The Triad of Horsemanship

25/01/2023

I've recently been feeling 'nudges from the Universe' to come back to this work which I know may sound a bit woo-woo but, that is just how I flow with work 😁

Having lost my darling horses in Sept '21 I could not bring myself to be near any other equines...it just hurt too much. Then in summer last year my motorhome and I rocked up to a tiny site where the lady has Quarter Horses, including at the time a 5 week old and a 15 week old foal. They stole my heart.

A conversation with someone resulted in my sharing The Triad of Horsemanship introduction in the last issue of Barefoot Horse Magazine (issue 36) https://barefoothorsemag.com with a follow-up article in the next issue.

And now here I am, pondering how best to share this work with those who want to develop a depth of connection with their horse that will fill your soul.

I am considering individual, intensive training programmes online. I will share more soon but would love to know your thoughts.

Sue

14/09/2022

I'm writing some articles for a magazine and could really do with your input please.

The articles are to explain the three arms of the Triad of Horsemanship; to give context to my work I am including what is now turning out to be a 500+ word background on how I came to develop this work...

Would that bore you rigid?

Thank you!

03/05/2022

Over the last few years I have been deepening my skills and knowledge in working alongside horses. It has become clear, the more I have done and the more the horses have shared with me, that you cannot focus on just one aspect of your 'self' in order to gain this depth of connection with your horses. To that end I have created The Triad of Horsemanship training programme.

I am learning all the time, and what I share with you is just the very beginning of your journey. What I am not doing is sharing techniques that must be followed to the letter, more a mindset and shift of attention for you, the human component of your equine partnership. The following is a guide to what is included, but there will always be more to add and I will go deeper into what those of you who enrol on the programme wish to cover:

The Triad of Horsemanship
Mind, Body, Soul

The Mind
• Getting to know your ‘why’
o Why do you want horses in your life?
o Why did you choose to come on this course?

These two seemingly simple questions are actually the beginning of an important journey. They cause you to look deeper, which in turn will help you to know yourself better.

You can apply the ‘why’ question to your life in general – why is my life the way it is?

Why ask why? So that you can begin to recognise where there may be resistances and compromises which don’t sit well with you. And once you have found these resistances, then you can work on unravelling them which allows you to become mentally at ease.

This is important as it relates to congruency and how our horses see us – more on this later.
• Getting to know your ‘what’
o What do you want your horse life to look like?
o What do you want your horse’s life to look like?
o What do you want to achieve in your relationship with your equine?

As with the previous questions, this can often be a revelation as I’m asking you to look deeper, to figure out what will make your soul sing. Even when we begin to follow our hearts in relation to our horses, often we can still subconsciously hang on to our old ways.
I used to feel I ‘should’ or ‘had to’ do something constructive with my horses, to entertain them. And our relationship at the time was amazing. But when I asked myself the what and the why, I dropped the pressure. If they asked to go and interact, we did. I learnt to observe more and act less. I ask you to observe too, observe your resistances along the way. These resistances are often your false self, your wounded persona, or one of the many other identities who make up the person you are. Which leads us to:
• Who is talking?
o Exploring the many versions of you which exist and establishing their roles within your life – equine and other

The Body

For nearly two decades I have explored the interaction of rider and horse. I now teach my riders in a style which lends itself to them being balanced, quiet, and clear in their communication with their horse. But more than that, I explain how to ride in a manner which allows the horse to move as freely as if they were at liberty; to encourage, through posture and intent, the horse to move with fluidity and pride.

In this section of the course, we will explore:
• Doing less is key to achieving more
• A rider divided – the secret to stillness in the saddle
• Excessive muscle tone and clouded communication – where does it come from and how to diminish it
• Implications of common rider imbalances to the horse
• A different approach to rein aids
• The most beneficial Pilates based exercises you can do anywhere

The Soul

It is my hope that by the time we reach this section of the course that you will already be tapping into that deeper part of your being known as the soul, spirit, essence…it goes by many names. We can now start to explore how to really feel how to be with your horse. Not ‘feel’ as in the perfect moment to ask for a transition, but a way of experiencing and sharing the horses’ innate way of communication; an interaction so subtle, yet so powerful, it will take your breath away.
We explore:
• Slowing down and learning to feel
• Tuning into the ‘nudges’
• Mindfulness
• Energy anatomy
• Congruency and why our horses need it

Please do message or email [email protected] for further information

16/11/2021

Being Yourself

I credit my horses for helping me to learn how to be my true, authentic self. I’m not going to lie, it took a while to learn this lesson from them. But authenticity is something they desire, in themselves and in others around them.

