There is no place for punishment in training a horse. Instead, hugging a horse is a wonderful lesson. When I am hugging Zum, it teaches him that he can be handled, restrained and controlled without it causing him any physical or emotional pain. I love to hug Zum! He loves it too!
I am sure that my horses meditate all the time. I see my horses stand quietly, breath deeply and stare into space. I teach meditations that enhance healing, self-development and spiritual realization. I am positive that my horses know these meditations innately!
I was asked today if I could teach people a class called Meditation with Horses. Yes, I can! Meditation offers numerous benefits. Meditating on breath lowers blood pressure and eases anxiety. Horses represent courage, grace, strength and happiness in many cultures. Meditating on the qualities of the horses in the presence of horses will enrich your daily life and deepen your ability to feel self-confidence and joy. Horses are powerful beings!
I teach Hatha Yoga in Carefree and Scottsdale, Arizona in the winters. I also teach Hatha Yoga in Santa Fe, New Mexico in the summers. Hatha Yoga reduces fatigue and soothes the nerves. I often use my yoga skills when training my young colt. I am teaching him to be patient and calm.
Zum goes through learning cycles. One day, he seems to know the right response. The next day, he tries every option other than the right response. As long as I don’t change the cues or the rewards and keep everything the same, he works through the ups and downs until his performance is consistent.
The entire teaching process is a positive experience for both Zum and I. Zum lets me put the shipping helmet on his head easily now! I make the experience reassuring for Zum so he develops confidence in me and my leadership.
I let Zum smell the shipping helmet and chew on it. I let him look at it at various angles. I put the shipping helmet all around his head. Gradually, the helmet is not so scary. This approach works for just about anything that is frightening to a horse!
Working with Zum takes lots of time! I don’t rush things. I give Zum all the time he needs to learn to accept things that are foreign to him!
I am asking Zum to keep working with the shipping helmet. If I don’t keep asking, he will think he never has to work.
I ask Zum to please put the shipping helmet on. He refuses…and he panics.
