Sage Creek Equestrian

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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.

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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I felt his breath begin to labor as the climb up the mountain became challenging. I asked myself if the heat along with the steep grade was to stressful for this large bodied black horse. A flat area came into focus ahead of me. I surveyed his needs to make a decision, rest or continue. We progressed forward towards a flat area.  I began to measure and weigh my options.  My emotions started to shift. I began to feel upset that I chose to have this large Friesian stallion out in the heat.  My self talk continued into deeper critical thinking.

I chose to stop. I waited for the horse to arrange his body how he needed. His sides were heaving from labored breathing.  He suddenly lifted his head alert in attention. His breath instantly quieted as his eyes began to survey the open valley floor. I joined him in the magnificence of the sight, searching for what he was sensing. He then drew in a puff of air as if he was searching for a certain smell.  The aroma of sage mixed with grass filled my nose as I fallowed his lead.  I then felt a breeze tussle my hair bringing pleasure and relief from the rising temperature. I reached down and pulled his massive heaping mane off to the side exposing his hot neck to the same enjoyable experience.

Turning around, we dropped down off the mountain. I enjoyed the sounds of his hooves as he picked his way through a maze of thick sage. I found I was being kind to myself as I surveyed my feelings of relief. The joy of receiving the nature of my horse left me in a state of pure gratitude.

Release critical thinking. Receive natures gifts by being kind to yourself

By Donnette Hicks 

Inspired by Kelcy Sweat

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It takes courage to listen in a transformative way. Humans often are unknowing in how they intrench themselves in unyielding listening, especially when it relates to their horses.  Letting go of our identity, fear and judgment, will remove our desire to always listen to respond.

Many of our needs will be cared for in our ability to really listen. Removing our constant urgency to reply creates an environment for receiving the gift of another’s experience.  If we find ourselves settling for less, we disempower ourselves and the horse, in an uncertain future.

Every Saturday for many years I would drive 45 minutes to another rural town to teach horsemanship. On several occasions my friend Stephanie would join me. We constantly would talk about our individual philosophies. These conversations would often develop into an  enflamed heated exchange.  The result of this would be a stressful environment inside myself as I arrived to the horse facility of the day.

I would quickly tell myself to overcome the chaotic feeling I was having inside.  I was in full denial of how my emotional state would energetically emote into the environment. I no longer can deny, the students and their horses felt the inner enflamed energy I entered the arena with.

I desired to find a way to shift the experience I was having with my friend Stephanie. I certainly understood that this was not an isolated reoccurring incident with just her. It was rearing itself in all my relationships.

Out of my desire to acquire more tools, I went to a seminar. I found myself having a major breakthrough as I listened to the seminar leader explain that the most powerful skill in communication is in our “listening”. He continued to share the distinction between hearing and listening.

Hearing, is the minds recognition of sound through the function of the ear drum by formulating it’s source and meaning. Listening,  is an interactive engagement of being fully present to the importance of the message that is being conveyed. It is not engaging thought to formulate a response. When  we listen, we leave the one who is communicating that we value and have received the importance of their message.

This new achievement resulted in my ability to develop my self as a student of every interaction.  I began to learn volumes of meaningful details about the people in my life.  I found my friend Stephanie was a woman I clearly needed to understand and was loaded with wisdom.

As for the horse, imagine the potential the human has if we would engage the equine and empower them with our ability to just listen.

Receive life’s gifts through empowering all living beings with your listening 

By Donnette Hicks