The horse world is thankfully changing; the one I was in back in 2009 when I first got Ari was a different place. Non-traditional methods were seen as a bit woo woo back then. Rope halter? You must be pretending to be a cowboy. Groundwork? Just get on the damned horse. Partnership? You need to show him who’s boss.

Social media, and the internet in general, have opened up a lovely new world for our equine companions where these previously considered woo woo methods are now being explored, shared, and shown to be effective. But even then, it is easy to get sucked into a particular technique, methodology, and lose the authentic self your horse desires.

The desire to do things ‘the right way’ often leads to us compromise what we intrinsically feel is right for us: pay attention to those resistances, honour them as they are telling you to wake up to the fact it isn’t the right path for you and your horse.

As for the horse’s own authenticity, again, we need to allow that and encourage them to develop their sense of self. Ari had autistic traits, of that I am certain. A friend said was a worrier and a warrior – much like myself. If he knew what he was doing he was brave as a lion; if it was new and he was uncertain he was meek as a kitten and needed support.

So, to try to force a horse to be brave, to push him through something, would be to disallow him to be his authentic self. And you would be causing him to store up tension, anxiousness and diminish the bond between you. Accept, acknowledge, and work with their unique personality and traits, and work at the pace they need.

I know I am probably ‘preaching to the converted’ here but if something has resonated with you and you want me to go into more depth then please do comment below.

Meanwhile, start to listen out for the resistances in both you and your horses. When you get them, pause, and explore rather than push on because it is ‘the right way’.

Sue x

03/11/2021

Normally when I write a post I do so in Word first, check the spelling, re-read it a few times and then share. Tonight I have had the nudge to just write and post this in all its rawness so here goes.

My heart is still broken, it is knitting together very slowly and will never be as it was and I have a feeling of vulnerability I do not like but know I need to work with in order to move forwards. I feel every 'off' vibe in the small world I live in right now, even in messages and over the phone. I am raw.

Tonight, after a conversation with an amazing lady on messenger, I did an energy protection meditation from YouTube. As white light energy was being drawn down and the practitioner talked of energy guides and spirits I was overwhelmed with images and feelings of Doris, my beautiful mare. Even writing this has me in tears. But I felt love, just pure love from her. And support, she is watching over me of that I am sure.

And then the nudge was to share something I wrote early last month; a way I feel I now need to teach, that they (my horses) want me to share....

A more empathetic approach to horsemanship where their needs as an individual are considered, where their unique and individual learning styles are accommodated. Not teaching horses to 'do' anything, but allowing them to show us how to communicate with them as an individual, to be with them with greater clarity in OUR energy and intent (theirs is always perfect, it is their natural way after all). They need us to work from our soul, energy, spirit - whatever you want to call it - not from any 'this is how it should be' methodology devised by humans.

My horses, Ari, Immy and Doris, all taught me so much about this, in their own unique ways – they all needed me to be with them, to converse with them, in different ways. I want others to feel that immeasurable enchantment, the feeling when souls are connected and communicating with no words and imperceptible actions. Because the bond you create when you (horse and human) achieve this is so powerful that there are no words to describe it; you can but feel it, and once felt, it will never leave you even when their souls have to.

Sue x

20/09/2021

I am sorry if I have been quieter than normal on here. In case you didn't see it on my personal profile, I sadly lost both my horses on Thursday morning. My heart is broken and life is, well, life is going to be so very different.

I will get back to you soon, just give me a bit of time. xx

07/09/2021

The last few weeks have been a nightmare. Poorly dog, horses not well either. 2am vet call to the old mare whose breathing went to pot with all the harvesting around us. Then, to top it all, I discovered their saved grazing was full of ergot (toxic fungus if you haven't come across it - I hadn't) and they'd been on it for 5 days before I knew it was a 'thing'. It was the same paddock they'd been on when they came down with liver damage earlier this year....

So, I've been stuffing them full of cleansing herbs but was getting increasingly concerned about my gelding, Ari. So I got in touch with someone whose work has helped us many times - Cooper Wilson.

Cooper was recommended to me years ago by someone whose story about their first meeting was mindblowing. He is a communicator and healer. Now I admit I am sceptical about such things but the details he has shared couldn't have come from anywhere else but the horses.

