Posted by madeline on March 24, 2007, at 5:50:33
In reply to Re: I just got home from a GREAT horseback ride, posted by Happyflower on March 22, 2007, at 19:25:35
After working with tigers and other predators for so long, it took me a while to understand that a horse instinctually will want to run from you. This huge animal is actually afraid of me.
It caused a marked shift in my thinking and made me approach these gentle "giants" quite differently.
Having come from such an abusive background, I spent a lot of my life in constant fear - it's like I felt like "prey" myself. So I think one of the things that touched me so much about horses is the fact that I know what it's like to be afraid and how hard it can be to feel relaxed - even when there is no reason to be afraid.
Good riding, I think, is about keeping the horse calm and passive (I have a good instructor that can teach that).
Thank you for your post - I am quite content right now.
Love to you
Maddie
poster:madeline
thread:743290
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20070322/msgs/743629.html