When it comes to improving the connection with your horse there is one skill that will take your horsemanship to the next level, and that is learning how to be present in the moment with your horse. 

 

We all have good intentions when we work with our horses, but often our thoughts are somewhere else. We live in a chaotic, over scheduled world. It is easy for our minds to be busy with all sorts of things. Tasks on our to do list, thoughts of what happened at work, things that are going on with our kids, everything except what is going on right now.  In our busy, modern lives our minds are frequently somewhere other than where our bodies are.  

Being Present

 

Being present may seem simple, but we regularly struggle with  this powerful state of being. Our horses, on the other hand, are present in each moment of the here and now. They can live fully relaxed enough to graze and play in one moment and in the next their survival instincts will kick in and enable them to move quickly should they detect a threat. Once the threat has ended they let it go and go back to grazing and just being in the present moment. 

 

And this can be the greatest lesson we can learn from horses. When we lack presence, we too are in danger. In danger of missing the moment, of misunderstandings, of excess stress, and of making mistakes and getting injured. 

 

When we are present with our horses we notice important small details that other people would miss. The twitch of the ear, the wrinkle of the muzzle, the look in their eye. Being present with your horse is arguably one of the most important skills to develop for building a great relationship with your horse. When we are present with our horse, he feels it and responds in kind. Likewise, if you are thinking about other things that cause you to feel anxious or fearful, your horse will pick up on that as well. He will detect the threat that you are feeling and will respond.

 

Learning to be present is a skill that takes practice. And it doesn’t require you to be in the presence of your horse to get good at it. Life can be your greatest practice ground. In fact, if you don’t practice it anywhere else in your day to day life, then it’s not likely that it will happen when you work with your horse. 

7 Tips on How to Be More Present With Your Horse

 

 

Here are some things you can do to practice being in the present moment:

1. Notice your Thoughts

As humans, we have about 60,000 thoughts that run through our minds everyday. And they aren’t necessarily all positive thoughts. One of the easiest ways to notice your thoughts is to notice your feelings first. If you are feeling anxious, what is the thought that is causing the anxiety? If you are feeling happy, what thought triggered your happiness? 

2. Practice Letting Go of Your Thoughts

If they are thoughts about the past or the future practice bringing your thoughts back to what you are doing right now. If you’re rehashing something that happened earlier today in your mind or compiling a to do list for later, your thoughts are not of the present moment.

3. Use Your Senses

Take a moment to check in with all 5 of your senses.  What do you see? What do you notice? Take in the details. What do you hear? Can you smell anything? What about taste? Can you feel the clothes against your body, the air on your skin? Touch something, what does it feel like? Tapping into your senses literally brings you back into your body and into the present moment.

4. Close Your Eyes

Connect with what you feel inside. A simple shift such as closing your eyes can help create the mental break needed to come back into this moment, now. The outside world can be overstimulating, especially if we are not rooted in the present moment

5. Take a Deep Breath

Connecting with your breath is a surefire way to bring your mind back into your body and to this moment. Focus on your breathing for a few breaths. Allow other thoughts and distractions to dissipate as you reconnect with this simple, essential and usually subconscious act. Most of the time, we don’t notice our breathing and sometimes, when we are wrapped up in thoughts or concerns outside of this moment, we hold our breath without even realizing it. Take a breath and get back to now.

6. Do Something Physical

Doing any sort of physical activity with your body that you enjoy can turn your focus back to the present. Yoga, exercise, hiking, singing, dancing, and even activities like gardening or cleaning can bring you back into your body. 

 

7. Practice With Your Horse

Notice every part of your horse. What are his ears, eyes and mouth doing? How does his skin react when you brush him? How does he smell? Do you feel his breathing? What do you hear when you’re walking along? How do you feel when you’re working around him or when you’re riding him? If you’re feeling anxious, what is the thought causing it?

 

Final Thoughts

 

Horses are social creatures and herd animals. The herd provides security. Learning to be fully present when you are with your horse can build a great relationship and sense of security between you and your horse. It can help you solve difficult behaviour problems and improve your groundwork and your riding.  It’s about becoming aware of the slightest try by your horse and acknowledging him when he feels anxious or afraid.  It takes time to learn to just “be”, but once you do, it will benefit you and your relationship with your horse and how you both handle the world around you.

 

 

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Enjoy the Ride!