By Jim Swanner • January 22, 2013
Do you realize the importance of a positive relationship with your horse? I have been asked by a great number of people, especially since Saturday January 19 when I was presenting and giving a clinic at the Alabama Horse Council Horse Fair in Montgomery, AL: how in the world did I get the relationship that I have with my horse?
Well, I put some thought to it and here is the answer I have for you. I hope it helps you to understand the importance of the relationship with your horse.
Let me preface this by saying; I have seen a great number of people and horses who need help in this area. Actually, some folks are just too lazy to work on anything, especially a relationship, which takes some effort.
As with any relationship, we have to work at it. If it is worth it, we will put forth the effort. If you aren’t going to put forth the effort, why bother? It’s probably going to fail anyway.
Even though we are usually speaking about horses here, what I am about to say can pertain to our daily lives as well.
If you are married or in a serious relationship at this time, you know the importance of a good relationship. In a good relationship there is less stress; in a good relationship we understand one another; in a good relationship we can rely on one another; in a good relationship we have a good communication system; in a good relationship we understand the other’s nature; in a good relationship we want to be with one another; in a good relationship we are more confident; in a good relationship we are more relaxed; in a good relationship there aren’t any secrets; in a good relationship there is trust. You know, I could go on and on. You can probably think of many more ‘in a good relationship’ this happens.
Are you getting the picture? Are you beginning to understand the importance of a good relationship and the effort it takes? Read over this two more times and the first time, think about your relationship with your significant other. The second time you read it, think about your relationship with your horse.
Do you see the comparison? Funny isn’t it; it’s almost identical! Do you see the value of having a great relationship with your horse and people? It goes hand in hand. To sum it up, a good relationship cannot be forced, in either the horse world or the human world. It has to be earned. And since we are talking horses (you think?), we have to show them every day how much the relationship means to us and how much they mean to us. I told a student one time, “You have to have a love affair with your horse, so to speak.” We have to not cause the horse to be afraid of us. We have to prove our love for it: not through force, fear and intimidation but through love, language and becoming the worthy leader the horse wants and needs.
If you want a relationship with your horse, you have to show the horse, as well as in any relationship. We have to do everything within our understanding power to help the relationship grow. This is a daily, every minute situation.
Are you feeling the love of how much I want this for you? It is an awesome feeling to have a great relationship, whether it is with a horse or a person or both! There is so much you can accomplish when the relationship is great.
Now, you make the choice: am I talking about our human relationships or our relationships with our horses? Kind of looks the same, doesn’t it?
Bottom line, if we want a relationship, whether it is with someone or with our horses, we have to learn to understand their nature, what is important to them, and then we have to make a tremendous effort to show them and allow it to happen. We can’t force a good relationship.
Do you realize the importance of a positive relationship with your horse? I have been asked by a great number of people, especially since Saturday January 19 when I was presenting and giving a clinic at the Alabama Horse Council Horse Fair in Montgomery, AL: how in the world did I get the relationship that I have with my horse?
Well, I put some thought to it and here is the answer I have for you. I hope it helps you to understand the importance of the relationship with your horse.
Let me preface this by saying; I have seen a great number of people and horses who need help in this area. Actually, some folks are just too lazy to work on anything, especially a relationship, which takes some effort.
As with any relationship, we have to work at it. If it is worth it, we will put forth the effort. If you aren’t going to put forth the effort, why bother? It’s probably going to fail anyway.
Even though we are usually speaking about horses here, what I am about to say can pertain to our daily lives as well.
If you are married or in a serious relationship at this time, you know the importance of a good relationship. In a good relationship there is less stress; in a good relationship we understand one another; in a good relationship we can rely on one another; in a good relationship we have a good communication system; in a good relationship we understand the other’s nature; in a good relationship we want to be with one another; in a good relationship we are more confident; in a good relationship we are more relaxed; in a good relationship there aren’t any secrets; in a good relationship there is trust. You know, I could go on and on. You can probably think of many more ‘in a good relationship’ this happens.
Are you getting the picture? Are you beginning to understand the importance of a good relationship and the effort it takes? Read over this two more times and the first time, think about your relationship with your significant other. The second time you read it, think about your relationship with your horse.
Do you see the comparison? Funny isn’t it; it’s almost identical! Do you see the value of having a great relationship with your horse and people? It goes hand in hand. To sum it up, a good relationship cannot be forced, in either the horse world or the human world. It has to be earned. And since we are talking horses (you think?), we have to show them every day how much the relationship means to us and how much they mean to us. I told a student one time, “You have to have a love affair with your horse, so to speak.” We have to not cause the horse to be afraid of us. We have to prove our love for it: not through force, fear and intimidation but through love, language and becoming the worthy leader the horse wants and needs.
If you want a relationship with your horse, you have to show the horse, as well as in any relationship. We have to do everything within our understanding power to help the relationship grow. This is a daily, every minute situation.
Are you feeling the love of how much I want this for you? It is an awesome feeling to have a great relationship, whether it is with a horse or a person or both! There is so much you can accomplish when the relationship is great.
Now, you make the choice: am I talking about our human relationships or our relationships with our horses? Kind of looks the same, doesn’t it?
Bottom line, if we want a relationship, whether it is with someone or with our horses, we have to learn to understand their nature, what is important to them, and then we have to make a tremendous effort to show them and allow it to happen. We can’t force a good relationship.
