Lessons A Horse Teaches

[UnfilteredCowgirl]

So, I truly believe that horses truly do help you in pretty much every aspect of life, and all of my children will be raised around horses because they teach such valuable lessons! You must learn to work with others, not over power them. You must learn to read basic social cues, and read what the animal is telling you. You must have respect for all animals. You must have patience, and be willing to bend your will to match what is best for the horse. And you must learn to do hard things. And most importantly, you learn to pick yourself up again after you fall, and get back in the saddle and ride. I think everyone would benefit from working with horses. Now, I am biased lol! But I do truly believe it!
I think that every person ever born should at least have the chance to work with horses. They teach you so many valuable things, that you can apply into your everyday life. Horses are so amazing! And they're already used for therapuatic riding, and everyone has some sort of problem. And horses can help fix that!

Okay, not sure why I said all of that. But can you guys think of any other beneficial lessons a horse teaches you about life? Feel free to share!

 

[Shilasdair]

Bankruptcy.

They teach you about bankruptcy.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Stand/sit up tall.

Be fair/kind but also assert yourself/your space.

Ask for help!

 

[UnfilteredCowgirl]

Stand/sit up tall.

Be fair/kind but also assert yourself/your space.

Ask for help!

Love that! I saw a shirt once that said "keep you head up, and you heels down" Lol!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

The stand up tall one came from a horse I was sharing up until recently. I think I must have been giving off 'walk all over me' vibes with my body language without realising. I had some guidance for getting him out of my space because he was being pushy, and eventually found it could be as subtle as standing up a bit taller and shoulders back it was like 'oh okay then' and it all got a bit easier. I'm trying to translate this lesson into other areas of life!

 

[UnfilteredCowgirl]

The stand up tall one came from a horse I was sharing up until recently. I think I must have been giving off 'walk all over me' vibes with my body language without realising. I had some guidance for getting him out of my space because he was being pushy, and eventually found it could be as subtle as standing up a bit taller and shoulders back it was like 'oh okay then' and it all got a bit easier. I'm trying to translate this lesson into other areas of life!

That's so awesome! I also have problems with sitting up straight cause of an accident that causes my back to hurt when i sit up properly for long periods of time. So I usually find myself slouching a lot of the time, and I hate it. And i have been much more motivated to try and fix it, and sit up straighter since I began riding again, cause I know it'll help my riding, and the horse!

 

[SibeliusMB]

Something I wrote a few years ago on this subject:
http://war-horse.blogspot.com/2014/10/thank-you-mom-and-dad.html

 

[UnfilteredCowgirl]

@SibeliusMB Oh my gosh! Reading that made me cry! That was so heartfelt, and so true! Your parents are truly amazing! Wow! That is such an awesome story, I actually read the whole thing lol! Usually I just skim through things like that, but I was hooked on that one, and I read every single word. Thank you for sharing that! Just that short little article, is literally living proof, that horses save lives. They give you something to work towards, something to look towards, something to work for, and work with. Thank you for sharing that. It was beautiful.

 

[Gloi]

Bankruptcy.

They teach you about bankruptcy.

And pain, they teach you that too.

 

[Carlosmum]

Patience.... when you're stood waiting for pony to decide to load ( or not) patience is one thing that you learn!!

 

[doodle]

Sultan taught me the most I think. Both in how to ride (rather than in a riding school) and look after a horse and was very forgiving. But he also taught me not to be cocky. If you rode and crossed that line he would very carefully and gently put you on the ground. Always in the same way, you went out his left shoulder. There was absolutely nothing you could do to stay on but he would carefully put you down. He then stood and waited, let you get back on with a “will we try again?” Attitude and would carry on as normal. I quickly learned his lesson!

 

[Gloi]

And terror as your life flashes before your eyes

 

[Rumtytum]

Horses never lie. (Thank you Mark Rashid)

 

[mini_b]

I like the thought behind this but I struggle to understand the social cues humans give, don’t think my horse can teach me how tell when someone is sick of listening to me, or when it’s my go to talk... but my horse taught me the power of positivity and manifestation!

I’m instinctively lean towards being negative/critical of myself but after starting a not so straight forward horse, I learned to take a positive look at any outcomes I got. Visualising a good outcome usually works!
i have tried to transfer this to normal life with a bit of success!

