dancing horses

dancing horses

Saturday, May 6, 2017

Recharge

On Thursday there was a webinar on leadership at work. There was a section on resilience. The current belief now is that we need to recharge our batteries in order to be effective at our work (I use the term 'work' loosely here to mean whatever tasks we need to accomplish whether we are paid or not).

For me that is easy- it is the time I spend with my horses. I remember how lost I was when that disappeared- I didn't know what to do (http://journeywithadancinghorse.blogspot.ca/2015/01/finding-joy.html). And lately it's been the time I've been spending in the saddle. 

I mean I'm actually wondering who is this horse?  It's not that she's not noticing stuff - she misses nothing. But she's letting me decide what to do about it. A couple days ago I was riding and we could hear an ATV in the woods nearby. Carmen alerted me to the other side of the neighbour's field and we both saw the ATV going fast through the trees and over the hill. I could feel her tense under me. I put my inside leg on and asked her to bend around the corner. She immediately relaxed and went back to work. She trusted that it was nothing to worry about. 

Even her spooks are different. In that same ride she noticed something in the grass and spooked but in slow motion. It was hilarious we very slowly and carefully did a sidepass. I couldn't do anything but laugh. Now we can actually train and work on things. I can practice walk-trot-walk transitions all around the ring and not lose the task to excessive worrying and spooking. I finish every ride feeling happy and completely recharged. 

Today Ed and I picked up a round bale of hay. The horses were in the stall and I thought that Carmen would run off when we backed the truck into the aisle. Instead she stayed and watched- calm eyed and then reached out to sniff the truck. 

On friday Cynthia came out and brought our friend Libby. Libby and her family have been going through a horrible ordeal- her step-daughter developed a massive infection after giving birth. For days it wasn't clear if she was going to live. Somehow she survived but she's not out of the woods by any means and is facing amputations. It's scary and heartbreaking and exhausting. I cannot even imagine what the family is going through. Here's a link to the Go Fund Me if you want to know more.  Libby used to ride all the time and stopped a few years ago. She watched Cynthia and I ride and I invited her to get on Irish when Cynthia was done. She put on a helmet and hopped on. 

I watched Irish work his magic. He knows when a person needs him to be careful and he was so quiet and attentive. As they went around he gave her some of his peace and when they were done she looked much more content. He helped her recharge her batteries so that she could be there for her family. 

The time with the puppy helped as well. Guinness was quite taken with her.
I mean who couldn't feel better spending time with this sweetie? 

I wonder how people who don't have horses recharge? It's a total mystery. 


31 comments:

  1. Lol. I know. How can they exist without horses? I can only judge by following those strange creatures on Facebook, and it appears they hike and stuff like that. 😃 blah!

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  2. Oh happy day! A Guinness and D'Arcy video!!

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    1. :-D I'm glad that you liked it. He's doing so well with our family.

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  3. I cannot remember a time when horses weren't the answer. The question could vary, but somehow I can always find a way to make horses the answer.

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  4. I wish my Hubs could comprehend how healing the horses are. His grief over his Dad's passing is at times overwhelming to him. Prayers for Libby's step daughter, so glad Irish happily helped her recharge.

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    1. Horses may not be his path to healing but I hope that he finds it.

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  5. I wasn't feeling up to riding yesterday, or today even... But I forced myself to get on and I felt 20x better when I got off. I have no idea what I would do without my horses.

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    1. Good for you- I can't wait for when I can just decide to hop on and go for a trail ride.

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  6. I don't know what I'd do without horses. I'd be crazy I think. I was going nuts enough over the winter.

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    1. I bet- you got a lot of rain this winter.

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  7. Yup I'm the same I don't know how I did it before I had horses, its funny I don't even remember

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    1. I hear you. I think I spent a lot of time feeling frustrated!

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  8. I think losing yourself completely to the moment and just being only in the 'now' is a huge part of managing stress. Horses do that for so many of us. For those people who do not have a passion to lose themselves to, I have often wondered how they cope.

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    1. That is so true- there's no room for other things to creep in

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  9. Even when I'm not feeling like riding I'm learning the answer is to always just go to the barn. Every time I feel better after being there even if I end up having a rough ride

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    1. and there's so much to do at the barn and NOT ride. Although back when I boarded I always felt that I HAD to ride when I went to the barn.

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  10. I don't know where i'd be if I didn't have my horses <3

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  11. Horses make me a sane person.

    Also I love how you said this: "I mean I'm actually wondering who is this horse? It's not that she's not noticing stuff - she misses nothing. But she's letting me decide what to do about it." That's where I hope I can get to with Q some day.

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    1. You will get there- it takes time and work. And ups and downs.

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  12. lol my method of "recharging" with horses often requires a recovery period of its own haha.... but damn if i don't love every moment!

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  13. It made me soooo happy to read this post, I love that you and Carmen are entering a new stage in your relationship! You are were not trying to change the horse she is (sensitive, alert, etc) you just wanted to be able to work with her and have that attention move to the place YOU wanted, not one she decided. I am just so happy for you!!

    And even when I don't ride, barn time is my happy time! My hubby has never once complained about the cost or time involved in having Gen, he knows that one reason his wife is smiling and in a good mood most of the time is because of pony time!

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    1. My husband sends me out to the barn regularly. :)

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  14. I have the opposite problem. I am around horses *constantly* and sometimes wonder how I could get a break for a few days. But then I'd miss them terribly!

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    1. I hear you on that too. I do enjoy my breaks from the work at home but can't do it for too long.

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  15. I had to sell my horse when I was diagnosed with cancer, I did not have the energy to work AND take care of a horse, I miss it, but, I recharge by reading your blog, it helps me stay connected with my former horse world, I also have the sweetest Australian shepherd that motivates me to keep going even when I just don't feel like it.

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    1. I am sorry about your diagnosis. it's not easy. I am glad that you have your Aussie. They are good for the soul.

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  16. Carmen is getting more adult brain cells! She's going to be a rock star when she totally settles for you.
    Horses work in mysterious ways. It sounds cheesy but it's 100% true.

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