Care, Compassion, Communication, and Consistency
Care
Care for our horses not only includes providing for their basic needs
(food, water, shelter, medical care, exercise and companionship) but it also includes developing an understanding of the horse world and see life from their perspective – through their eyes. I believe that it is our responsibility to educate ourselves regarding the horse’s instincts and social structure, respecting and appreciating how they perceive us and the requests
we present to them.
Compassion
Our horses are well-cared for and well-trained. We prioritize their health and safety and ensure that they are always in top condition. Compassion is a trait that horses teach us every day. They respond to each and every request (even though it may not be the "right" answer) and it is our job to be conscious of what we request and how. Horses don’t pass judgment or hold hard feelings. As Ray Hunt once shared, “There is no way that the horse will ever try to take advantage of you. He’s as honest and as truthful as anything you could ever work with. He has no ego that gets in his way. He has no pride that gets in his way. He doesn’t know what win or lose is. And those are the four things that get in the human’s way.” ur horses are suitable for riders of all levels, from beginners to advanced riders.
Communication
Communication involves discovering how horses communicate with other horses and then attempting to use their own language to open a line of communication between the human and the horse. By using visualization, body language, pressure and release and focused energy we present our requests to our horses in a way he can easily understand. My technique for communicating with my horses is ever changing and flexible. I am finding that, if I am not getting the desired result, I am not communicating my request clearly or in a way that my horse understands. I strive for clarity. I must try alternative ways to ask. I try to ask myself three questions about my requests and be flexible in how they are met.
#1: What is the purpose of the request? Is it self-serving, related to safety, for performance?
#2: Is it a "reasonable" request of most horses?
#3: Is it a "reasonable" request of this particular horse?
Consistency
Consistency is the key to becoming the type of leader that our horse chooses to be with. I do not push, shove and get aggressive to get my way. My horses choose to be with me because I am calm, patient, consistent and clear. My responsibilities as a good leader for my horses are: to be confident, calm and centered (never displaying reactions of anger, frustration, fear, confusion or violence because the horse does not understand those emotions); to set the boundaries for acceptable behavior and always enforce and abide by those rules; to work together to achieve high "reasonable" requests; and to pursue those light requests from myself and soft responses from my horses.