2023-04-11 The donkeys are communicating
We have a farrier solution. We can put that to one side for a moment and start to work with engaging the humans in learning the process of getting the halter on each of the donkeys.
This means learning ‘mindful regard’. Both humans have a lovely peaceful ‘present moment’ and the donkeys recognise this. They lay down in their humans presence. They often spend time around their humans, just being in their company, and in their environment. Now they want to teach their humans about having a conversation.
There were a couple of wonderful learning moments today. Anah has learnt that her humans know to leave her alone when she says No. This is important to her and Astuce. Because of this Anah is less worried about being around her humans. Astuce is still unsure so she needs more time in this regard.
There is a point when Anah becomes perfectly still to enable her halter to go on. There is a method she will allow regarding her having her halter put on, and ways when she will not. It is important to find the method and understand the feelings associated with that, and the difference between that and the feeling when it is not how she wants it.
The important thing here is to remember ‘nothing is ever wrong’. ‘Everything is a learning point’. The trust is there.
2023-04-13 Astuce backs off..Anah wants more
Anah is in a great place to move forward no. Her confidence and curiosity is really coming out. The humans can put a halter on and off her and her rope. We also tried a new halter on her, which is more of the normal halter type which will help with enabling her to lean on it a little when we do her hooves.
Astuce though has backed away. This is okay too. She is trying to tell us something and we just need to listen to her. Give her lots of love and let her feel that. Make her feel as important as Anah. She is a gentle and kind donkey but doesn’t want to be number two. Go back to just giving her scratches and we will see how she moves forward in her confidence. Lots of present moment and regard.
They are both individuals and we need to communicate with them as such.
2023-04-17 Learning how to have more patience with Astuce
Astuce has not wanted to be touched for a few days. What we found was she just wanted to be acknowledged for who she is, and not just Anah’s friend / companion. Her gentleness can be mistaken for trust. She is now feeling confident enough to tell us this and show us in leaving immediately if she senses the conversation is not really about her but about Anah, or scratching, or the head collar.
We worked today with the gentle approach, and patience. Being focused on Astuce, Anah confirmed this was absolutely right by leaving the group and standing to one side, watching us in the reflection in the doorway.
The donkeys are really teaching their humans now. Astuce is teaching focus and patience (if you bring impatience to her, or lack of focus on her and her needs, she will walk away). Anah is teaching self confidence based in trust (in other words she is teaching us that if you bring fear to her she will respond with fear, if you trust her she will trust you).
It is interesting looking at how the trust works. If we trust them they will trust us. It is not about them trusting us first. It is about us trusting them. If we think they will not trust us, we bring that as a feeling, and therefore they feel mistrust and respond to that by being mistrustful.
The same thing with Mindful Regard. If you are aware of everything that they are doing, acknowledging it, and being totally okay with it, then they in turn will be aware of everything you are doing, acknowledge it and be totally okay with it.
2023-04-19 A little bit of this and a little bit of that
Anah let us measure her for her new fitted halter. The pony size is too small and the cob size too big, so we have a plan to adjust her cob halter to fit her.
Astuce is still wary of the different halter and we wonder if it is triggering memories of crossed boundaries. We have decided to continue working with the light weight halter for now and work with her confidence through present moment and regard.
We also did a little bit with Anah and putting pressure on areas of the halter, just lightly, and asking her to move forward off the pressure. This is just so she doesn’t pull back if it is necessary to apply a little pressure for some reason. It is not to use as control, as the Trust Technique’s ‘Invisible Lead’ will be all she needs.
2023-04-21 Remembering to bring the peaceful feeling all the time
There is no video today as I forgot to press go.
Started with a oil selection session with Astuce who came to greet me as soon as I arrived. It was as though she knew she was getting specials today. She chose a lot of Black Pepper oil, and then a little bit of German Chamomile for a sore on her head, some Fennel for her stomach. I also offered Arnica but she didn’t want any of that.
Astuce then came for some scratches and Anah joined us as we discussed shared feelings with the humans. The feelings coming in from the humans are ‘ a need to do’ and feeling frustrated when the donkeys walk away. We worked a little at getting back to the feeling of ‘just be’ and do will come later. The present moment first. Be at peace within yourself and the donkeys will come in peace.
Too much worry about halters and getting trims and how much relaquine dosage all comes up in feeling terms which the donkeys then feel and leave to the humans. They are not worried and don’t want to engage with the humans worry. So the best thing to do is just touch with a loving hand, and just be with the donkeys for a while. Everything else will happen as it is meant to, when it is meant to.
Everything is as it should be..