Connection.

What if we stopped seeing ‘connection’, ‘relationship’ and ‘horsemanship as separate entities?

What if instead, we realised they are part of the same whole?

Earlier in the month I came across an influx of posts online exploring different aspects of what a person perceives to be the better starting point, which is more integral to their own programme and what aspects may get left behind as a result of focusing on one specific element.

It certainly made for interesting reading!

Each article I read I understood and resonated with the different perspectives; that’s just a part of how my own mind works, I am able to empathise and objectively see viewpoints from different angles, always looking for the positive takeaways first.

Thinking on all of this over the past few weeks, I can’t help but feel that we may be unable to see the wood for the trees.

As humans, we can get a little hung-up on key words and phrases.

Getting inside our own minds too much, we overlook how our bodies, and that of the horse, are responding within a situation; consciously or autonomously, this could be the awareness of breathing rate, tension patterns or behavioural feedback, positive or negative.

Alongside this we need the awareness of what we are holding on to as a reference point in our own objectives and agendas; what are we working towards and why?

I do feel it is important that we consistently enhance and upgrade our own practical skill-set, but we must consider the intention and feel to how it is being applied, which comes from a place beneath the surface, and importantly HOW it is being received by the horse.

For me personally, your relationship has to come with connection for you to feel connected in your relationship which is a natural part of how you practically develop your skills in horsemanship with compassion, finesse and feel.

That goes for the relationship with yourself, not just your horse.

That goes for the connection to yourself, not just your horse.

All of which is part of awareness and application within your horsemanship.

For those of us who are aware of a little geeky science on the nervous system and polyvagel theory may know that if our bodies are not in a ventral-vagal state, the state of calm and social engagement, we are not able to feel truly safe and connected to ourselves and others.

This will naturally affect our ability to form, and the quality of, our relationships, and depending where we are on that spectrum, cloud the application of our horsemanship, regardless of our level of skill-set.

You can have the worlds greatest skill-set, but without connection, does that not make it feel a little hollow?

We know all training can be applied in a mechanical way, but just think how great it could be if that came from a different place.

This all may look very different to people from a passive or practical perspective, and that is absolutely fine.

I always say the mind and body do not work independently of each other.

I feel the same goes for connection.

I feel the same goes for relationship.

I feel the same goes for horsemanship.

They are part of the same whole and integrate together much better if we allow ourselves a little shift in perspective and allow our mind to let go of the words and feel in to it.