Blog 22 Oct 24 2018
“Weaving The Story of Horse and Human”
“So, what is The ‘Art’ of Motivational Horsemanship”?
I believe I have gotten ahead of myself in my previous writings and education in this blog. Or did I? I couldn’t have told you about something I didn’t know existed? I really couldn’t have gotten ahead since the ‘art’ we would create wasn’t at the beginning of our meeting and our journey. I didn’t know what Motivational Horsemanship would mean to me, my horses and my students. It was in its early development stage and it wasn’t until I had enough confidence and self awareness to recognize what Rhett was offering that I began to form my own theories and philosophies.
I am awakened with these ideas and discoveries created around my sessions with Rhett, Sage, Sarah, Koda and my students horses, so I have all these experiments, experiences and words spilling out and it sometimes settles here on the blog!! Another reason I knew Motivational Horsemanship was forming ! (Life, Learning and Language Lesson)
So, what is “The ‘Art’ of Motivational Horsemanship’?
Let’s start with the dictionary definition:
“mo·ti·va·tion /ˌmōdəˈvāSH(ə)n/ noun
1 the general desire or willingness of someone to do something.
When someone says they aren’t motivated, does this sound familiar?
Feeling troubled? Feeling stuck? 
Feeling unmotivated or lacking the commitment to change?
You make goals… but then you procrastinate.
You write a to-do list… but then you don’t follow through.
This happens again and again and again. Seriously, what’s the problem?
Why are we so good at thinking of what to do but so terrible at actually doing those things?
I want to challenge your thoughts on motivation and the common meaning. I believe motivation means change .
“The only way that we can live is if we grow. The only way that we can grow is if we change. The only way that we can change is if we learn. The only way we can learn is if we are exposed. And the only way that we can become exposed is if we throw ourselves out into the open. Do it. Throw yourself.”
Rhett inspired and motivated me to change. To change direction. To make a decision. To become dedicated to the change. To change paths. To change thought patterns. To change habits. To flow with the bending, twisting, curving that comes. With those changes, I became motivated and empowered !
“From my guidance, you will find the ‘art’ that is created with your skills and in your imagination on your horsemanship journey. This ‘art’ will beautifully express your important ideas and feelings and build all your relationships.” Rhett said softly.
From those words, that inspiration and motivation, The ‘Art’ of Motivational Horsemanship was ‘born’. In the beginning, I thought it was about the typical ideas of motivation of achieving a goal and how that goal would be achieved.
For me that motivation, through Rhett’s guidance, is about finding a purpose, my purpose. Embracing my desire. Creating my space. Surrounding myself . Hold myself accountable. Take a small action. I made a motivated change and through that motivation, my horsemanship path was transformed. (Life Lesson)
With that change, allow me to introduce what Motivational Horsemanship means to my horsemanship journey and those of my students.
The ‘Art’ of Motivational Horsemanship is a blend of the sciences of the many styles of motivation, the neuroscience of the brain and nervous systems, the psychology or study of the emotional systems, especially those affecting behavior, ethology or study of the natural behavior of horses in their social environment and individually, and the biology or physiology and anatomy of the horse.
In my program, I teach these sciences to describe my way of training and educating horses using the latest science about how horses learn, what makes a horse a horse and why horses do what they do . The sciences also guide me to share and teach how to manage and care for horses, allowing you to become your horse’s welfare advocate in the way they are kept and trained.
My program creates ‘Heart-Centered Thought Based Training’, resulting in thinking, motivated horses and humans. It was developed taking the best pieces of my extensive 50+ year training and competition background. Knowledge and experience from classical and natural horsemanship, straightness and biomechanical training, movement and motion science, practical dressage riding, rider biomechanics and, now, positive reinforcement or reward based training. All have their place in my Motivational Horsemanship Education Program which makes my ‘toolbox’ extensive.
My passion for learning has led me to seek out answers using the knowledge and experience I have amassed through the various disciplines. This ability has given my program the flexibility to deal with a wide variety of challenges that I and my clients may encounter. The process is not static but ever changing as new challenges constantly present themselves.
Here’s a fun little :20 video of a motivated Rhett working for food with Amazing Graze…
As you can see above, motivation is not a ‘state’. Motivation is an ‘act or action’.
As our own motivation, we must have our underlying principles, purpose, thoughts, feelings, beliefs, core values and dreams that will never change. Being motivated in this way, we can retain the sense that we must continually take action regardless of how internal or external circumstances change. (Life and Learning Lesson)
Because he’s cute and I can !! 5 minute video of Rhett coming in trailer at liberty while I was loading it for a trip… 🙂 Rewards with food sure didn’t hurt!
Have you ever had a really great session with your horse? Where everything just flowed? It was good, positive energy. It was easy to ‘feel’ and easy to connect with.
It’s that ‘feel’ you want, that ‘feel’ is your connection with you horse. The feel of your dream – the energy of your goal in your mind and heart. Moments of these ‘feels’ throughout your session will steer your relationship in that direction. You will find your motivation.
It’s about choosing to connect with the parts of your mind and heart that give you hope, and allow you to believe in your connection, and reason for developing your relationship with your horse. You will find your motivation.
When you connect with your intentions – your passion, your essence, your dreams and goals – YOU become the driving force for your motivation. And your horse ‘feels’ that motivation too ! That is why Motivational Horsemanship was ‘born’ and why it will continue to evolve !
The Essence of Motivational Horsemanship is to “Discover – Share – Teach”
The essence of something is its basic and most important characteristic that gives it its individual identity.
I guide you to discover things about yourself and your horse that will empower you on your horsemanship journey.
I share with you the information Rhett shows me and my interpretatinos and guide you to learn observation and perception skills, self awareness and how to translate and communicate those thoughts into a shared language .
I teach you to teach your own horse. I teach you the sciences behind your horse’s behaviors. I teach you how to create actions that will support clear, consistent, confident communication skills with your horse.
This is the Essence of Motivational Horsemanship is to Discover ~ Share ~ Teach
It bears repeating. Motivation means change.
The benefits of finding change, possibly making mistakes and learning from them greatly outweighs the temporary losses that might occur on your horsemanship journey. And your connection with your horse will only strengthen.
“The only way that we can live is if we grow. The only way that we can grow is if we change. The only way that we can change is if we learn. The only way we can learn is if we are exposed. And the only way that we can become exposed is if we throw ourselves out into the open. Do it. Throw yourself.”
Do you see your personal lesson(s) in this story?
Next: “The ‘Art’ of Motivational Horsemanship – Thinking Outside and Beyond the Box”
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