dancing horses

dancing horses

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Sensitivity and Presence


On my last blog post N recommended Tristan Tucker on Youtube. Since then I have become obsessed. I am not all they way through his videos but he has a set on 'The Vertical Mare". When I watched it I was all THAT'S CARMEN!
The rider talks about being passionate about dressage. Her horse went for training and came back unrideable. The video clip of her riding reminded me so much of Carmen and I too. I loved watching his teaching style and nature with the horse.

In this he talks about how 'high and sensitive horses' do not always know how to control their body and relax. That the mare will need to learn how to control her body when she goes into tension. Watching this mare was like watching a bay warmblood version of Carmen. Looking at the owner really wanting to do the right thing and working really hard reminded me of me (but alas I am not that thin or pretty).

I know the danger of watching a video and thinking that you know how to do it. However, a lot of his things are very familiar.  Slightly different variations but it all the good quality groundwork. On sunday. My goal was simply to have her stand relaxed, then walk behind me maintaining the same direction and then, if all went well, to have her bend and relax (turn on the forehand/haunches).

 Carmen moseyed up to me in the field and I put on her rope halter. We headed up to the ring and I asked her stand. She was curious as to what we were doing but the standing and walking is pretty familiar to her. The bending around me she knows but me keeping the ask until I felt the tension ease is knew. It was easier on the left than the right. Which is fascinating because she is also far more spooky on the right rein.

The idea, as I understand it, is to help the horse to figure out how to control their body and learn that they have the tools they need to relax. A few things he said stood out to me:
'she has a lot of feeling in her body. When it doesn't feel good it's not going to look good and it's not going to feel good for you (the rider).
'it's not the thing- it's that knowledge of what to do with herself when she's faced with that kind of pressure'. 
'it's not that we look to wave a magic wand. it's a restart to help her trust the process of receiving and accepting knowledge.'

It was fascinating. As we worked slowly and calmly I could feel the tension leaving her body as we worked. It honestly wasn't long at all. I think we worked maybe 15 minutes and then headed back to the barn.  I made sure I was totally in the moment with her and pushed away those stray thoughts that intrude at the best of times.

Likely this is resonating because it's pretty much where I landed with Carmen- that I need to help her understand and seek to relax. I'm thinking this will help me make the connection.
totally relaxed getting her tail brushed
(not from sunday but how she was)

Carmen is a sensitive mare and I'm just beginning to truly learn what that means.

After our session, I was puttering in the barn and Carmen was hanging out in her stall munching hay and by all appearances she was focussed on the highly important job of eating hay. I was definitely in my own little world, and while I had been relaxed I began to think about my week.  I walked down the alley thinking of something work related. I moved my hands in a slight gesture and she immediately reacted- her head came up and she came to the door to look at me. I thought she wasn't paying attention but she was clearly aware of me. I took a deep breath and relaxed the tension out of my body and she relaxed right away.
you okay mom?
yes', sorry to startle you
It's okay. But you wouldn't have a carrot on you would you? 

Clearly I need a reminder to park my distractions at the barn door and focus on being truly present.

29 comments:

  1. Being in the moment seems to be the key to life in general, not just horses lol. Val has been known to object to me escaping into the world of my headphones by pulling the iphone out of my pocket and throwing it on the ground. Sounds like you've found a good direction
    to head with Carmen. :D

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    1. Val is a wise horse. 😁 I’m really bad at being in multiple places in my head. I try to stay in the moment when I ride but this was a good lesson for me in the barn.

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  2. I love the last paragraph. You and Carmen are doing so well.

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  3. That is exactly why I’m devoting so much time to the spiritual / soulful aspects of horsemanship this year. I really want to unload the garbage and become a more present, relaxed, positive and forgiving horsewoman. I think my horses will be happier, and I will be happier.

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    1. Full confession: I used to roll my eyes at that. Now I realize how much I missed out on. We are on similar paths this year I think.

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  4. I'm still waiting for the day when people stop criticizing me about the way I lead my horse - with him following me. It's so logical to me because he's respecting my space, as well as literally letting me be his leader (and protector, the lead horse). I gained some new information from the video - thank you!

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    1. I was thinking of you and Mag watching these videos. I think that there are exercises in them that you can do with him in your yard.

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    2. Hey, I'm watching his video called "no excuses" and thought of you because I'm not sure how his method would help you with the scary end of your arena. Maybe he'll get to that, but he's showing how to make the horse approach a scary object, and then the object moves away as soon as the horse touches it.

      LOVED his main message about sacking out - which I guess he wouldn't call sacking out, that a horse standing there perfectly still, "taking it" is shut down and does't even try to offer an answer, being in the learning phase.

      I especially like his precision in language - he carefully avoids words like respect/dominance.

      Sadly the only semi-flat spot in our yard would be destroyed if I tried to do anything with Mag there - just walking across it for a photo (under the walnut tree) leaves deep divots in the moss (we can't call it grass). But I can still work on Tristan's "sacking out" in front of the barn. And maybe our driveway.

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    3. Anne when you’re walking him on the. Trail.

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  5. Oh that’s a great video! It reminds me a lot of the techniques I worked on with the NH guy I’ve used for trailer loading - I guess it really is all just the same basics again and again. Cool to see how he deploys it and uses his own positioning and energy. Makes me wish I was better at it myself lol!

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    1. Yes. It reminds me of Mike and Nikki (the ones who do the trail clinics). It really is about the basics. I am guilty of just wanting to ride. But I need to work on this and there is no reason why I can’t do both

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  6. That is interesting. I love how the trainer has become a seasoned actor by lowering and raising his own energy levels. You can see he's trained himself to relax first, and then could pass that knowledge on to horses.

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    1. I agree that he manages his energy really well.

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  7. It is truly fascinating working with an extremely sensitive horse. It is when you get very present and focused that you can see how hard they try to listen and give us answers. Its amazing such sensitive creatures put up with us humans, lol! Enjoyed the video. I love how soft and low he keeps his energy no matter what the horse is doing.

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    1. It is fascinating. There’s always so much to learn

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  8. This is really good stuff. I watched the entire video and then looked for part 2 haha. I like his energy around horses and could watch his videos all day. Thank you for sharing it, and it also sounds like it is helping you and Carmen as well.

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  9. Love this. I have to add Tristan Tucker to my list of YT videos to watch!!

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  10. I think my girl Penny could really benefit from this. Thank you for sharing! I am going to subscribe to him now.

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  11. Oohh! Thank you so much for sharing this.

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    1. You are welcome! I thought you might like it. :)

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  12. Horses like Carmen are SO tough. I love that this channel helped you so much already. Definitely checking it out myself!

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    1. Thank you for confirming how difficult she is. I am so constantly in a struggle- do I push? do I back off?

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  13. Thanks for sharing this. I'll check it out. Glad you found it helpful.

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