Today, we would like to reflect on another mindful attitude, Non-judgment. We illustrate how tuning in to the present moment when applying this attitude can influence how we relate to horses. Here is an excerpt on this topic from our upcoming book project, Sharing The Now: Mindfulness Exercises To Enhance The Connection With Your Horse. When you notice everything that is occurring in the here and now, even if you don’t like what you are…
One of the things we often explore on the blog is how the presence of horses has a calming and often healing influence on people. Here is some common research exploring this topic. An often-cited example of the tangible calming effects that horses have on humans’ autonomic nervous systems when they spend time together is the research completed by Dr. Gehrke, in collaboration with the Heart Math institute. The autonomic nervous system mediates a human…
We would like to reflect today on the Mindful Attitudes of Trust and Letting Go. Like the other Mindful Attitudes, including Compassion, Non-judgment and Beginner’s Mind, these attitudes are more than just ways in which to pay attention to the present moment. They are signposts for how to experience life. When you allow yourself to wholly absorb the events of “right now”, and embrace all life has to offer (i.e. the good and the bad),…
In this Mindfulness Moment, we describe a focusing exercise that you can use at any time of the day. Particularly when you are heading out to the barn, it is helpful to tune in to yourself before going near horses. This exercise helps prepare you to notice with intention, and to stay receptive and mindful of the horse’s safety and your own. Horses pick up on our internal states; this ability to detect our inner…
Here, in our perspective, are some of the possible benefits of staying mindfully aware with our horses. Reflect on these the next time you are at the barn to gauge whether they may apply to you and your horse! We explain these more in our upcoming book project, Sharing The Now: Mindfulness Exercises to Enhance the Connection With your Horse. Better flow in a session with your horse Noticing things you hadn’t before Increased closeness…
Here is an exercise you can try whenever approaching a horse. Horses, being prey animals, are extremely sensitive to the non-verbal signals and body language that you project when you are in their vicinity. Being aware of your state of mind and emotions, or even your “state of energy” if that is a term to which you can relate, can help you tune in to what you are relaying to your horse. This exercise, suggested…
There are days when everything is in flow and there are days when you have no clue what the Universe is trying to teach you. Horses present many opportunities for you to learn how to navigate chaos. As you drop into spending time with them, you can never quite predict how things will go. Sure, you may have an idea, especially if this is a horse you know well and you’ve learned his or her…
Today, we have the privilege of sharing the reflections of Karen Jones of Motivational Horsemanship. Shreyasi crossed paths with Karen when they connected over their Lipizzan Rescue Foundation rescue Lipizzans, Arya and Rhett. Karen has a wonderful Facebook page, website and blog devoted to her principles of motivational horsemanship, and to her specific experiences connecting with Rhett. We came across this article in our email inbox today and she kindly provided us permission to re-post…
Here is the first of our Mindfulness Moments at The Barn series. We will post exercises loosely adapted from the Mindfulness Exercises included in our book project, Sharing The Now: Mindfulness Exercises to Enhance The Connection With Your Horse. Most of us already do these things at various times of the day. The exercises are designed to invite you to incorporate such moments the next time you are at the barn. We invite you to…
Arya in a groundwork lesson with Shreyasi and Hawkstone Stables instructor, Rhonda Bignell Please take a moment to read through our descriptions of the horses in our herd, by clicking on the “Our Herd” tab in the menu. We are grateful to know all these horses and we wouldn’t be able to learn or reflect or grow through love without them!