We start out in this session with a discussion about what is happening when tying up.
Grounding, or getting present, with each horse after tying up enables us to see if there is any unpeace coming up.
It doesn’t happen here, but it could be that somebody ties a horse up next to another one, and doesn’t realise that neither horse is happy with the proximity of the other, that day. It could be that normally all is well, but just today something is different. It is always great to give them and yourself a minute to create the present moment, and regard the response.
There is an additional bonus to doing this. When we have several horses in our care we need to be aware that we share different feelings with each of them for different reasons. There will be a different shared energy. Getting Present after tying up each horse enables us to also assess our own thinking levels, and our energy, and find our presence. Once present we then take that to the next horse, rather than taking our thinking about the last horse.
Using a human analogy – we start having a discussion about something with one person, and then finish the discussion with another person, who had no part of the first discussion. What does it feel like to the second person?
We then move onto working with the saddle pad with Vie. Vie has no real reaction to the equipment, or to putting the equipment on her, but there is a small reaction to the pad being taken off. This reaction from Vie is higher when the saddle is added in. She worries when the saddle is taken off, particularly if it slides off her body.
This video shows us working with Vie to break everything down into little steps and help Vie to stop worrying about the saddle sliding off.
We could intellectualise this as maybe someone sliding off when dismounting which moves the saddle, the saddle slipping on dismount, or just a disregard of Vie’s sensitivities in her body (but this would probably show when putting the equipment on as well). It doesn’t really matter what caused it.
What is important is how we can help Vie realise that she has nothing to worry about by using the Creative Reaction Technique. We always allow the response and wait. Then we get Present. Then we bring a little energy up to make sure we have focus /participation (don’t do the action when she is sleeping or processing), and do the action again. Each time we do this process the reaction will become less until she doesn’t react to it. In Trust Technique terms, this is realisation learning.
There is an interesting discussion in this session about where each horse holds their tension which is great to understand. Vie seems to hold her tension in her sacrum area. Fina holds it in her chest and lungs. This can change.
We also discuss how to question our own feelings on whether to move forward with something or stop. It is always worth asking ourselves why we want to stop doing something. How does it feel to stop? / how does it feel to continue? There is no right or wrong answer to this, just how you feel.
Lots of learning here which continues over the next few sessions.