Body consciousness is essentially important for
effective communication with a horse while riding. Eventually, it is the body
condition that shapes the quality of our connection with a horse. Tense and inflexible
body of a rider means a tense and inflexible horse. This direct relationship is based on the
reciprocity rule. The same rule applies to our relations with the world and
people around us. Relations are not set once and forever, they are constantly
being created. It is me who contributes to the relation from one side, and my
partner, a friend, a fellow from the other. If I approach him or her with a smiling
and open attitude there is a high probability I will be received by them/the
world in the same way. But if I create in my mind a negative scenario of a conversation or I build up some negative prejudice towards my partner long
before I even start to talk to him or her, then it is pretty sure that this
negative scenario will come true (I have conducted the positive attitude tests on
Polish Post Office employees known for being not too enthusiastic and in most of the cases it worked out!).
Quite recently I have experienced a situation
where I have neglected this Truth and I had to bear some painful but fortunately
not dangerous consequences. I decided to ride a horse even though my body
condition was not too good. I felt tired not as much with a physical effort as with an emotional one. Instead of drawing my attention to what my body was actually
asking me for and having some rest I was looking for a solution in misleading my thoughts to something else. Tense, nervous and with mind far away dealing with
all problems that were waiting to be solved out I got onto the horse. It was a
correct ride, I performed well all tasks but I could have not found the least of
pleasure in it. I was not present in the ride and the only thing I was doing
was making myself (my body) working harder and harder. I do not even remember
when I felt that disturbing pain in my neck - I ended up with a painfully stretched
muscle and a few-week break in riding. I paid the price for letting my
mind a complete control and losing contact with reality that my body was pointing
me at.
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| Midões, Portugal by Horse |
'Just let your body go' I heard from João on one of the absolutely magical trails I was lucky to experience while exploring by horse the surroundings of a little town called Midões located in the central Portugal. It was the place called Portugal by Horse run by Liesje and João where I experienced the most amazing gallops in my life when I was literally flowing with the rhythm of a horse movement. The gallops with the dynamic Lusitiano horses were done uphill through the mountanous landscape, sometimes requiring slalom in between the trees. It is the experience I will never forget. Pure joy possible to achieve through a complete trust given to the body and thanks to dethroning the mind in its self-proclaimed leadership. The key was openness for experiencing full presence in that moment with no expectations, prejudices or plan, a full connection with a horse (world).
Body never lies. It captures every detail of your story
and your emotions. When the mind tells you one thing and the body another - to
not be afraid of following your body advise. Eckhart Tolle I like to quote said: 'If you really want to know your mind, the body will always give
you a truthful reflection, so look at the emotion, or rather feel it in your
body. If there is an apparent conflict between them, the thought will be the
lie, the emotion will be the truth'.
May you gallop through your life in trust to your
body voice. The body and a horse never lie.
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