I started this blog with a title of ....
As I typed the title it felt familiar so I googled it and found that its the lyric from a song but not any old song - it's from Amazing Grace!
This post is about Grace! "How amazing" I said out loud. Then laughed - amazing as in amazing Grace! Oh stop!
Today, Grace and I had a Parelli session with Vicky Manser - our first in over a year. How time flies!
We began with me summarising the events of the last year, Grace's feral behaviour and massive separation anxiety that led me to stop riding, lunging, doing Parelli or anything with her, finding her unsafe to be around. That's it in a nutshell. I described feeling like I'd lost my horse, and the aim of today was to re-start the journey to find her again.
It's not often in life that we achieve our goals, its even more rare to do so exactly when you want it or need it. But today, that goal of finding Grace happened! In 90 minutes Grace and I were home....together!
I know that sometimes we have to get lost, stray, deviate off course, in order to discover new paths, to return to something better - and today has been a massive reminder of the value of that.
Today I remembered and learned all at the same time ...
It took less than an hour of walking around the menage, mirroring pace and energy, working with distraction, to have a calm, relaxed Grace - the old Grace, back! Soft eyes, droopy lower lip, licking and chewing. Everything that dreams are made of when all you want is to just "be at one with your horse".
I was lost and now I am found
This post is about Grace! "How amazing" I said out loud. Then laughed - amazing as in amazing Grace! Oh stop!
Today, Grace and I had a Parelli session with Vicky Manser - our first in over a year. How time flies!
We began with me summarising the events of the last year, Grace's feral behaviour and massive separation anxiety that led me to stop riding, lunging, doing Parelli or anything with her, finding her unsafe to be around. That's it in a nutshell. I described feeling like I'd lost my horse, and the aim of today was to re-start the journey to find her again.
It's not often in life that we achieve our goals, its even more rare to do so exactly when you want it or need it. But today, that goal of finding Grace happened! In 90 minutes Grace and I were home....together!
Today I remembered and learned all at the same time ...
- Not to dwell on the past, or the feeling of having wasted (lost) a year of progress.
The past is the past and nothing more.
Today was better than yesterday and that's a good place to be!
- To recognise the difference between observing a horse and listening to them. I've been watching Grace but not listening to her. As the song say:-
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
- To get connection work with the very moment of distraction (the object of my frustration) - that's my cue to change direction, pace, and help Grace to focus back inside the menage and back on me.
- If fear is the focus of my thoughts then fear is all I'll feel. My head and heart needs to chose to remember trust and joy as equal opposites.
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear;
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
- When I'm in 'blame' mode I'm not thinking! If I'm not taking responsibility then why should Grace?
It took less than an hour of walking around the menage, mirroring pace and energy, working with distraction, to have a calm, relaxed Grace - the old Grace, back! Soft eyes, droopy lower lip, licking and chewing. Everything that dreams are made of when all you want is to just "be at one with your horse".
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| Grace August 5th 2015 |
So many highlights from today!
Having Grace lick my hands, gently, with such softness - a nice change from grabbing at me and biting.
Seeing Grace think, process, reflect and soften with the brain work, stimulation, and presumably enjoyment of some shared leadership for a change!
Listening to Grace sigh with relaxation not boredom.
Finding myself having a thought and saying out loud to Vicky "I don't know if this is my thought or Grace's thought but I think "I've just come home" - at which point Grace stepped forward with a lowered head and neck and literally nestled into my body and stayed there. Feedback that it was her idea not mine and I think i just had my first experience of sensing a horses's thoughts!
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
Realising that both she and I had been lost was the biggest 'ah ha' of the day. How can I expect her to return if im not there myself? How can I expect her to go (emotionally speaking) to any place where I can't get to myself? The logic of it should hit us hard. If logic isn't enough, I hope everyone reading this blog has an experience similar to mine today.
Parelli has been a foundation. A set of bricks that were in place, then got ignored but sit there still strong and sure. It is NOT about doing the exercises and using the techniques. It IS about listening to the horse infront of you and selecting tools to suit the needs of that moment.
Today I have a lot to be grateful for...
- Thank goodness Grace and I got lost.
- Thank goodness we are found again (or well on our way at least)!
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