Relationships and vibrational levels

We are each and all the product of our life experiences, which includes interaction with others, both human and horse (and all living beings). We develop beliefs based on life experiences; these beliefs affect the choices we make - whether consciously or unconsciously - and manifest as the actions we take in life. We too often cling to our beliefs without realizing that they are hindering our relationships with others and limiting our growth.

Our interactions with horses are based on existing beliefs - those of ourselves and those of our horses. When problems arise, we each are confronted with the need to make choices about how to proceed. If we, the humans, choose to “stay true to beliefs” while we are asking for change (trying to resolve the problem), what we are really doing is asking the horse to make the choice to change. However, as we so often discover, clinging to beliefs for the sake of staying true to them will not necessarily serve us best, that is, the problems aren’t resolved. This is because a fact of life - truly a Law of Universe - is that the only control we each have in life is that over our own choices, not those of others. Thus, resolving problems between ourselves and our horses means being open to change, but it is only ourselves that that we can change.

When things are going right with our horses, we have the same goals, we make the same choices to get there. From the spiritual point of view, we are vibrating at the same frequencies. When things don’t seem to be going right with our horses, when it seems we have different goals and are making different choices, what we are experiencing is the differences in vibrational levels.

The more significant the difference in vibrational level, the more uncomfortable interactions between human and horse feel and the more difficult communication and relationship will be. When anger and other negative emotions come into play, vibrational levels change, and the interactions become even more difficult. Resorting to use of forceful training methods (such as forcing response through fear or pain) simply increases the difference in vibrational levels, and leads to increased force or simply failure.

Successful training or other interactions with horses (getting our horses to do things that we humans want at any given moment) is about successful communication that encourages our horses to make choices in alignment with our own choices. When our horses fully participate in relationships with us and freely choose to accept us in the leadership (decision making) position, then they more readily respond to communication, thereby requiring fewer communication aides or amplifiers (that's what the devices such as whips, spurs, bits, or even halters are - communication amplifiers).

When the relationship is such that the horse fully accepts the human in the leadership (decision making) role, communication can be extraordinarily subtle. A sheepherder working with a sheepdog or a cutting horse working without reins are examples. Once our horses understand the "language" of training - what is being communicated - then the rest is about the human/horse relationship. The closer in vibrational levels that our horses are to us, the better the communication and the closer we are in the choices we make to achieve the same goals.

Although we have no control over the choices or vibrational levels of anyone (or any thing, such as our horses), we can change ourselves. If we are experiencing “differences”, we only have the power to choose to change our own vibrational levels - higher or lower, it is the only control we truly have over any situation. Use of force (increased communication amplifiers) is like shouting louder - it may bring about different actions in others, but has it changed their beliefs and vibrational levels for the better? More importantly, will it bring our vibrational levels into alignment?

I believe that making choices that raise our vibrational levels is why we are each here in this body at this time. When we recognize differences between ourselves and our horses, we can be thankful, because we have been given a clear signal that we now have the opportunity to make new choices for change in our own vibrational levels - and thereby also improve our relationships with our horses.

Taking responsibility for what we have power to change in human/horse relationships - ourselves - and making the appropriate choices is the basis of Spiritual Horsemanship. Fortunately, we have the best teachers possible to learn how to do this: Our horses themselves.