Author: GPadmin24

Winston Churchill once said ‘No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle.’ I agree completely! My hours in the saddle are for pleasure and fun with my horse as well as connection to the beauty of nature.

Horses have incredible memories. If you ever raise your hand or voice in anger to hit a horse, the horse will never forget the negativity. If you treat your horse with predator behavior, your horse with consider you as his enemy. If you lose your temper, strike out at your horse with your hand or fist, yell in resentment, or cause the horse pain or discomfort, your horse’s trust in you will be lost. I have had my horse Kamar for 22 years. Never once in all these years together does Kamar have any reason to fear me or distrust me. Our relationship is based on daily companionship, positive touch and friendly communication.

How would you feel if you were around someone who is always telling you what to do? Telling is how most riders communicate to their horses. Most people punish a horse who doesn’t obey them. Punishment is nothing more than do this or suffer. If the horse obeys, often the reward is not something the horse wants but rather something the teller wishes to give. Zum still has trouble learning to move forward. I continue to ask, not tell.

Zum loves to graze. I have always loved listening to the sound of a horse grazing. When I was a young girl, I would take my horses to a green meadow with a book. I would listen to my horses eating while I lay on the grass near them, absorbed in my book! What joyful memories!

Zum is my guide, messenger and teacher. I love to watch him as he stands perfectly still in the round pen, listening to the wind. He teaches me to take time to stop and reflect on each moment of my life.

There is a great saying that I love: ‘By their fruits, ye shall know them.’ I have always loved and honored animals my entire life. My ‘fruits’ are the way I treat my animals as my companions, best friends, teachers and family members. My animals have always had equal status to myself and other humans. I always have accepted my responsibility to all animals. I attune myself to their needs.

When Zum stops on the trail, he is not ready to move forward. If I think he is going to back up, it is better to wait. I let him stand there. Waiting isn’t bad. Zum needs plenty of time to look around and feel secure in his environment. It will take many repetitions for Zum to learn that he doesn’t need to panic, no matter what strange thing he sees for the first time. When I think I have a good chance of getting Zum to move forward, I kiss. And he moves forward with confidence.

In my life, I have met my share of men who use a beautiful woman as a possession, never concerning themselves about her true happiness or desires. My love and respect for Zum grows as he matures from a colt to a young horse. And I have noticed that Zum really enjoys being out on the trail. Knowing this makes it twice as much fun for me!

‘A fool is full of ‘I can’t’ and ‘I won’t’ and a wise man has a positive heart.’ This saying was my inspiration yesterday to trailer Zum to the desert by himself for the first time. I rode Zum for an hour. Zum stopped many times in curious fear of various rocks and logs near the trail. I kissed and he moved forward. I am very proud of Zum. I am also very proud of myself for creating more inner strength.

When I ride Zum, I pull one rein towards the saddle and I hold the rein until Zum moves. Then I reward Zum for turning by releasing the rein immediately. Then I ask for another turn. The quicker I release the rein after Zum turns, the quicker Zum learns how to turn. Repetitions build confidence!