Wednesday, July 27

Think Harmony

I always like to try new things. Especially when it comes to the horses. I like to practice new theories and see if they work on not. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't.
Today this new theory worked! However, it was hard. Very hard for me. See, when I ride I like to just relax, let my mind wander, feel at peace with Eddie and do lots of small things together. In Think Harmony With Horses by Ray Hunt, he challenges riders to think about what they're doing and make everything matter. He also encourages us to feel the horse and act as though we are walking with the horse.

Let me tell you that it took a lot of unconscious thinking to know every movement Eddie was doing. But! It worked! When I would ask him to stop, all I had to do was think about it, exhale and lean back a little bit. And he stopped! When I would ask him to turn, all I had to do was look in the direction and slightly shift my reins. As you can see in the picture, my reins are always loose and I always let him have lots of slack. It's just more comfortable that way, but maybe someday we'll move on to contact. Anywhos...
We worked on fast walks/slow walks and just having harmony together. It took a lot more brain power than I thought it would and Eddie was SO patient! I'm excited to see how this goes, I already feel an improvement!!
After I played with Eddie, I took Diesel and Scout for walks. Diesel and I went around the track and through the corncrib. Then Scout and I went all around the property, through the front yard, up the driveway and back to the barn. :-) It was really fun and the ponies were so happy for the play time! hehe, Scout and I also ran around by the pumpkin field and went up and down some slopes.
Ah, such a nice day and even though it was hot out, we had lots of fun!


~Lea & Eddie & Scout & Diesel~


Hebrews 12:1
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ray Hunt has many good things to say. You might want to look up Tom Moates, who has spent a lot of time with Harry Whitney and has written some excellent books.

Lea and Eddie said...

Thanks Kate!!
I actually read his book, Discovering Natural Horsemanship a while ago. It was REALLY good and I might even have to buy it. I wish Harry Whitney came to Illinois or Wisconsin for clinics, it would be amazing to see him!

Ellyn said...

Sounds like a good technique! I'll have to try it.

Lea and Eddie said...

It's gotten quite a bit easier. I tried it again yesterday and it was ten times easier than two days ago. I'm really excited, because it has helped us so much!

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