Riding lessons for life #4

Control- letting go of it!

Many people have the wrong idea about the relationship between horse and rider. A lot of people like to think that the rider “controls” the horse. While the rider does make decisions and then gives horse signals, there  is a lot more to it.

I like to think of riding as a partnership - horse and rider being in constant communication with one another.  For some people giving up their sense of complete control and dictating each step of the horse is hard.  This is where letting go is so important.  Horses are animals, no matter how much control we like to think we have, horses can make their own decisions too!  And part of riding is teaching the horse to learn to do things on his own, without prompting from the rider.

As in life, no matter what amount control we like to think we have over others and over circumstances, a lot of what happens is out of our hands and we can’t make decisions for other people.  We have to breathe, let go, trust, and remember that really the only thing we can  control are our thoughts and responses.   Trust your horse, trust your  circumstances, let go of the idea of control over outside elements, make each of your own thoughts and responses positive ones and you will be amazed at the results!

Claire Affleck
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