tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-802153206102856416.post3194572371871352907..comments2024-03-26T05:16:24.571-07:00Comments on Equine Insanity: Highest Form of Human IntelligenceKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00250005101735182059noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-802153206102856416.post-87017078666075653122011-12-20T15:57:54.829-08:002011-12-20T15:57:54.829-08:00Hah, my friend RuthAnn can totally make her horse ...Hah, my friend RuthAnn can totally make her horse drink. She is just ever so persuasive.<br />But that is not the point I was going to make.<br />It would be so much easier to be less judgemental, if the horse was not part of the equation. When another breathing being is part of, and affected by, unaware humans it becomes challenging for me. And yet, I also honor the horse enough that they might have picked their human partners for a reason. Often there is a reason behind the madness and the horse will be the teacher and the human will eventually come around and soften. Most of the time I feel, the best we can do is to offer our truth as we see them as the horses' truth and then leave the rest up to the Gods.mindful-connections.comhttp://www.mindful-connections.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-802153206102856416.post-18999584868227889042011-03-04T13:18:36.220-08:002011-03-04T13:18:36.220-08:00PrimumNonNocere, I see that you have been marathon...PrimumNonNocere, I see that you have been marathon reading my blog :-) I agree with what you say, sometimes you just want to say what you think and shake people up. But they do get defensive - unfortunately. And when they are defensive, they stop listening. So, I'm working on creating a more neutral tactic of persuasion. It really does work better (but is harder on the persuader). I don't think anybody wants to abuse their horse, they just have their reasons for behaving the way they do: Ignorance, denial, other personal issues, selfishness... if there is one thing I have learned it is that you can't force anyone down this path. What's that saying in English: "you can lead the horse to water, but you can't make it drink".Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00250005101735182059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-802153206102856416.post-25280735800933892752011-03-04T11:13:58.072-08:002011-03-04T11:13:58.072-08:00This is definitely something I have to work on. A ...This is definitely something I have to work on. A lot. I just can't help to try to persuade people. Usually they become so defensive and angry. What amuses me is that I haven't heared anything new or scientifically proven from them. It's always the same story about mis-behaving horses and me who has never competed (or ridden a horse who loves to be riidden which I really haven't done and never will because there are no such horses) and ought to keep mouth shut. Maybe I do. But it is still extremely hard to pass tortured horses just like that.PrimumNonNocerehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14808764688773497112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-802153206102856416.post-67631375671189963012010-12-21T07:13:13.286-08:002010-12-21T07:13:13.286-08:00Hi Chris,
Sorry, should have written the title of...Hi Chris,<br /><br />Sorry, should have written the title of the book somewhere for everyone to see... The book was Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall B. Rosenberg. Hope that helps!<br /><br />KatariinaKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00250005101735182059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-802153206102856416.post-82816304089938996142010-12-20T08:58:54.176-08:002010-12-20T08:58:54.176-08:00Wonderful post. I too am working on being less ju...Wonderful post. I too am working on being less judgemental/more compassionate and wondered if you might tell us what book it was you were reading.<br /><br />Chrisequineeldershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02972780225682251454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-802153206102856416.post-13641874418980021982010-12-17T06:56:25.308-08:002010-12-17T06:56:25.308-08:00Thanks for your comments everybody and for decidin...Thanks for your comments everybody and for deciding to join me on this difficult venture of becoming less judgmental and more observant! June and Carol, you are both spot on with your thoughts on this lady's situation. I think many people who have horses are in similar predicaments; seeking something they inherently know exists. Unfortunately they often seek it in all the wrong places first. When you go down a road that leads to a dead end, sometimes even a lifetime is not enough time to make your way back. Especially when the world around you is still stuck in the dead end.Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00250005101735182059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-802153206102856416.post-17666608310575256492010-12-15T06:41:28.957-08:002010-12-15T06:41:28.957-08:00That lady has created a heavy burden for herself, ...That lady has created a heavy burden for herself, hasn't she? And she's finding it hard to bear. I wonder how she would answer if she were asked what her goal really is. Is it to win? To improve? To achieve lightness? To be admired? Or has she lost touch with her goal completely?<br /><br />And a whole half hour of being a "dream"?! Lately I've come to appreciate ten seconds of dreamitude, and then saying to the horse, thanks what would you like to do now?<br /><br />I'm going to join in the collective New Year's resolution and try to observe rather than judge too!Junehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13428008814751524182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-802153206102856416.post-47911999571742875232010-12-15T00:01:41.764-08:002010-12-15T00:01:41.764-08:00That's some New Year’s resolution! I am really...That's some New Year’s resolution! I am really good at judging others, and I hate it. Thank you for reminding me, I will try to focus more on observing.JEN-SKAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10983640657901974456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-802153206102856416.post-33755728463340928302010-12-14T19:40:24.554-08:002010-12-14T19:40:24.554-08:00Katariina,
I don't think any of us is a saint....Katariina,<br />I don't think any of us is a saint. We have all passed judgements on others and we have all been judged by others. One of the reasons I stopped showing horses awhile go was because I simply did not enjoy the fact of having my relationship with my horse being judged by someone who knew little to nothing about me or my horse. They have only one "ideal" in their mind and will judge you based only on that. When showing, you are only allowed certain types of tack. You must trim/braid/band your horse in accordance with standards set by someone else....and heck.....even the clothes YOU wear are dictated by others. What does all this really have to do with the relationship you have with your horse? I view horse shows as nothing more than forcing your horse to perform to someone else's standards....and not a true assessment of the bond you have with your friend. The sad part is that so many people live to meet this standard. They push themselves....and their horses to the breaking point.....and for what...a ribbon....the admiration of others?<br />....and if that isn't enough, many of them think that other horse owners should share the same goal. So much so that they look down on those that don't aspire to be the same.<br />The irony of it all is that the people that don't pressure themselves (or their horses) to this extreme are often happier.<br />While it would be easy to dislike this woman you spoke of -- I feel sadness for her. Her need to fill this goal of winning the admiration of others is so strong you can almost touch it. In doing so however, she will sacrifice the relationship with her horse, her peers, her health (in terms of stress), her horse's health, money, possibly even her family for a goal she may or may not reach. ....and even if she does do well at these upcoming competitions....what then? Has it really made her a better person? <br />I think it takes more ambition and strength to follow a path of your own choosing. The discoveries are many and possible frienships are endless. There is little to no pressure because you no longer feel the need to please someone else.<br />I imagine this gal would have enjoyed having you and Lilo along on her ride....if she didn't feel so driven to accomplish something. If she worried about her horse spooking, surely she wouldn't have to ride. She wouldn't have to sacrifice good company in the name of competition. It's the journey that matters not the end result. The highlight of her day was most likely having a caring person listen to her problems (you). It's sad that they even had to exist in the first place.Carol Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16620596195893789528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-802153206102856416.post-9431953047526967432010-12-14T17:46:49.128-08:002010-12-14T17:46:49.128-08:00I LOVE your blogs. Thank you so much for taking th...I LOVE your blogs. Thank you so much for taking the time to write your observations and sharing your path with the rest of us. <br />As a member of the Jewish Clergy, I try to listen without judgement to those who walk into my office and life. Somehow, though, when it comes to the horses, that is so much harder to do . . . Thank you for sharing your resolution - I will join you in it!Shira Nafshihttp://www.hoof-sense.comnoreply@blogger.com