Being a rider teaches me about life itself. Riding a horse is considered a risk sport since it is not a question of whether we are going to fall, but of when we are going to fall.
They are such noble animals and can teach us many things. That’s why horse-assisted Coaching is also very effective. Where we don’t get on the horse’s back but learn by interacting with them.
Riders ride animals that exceed us 10 times in weight, they are stronger and faster and sometimes unpredictable. They detect our feelings, even those of which we are not aware.
I apply four pillars to my sport, the same ones that I apply to my personal life and my work. They are: Love, Courage, Humility and Gratitude.
The love for another living being, with history, memory and feelings; the courage to continue doing what I do, knowing the risk; humility because I recognize that he is the strongest; and gratitude, because he lets me ride him.
Each horse is a world, with its personality, habits and history. With each horse I learn something different.
At one time in my life I had the pleasure of working with two horses, that is, one was mine, as much as another being can be yours. I kept him, educated him, took care of his health, caressed him, taught him not to be afraid and that he could trust me.
The other did not belong to me, yet I took care of him as much as I could, I rode him, I worried about his health, I shoed him. He fascinated me and I had a lot of affection for him. He had been hurt and was scared, it was a process to make him trust me, and show him that I didn’t want to hurt him, I just wanted him to know that we could have a good time together and that he could heal.
The two horses had things in common and were also as different as night and day. Both are male, both are white, both are large. The second horse was a stallion and is larger than the other. A Stallion, is a horse that has not been neutered and is has a different temperament and intact instincts, wants to be the leader of the pack and impress the mares.
The horse that belonged to me, a gelding, was ridden by my daughter, she rode it better than I, together they flew. So, I got out of their way and let them grow together, that’s why I began to devote myself more to the stallion, he was bigger, with more temperament and scared.
It was a challenge to get to know him, and many times I gave up, just to begin again with him the week after. His strength surpassed me and I knew that he would only give himself to me if he kept calm and for that I used some of the mental preparation techniques that I teach in my courses and workshops, I spoke to him with sweetness, using the tone and rhythm of my voice and breathe together.
And he let me get on his back, the same position that a lion in the savanna takes that wants to turn the horse into its prey. It is a privilege as a rider because it goes against the instinct of the horse.
Little by little we were moving forward and each time we found a better rhythm.
I discovered that if I fight, he can hurt me. But with a light hand and velvet gloves, we understood each other better, every time he understood better that I am not a lioness, I did not want to turn him into my prey, I just wanted to dance with him, learn with him and grow with him.
I listened to him, learned his fears, looked at his scars, not to judge him but to learn how to love him.
I hope you are as happy as you would like to be and remember being kind is free.
Best wishes
Ivalo.