Oh yes, budgeting!
I CAN live off ramen and cheese sandwiches...

 

[magicmoments]

They've taught me many things.
A vet may have trained for years, but you know your animal best and what will work for them. Having said that they can also make you look a complete idiot, often when in presence of said vet.
Comprise, especially with livery yards, but many other things too.
They should teach you to listen with your eyes, not your ears. Body language is everything, and use your intuition, and change your plans if needs be, to keep safe.
You can budget all you like on paper, but horse may have other ideas.
Keep calm in an emergency.
To worry more.
To be confident in your own abilities. Still a work in progress.

 

[Trouper]

In the great scheme of things - to try and stop worrying about tomorrow.
In the here and now - to stop moaning about a back niggle and just get on with things.
- to realise that there are things that they see before I do and they are not just pratting about.

 

[paddi22]

to be present and just live in the moment. never to get smug, because once you feel smug about something, horses will manage to absolutely knock you back into place. that the universe will never let you plan anything with horses, and if you do it will introduce a storm, a pandemic or some random illness into the mix.

 

[Keith_Beef]

The stand up tall one came from a horse I was sharing up until recently. I think I must have been giving off 'walk all over me' vibes with my body language without realising. I had some guidance for getting him out of my space because he was being pushy, and eventually found it could be as subtle as standing up a bit taller and shoulders back it was like 'oh okay then' and it all got a bit easier. I'm trying to translate this lesson into other areas of life!

Stand like a lobster!

 

[pixie27]

There's a bunch of stuff I've learnt from them over the years (patience, asking for help, confidence), but something I've been thinking about loads recently is how they teach you to be present. I'm someone who can get very stuck in my own head/thoughts, but being around horses stops this (and therefore helps with my anxiety etc.).

I hadn't really thought more of it than 'I need to be alert and engaged and focused on my horse', but listening to a few of Warwick Schiller's podcast episodes has introduced a different explanation to it.

 

[J&S]

I think horses teach us (girls/women) to be brave. If you can ride your horse or pony round a decent XC course, or take part in endurance rides, get lost orenteering in Trec , you can stand up to a domineering boss or over demanding partner.

 

[Hero**]

To breath deeply and relax. And to never give up.

 

[smolmaus]

I think horses teach us (girls/women) to be brave. If you can ride your horse or pony round a decent XC course, or take part in endurance rides, get lost orenteering in Trec , you can stand up to a domineering boss or over demanding partner.

I like this one. You know all the snarky jokes and stereotypes about CrAzY HoRsE GiRlS? Proof if you needed it that the Patriarchy Police is intimidated by a sport that teaches self sufficiency and gives girls/ women confidence.

It's body language for me too. The "words" are different for dogs, cats, other animals and humans but the way to listen is the same.

 

[Birker2020]

Don't be rough when you groom me (in haste).
When I do 'my stare' try to pay attention. I am trying to tell you something. You must listen.

And most of all Margit Coates who is a professional Horse Whisperer and who has really taught me so much on how I communicate with my own beloved horse through her books.

All horses communicate in much the same way, it doesn't matter what size, breed or where they live in the world. Their language is universal.

When horses are hurting first they whisper to you. Ears back when tack approaches, a nip when you do up their girth.
This progresses to talking to you. This might be a swish of the tail, a little buck here or there.
Then they shout at you. This might be interpreted as more bucking, spinning in the stable or flying towards the door aggresively.
Finally when all hope is lost they will Scream at you. Sadly this is when people label horses as 'problem horses'. They may be un-rideable, unpredictable or just totally switched off from humans. They are considered a lost cause by humans. It is all very sad. It is down to us to recognise the very subtle signs when a horse starts to whisper to us. And it is our duty to listen.

I would recommend reading her book 'Talking with Horses'. Amazing. This link shows you some real case studies, albeit half ones as it is a sample of the book. https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=dqXTXJk-VvgC&pg=PA124&lpg=PA124&dq=magrit+coates,+horses+start+off+whispering&source=bl&ots=GUFGDtnF8E&sig=ACfU3U1j1Mn4VdKB7l1vcflZ0VvOkI3wxw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiyhNewmtrvAhUahv0HHY5GCW0Q6AEwFXoECAgQAw#v=onepage&q=magrit coates, horses start off whispering&f=false