Patterns and Teaching Horses.

My analysis of Patterns is that they are found everywhere nature, and horses are no exception (e.g graze and sleep at particular times). By using patterns when we interact with horses, we give them a chance to be active participants and really open the door for two-way-communication. A 'pattern' can be described as strategy or even a plan when we apply it to playing with horses. For an animal capable of reading intention, and who learns anywhere between 7-10 times faster than humans do, knowing exactly what we want, and when we are going to quit (Pressure motivates, but it is the release that teaches) before we ask our horse to do anything, really is lesson in focus for humans, and as I begin to reach higher levels with my horse, I understand the importance of the clarity of my intention, and how that directly correlates with my body language that Rain (my horse) is reading. The horse not doing what we want can only be two things,  lack of understanding (that can be seen by unconfidence in the horse) or dominance.  Both reflect on our leadership skills. Using patterns with horses is a great blue print for teaching young horses. It offers enough repetition in the learning process that makes a horse feel safe, trusting, motivated and willing and after a few sessions the horse knows exactly what to do (variety can be introduced as well, by combining seven games etc. patterns are not designed to bore a horse to death!). Both sides of the horse-human relationship have responsibilities (which I will get to later in my blog) and patterns are a great way to trust, but hold each other accountable for those.

Patterns are the blue-print for teaching horses. 

Valuing the Journey.

I think the greatest appeal to me about learning in this program is the fact it is never ending. Finishing things has never been something I have felt comfortable with, the linear progression from start to end has always lost me, and lost me quite appropriately for the topic, in the middle. I love middle's, the lingering place where you can take tangents, actually feel yourself expanding as you learn. I believe so long as you are learning, there is no end. Diverting off topic, I believe this is why teachers of students need to frequently continue to learn, to put themselves in their juniors shoes so they are constantly reminded how it feels to master  a level of excellence along the cycle from unconscious incompetence (you don't know what you don't know), concious incompetence, concious competence to unconscious competence...and  around again.

Valuing the journey for me has been about keeping the big picture in mind always, committing just to be positive, progressive and natural. My own expectations of myself have always been my most limiting factor, I can be so hard on myself I can cloud my own passions. Learning how to separate myself from ambition enough to let myself learn, and be kind to myself has been challenging. I frequently remind myself exactly how lucky I am to go and simply play with my horse, who offers feedback to my own mind and how its affecting my body language and communication with her, so acutely I cannot credit knowing myself like I do without also crediting my time with horses. She really is my mirror. Animals speak a universal language by instinct, and I think humanity could really be enlightened to many lessons if we began to nurture a kinship with all life that seems so diluted in our disharmony and lack of receptiveness with our surrounds.

A few photos from Fast Track...

Maintaining mental connection at liberty playing stick to me.

Looking up from the horse yards at the student tent and office at the Australian Parelli Campus in Wilton, NSW

Rain, exploring her play drive tentatively with the green ball. 

Look at that draw! Being assessed on final testing day at  liberty.