falls in life 

Build a base of support 

By Donnette Hicks 

 

 

 

Gratitudes Reflection

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Imagine how it must feel to the horse when gratitude becomes our natural reaction to life’s challenges. Gratitudes energy requires no engagement in any physical behavior. It takes little effort to generate feelings of appreciation. In our awake joyful expression the horse will often show a higher level of responsiveness. I often will take a moment with the horse to feel grateful for its contribution in my life.

Take a moment to find gratitude

Enjoy the outcome of inner freedom and joy

By Donnette Hicks

Letting Go Of The Need To Compare

We have only one obligation in life and that’s to be completely who we are. It’s a human condition to spend waisted time comparing ourselves to others. This one act alone is the most deadly thing we can do to ourselves. Unconsciously this is encouraged as necessary in the pursuit of excellence.  We humans constantly aspire to long for what others have accomplished. Yet when we compare ourselves to others, we lose sight of ourselves and are not able to understand the true reality of those we look up to. We only experience the emotional upheaval of comparing.

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The wind was howling as everyone was scurrying to prepare for the next days show. Parker Colorado was known for having extreme weather. I started to hear the pelting sound of raindrops on the roof of the stables. The young women who were organizing themselves were quiet. I felt tension in the environment.

Cleaning tack is an opportunity for everyone to create a Zen like state for themselves. A soothing feeling came over me as I dropped my hand in the warm water squeezing out the excess soap in the sponge. I began to run it over the dirt and sweat on the bridal leather I was holding.  One of my young women who I coach, started to show she was feeling upset. Tears began to stream down her cheeks. I asked her to share what was troubling her. She answered,  “there are so many horses here that are better movers and so much nicer than mine” I gathered her in my arms and gave her a big warm soothing hug.

I began to share a common message which arises in these circumstances. It’s important to me to help my students find their self-confidence. I began to share the dangers of comparing oneself to others. I continued informing her that there is no other human being on the property who is on her journey nor is there another horse with the unique precious qualities as hers. I informed her that her only obligation was to her horse and to herself. By being present for each other she would obtain the ability to learn self growth, love and inner appreciation. I concluded that with her horse as her guide, this is her heroes journey within.

History is riddled with humbling stories of misfortunes giving all humans the opportunity to return to exactly who we are.  When we embrace each other and forgive ourselves, we become authentic and present to the magnificence of the fabric of our lives.

When we learn to release and let go of the need to compare. We begin the journey of recognizing and being our true selves. 

By Donnette Hicks 

Self Knowledge

For me my sensitivity to the horse, hinges on what I am willing to receive as the horse reflects who I am. I have found I never give some parts of who I am enough credit, but it is just as certain the horse has reflected to me there are parts I have given too much credit. Developing self knowledge gives me a larger access of how I effect the horse with my decisions.

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My horse and I were creating a serpentine through the oncoming traffic of  riders heading straight at me from the opposite direction.  I was used to this exercise as respected Clinition Ray Hunt had us do this every year at his clinics. I was sure this time I was going to be successful. In the past I would get really flusterd by the other horses not staying in rhythm along with people not looking where they were going. I calculated this would happen this time  as well.  I looked way ahead to figure out how I was going to navigate the weaving objects.

I was not surprised that once again I was getting frustrated as I was starting to encounter the same issues as previous years. In this moment it came to me that the horse I was ridding was not feeling very relaxed nor very light. Knowing myself and feeling my own brace, I was sure I was creating the same in my horse.

I pulled out of the chaotic traffic that felt like heavy large worms trying to swallow us up. I crossed the arena to a space that was less populated and continued the exercise. My horse instantly felt lighter and more relaxed as we were having success in the task being asked of us. I reached down and rubbed her neck and began to enjoy the success we were having. She was brighter in her life and lighter in her feel.

I knew I had made the adjustment I needed to set her up for feeling the ease of movement in this larger space. I recognized the change in myself of higher conference by initiating this new option for both me and my horse.

Learning to recognize the realities of how we function and make decisions directly impact the equine. Each situation is an opertunity to develope and understand the preciousness, of our own self-knowledge.

Allow sensitivity with the horse to open and  develope your Self-knowedge 

By Donnette Hicks

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