Today was the first time I had been with the horses when he did his 'thing' and it was wicked! At the precise moment he was telling me about the problem, both horses lowered their heads and started licking and chewing. When he'd finished, they stopped.

Mind blown!

https://www.facebook.com/cooperwilsonanimalcommunicator/

Cooper Wilson is an experienced horseman, Reiki Master & Animal Communicator. With a wealth of experience valued by many animal owners across the UK

13/08/2021

Today has been incredible, mind blowing wouldn’t be too strong a term to use. Why? My gelding, Ari, manipulated my shoulder and neck. Twice. Let me explain…

Nov 2019 I got two back hooves to my elbow; that heady combination of wet and cold, hungry horse, me not paying attention; no malice just one of those things. Covid hit and the injury went untreated, and I am now stiff, sore, and twisted from compensating for the pain for 18 months. I had a friend due today to do a treatment on me as my injured side shoulder was a good 3” higher than my good side and my good side, well, the pain in my neck was sickening.

Last night I started reading one of Temple Grandin’s books (why I’ve never heard of them till now is beyond me, she’s amazing) so went to ‘work’ the horses with the mindset that they could show me what they wanted today. As we were walking side by side I said to Ari that I wasn’t going to ride him until I was straight as I didn’t want to twist him. Reminded of this fact I adjusted my walking posture and said to him it would start right now. We did a bit of groundwork and then they directed me to the mounting block at the bottom of our tiny schooling area.

I sat with both horses to my side, their noses down just chilling and then Ari turned and reversed into me. At first I thought he was just moving in for a butt scratch but I had my back to him so thought I would just see where it went. That horse used his butt and tail to move my bad shoulder, hold it in place, put pressure on it, jigged his hind leg about to release bits…it was unreal. He switched to do some serious crunching moves on my back with his butt, paused and checked me out before repositioning my shoulder one last time. He then walked to his bridge (pallet covered in board and rubber) to ground himself before going to graze with his buddy Doris. I was lost for words.

As the day went by I wondered if he was just having an itch then this afternoon we were doing our groundwork thing again when he turned his bum to me, this time I was standing so gave him a good old scratch up and down his moulting legs. I went to walk back to the house when he quite pointedly walked to the mounting block and looked at me imploringly. I went, sat down and blow me, he did the right side this time! Same sort of thing with the tail holding me in place while he sank his haunches down to put pressure on me. The bit that really got me? He knocked my hat and glasses so I took them off, he wrapped his neck around mine and did a maneuver worthy of any osteopath. And then he walked off, grounded himself again for a few seconds and went off to graze.

My neck and shoulders feel amazing. I am truly staggered, humbled and feeling blessed to have such a deep connection with my boy.

14/07/2021

"Over the Rainbow"

In the ongoing journey of healing
A rainbow of insight appears
When the light of a new awareness
Passes through the rain of tears

Then this rainbow horse beckons
Brought down to the earth through love
His gift lies in transforming sadness
Into light and hope from above

In his stillness lies the serenity
Of what it is like to receive
Then a miracle is possible in that moment
When we remember we can believe

- Kim McElroy
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/over-the-rainbow-kim-mcelroy.html

Join Kim’s E-Inspirations - they are a FREE weekly inspirational message created by Kim McElroy featuring a new work of art each week along with meaningful messages inspired by horses. >> https://spiritofhorse.com/about-kim/

04/07/2021

14/06/2021

I changed the name of this page from the Mindful Rider to the Equine Affair recently because the former just didn't really feel aligned any more. When I first got my Ari gelding it was tough; I allowed my other half to make me feel like I had to sn**ch moments with my beautiful horse, felt guilty for the time I spent with him just as if I was having an affair.

But the main reason for changing the name is that my time with my horses, and my other animals, is now so very rich and we've taken our relationship to such a deep, soul merging level. It is such a special, beautiful way of being.

This wouldn't have been possible without much of the work I have done 'on myself' to change my mental state. I am calm, content, deeply connected with my purpose in this life which is to help other people feel the same way, so that in turn they can take their equine relationships to this amazing level. I no longer doubt my abilities, in all aspects of my life. I ditched the stuff that was holding me back and re-trained my brain to move forwards positively. I am self-assured but never arogant. I accept my non-strengths and work hard to make my strengths even more powerful.

I'd love to help you too, if you would like to know more about my work then comment below or drop me a message.

Sue x