Be the Peace You Seek

What does it mean to "Be the Peace" for your horse? 

No matter how much your horse has been trained, and if you have all the horsemanship skills in the world, the place from which you are operating from with your horse, will be reflected in how your horse responds to you. And this is even the most highly 'trained' horse. I've watched them do everything they were supposed to do while clenching their jaw or sucking in their lip because they felt so uncomfortable. 

If you come to your horse from a place of control, you will often meet resistance, or what some call 'testing'.

If you come to your horse from a place of fear, you will often be met with distrust and apprehension.

If you come to your horse from a place of honesty, you will often be met with patience, and gentleness.

If you reach for you horse gently, they will reach for you, gently.

If you reach for your horse with sharpness and bluntness, they will often learn to brace against your touch.

Being the Peace for the horse, means showing up in a space of Presence, Calm, Centeredness, and a Willingness to work together. 

When we show up authentically, open to the journey, rather than wanting to control, the horse will be willing to go on that journey with you, and Trust is born. 

Horses are teachers of Peace. They are gentle in their teachings with each other (watch a herd some time), unless there's a need for force. They are firm only when necessary. They are patient. They are forgiving. And most of all they are tuned in to the world around them, and Present with what is. 

When we learn to become this, we can journey together, on the journey of trust, with our horse.