Horsemanship = Connection = Healing

Horsemanship can be defined in many different ways. Horsemanship has been defined as the art of riding, handling, and training horses. Or the art, ability, skill, or manner of a horseman. Or obtaining results in a humane way by a combination of balance, seat, hands, and legs. I would have to agree that any of these definitions encompass pieces of horsemanship. However, I want to leave you with another definition today.

Horsemanship, at its core, is about connection. Look back through the definitions listed above...all of them incorporate a type of connection. As humans, connection is a vital piece of our existence. We need to feel safety and connection in order to adequately thrive in our environment. Now, I am going to get a little sciency with you here, but I promise it won't be too terrible and it is a vital concept to understand.

Our central nervous system plays a huge role in how we feel. Basically, our central nervous system has three main pathways. The Ventral Vagal (safety and connection), Sympathetic (fight or flight), and Dorsal Vagal (rest/digest, shut down).

Each pathway is necessary to our existence. Deb Dana created a simple ladder system that helped me to envision this concept.

Think of a ladder, the bottom rungs are the Dorsal Vagal, the middle rungs are the Sympathetic, and the top rungs are the Ventral Vagal. No rung is "better" than the other. However, one does have to climb the ladder and experience the Dorsal Vagal and Sympathetic before the nervous system can reach the Ventral Vagal, where you feel safe and connected.

Horses can be great teachers when it comes to connection. This is why most of us have experienced the phenomenon of feeling so much better after spending time at the barn. Furthering your horsemanship means furthering your ability to connect with your horse. That deeper connection with your horse promotes feelings of safety for both you and your horse...which in turn, regulates both of your nervous systems.

Long story short, learning how to improve your horsemanship will in turn create great connection with your horse and that connection will create feelings of safety for you and your horse.

Watch the events page on the website and join me for an in-person clinic where you can deep dive into how to build deeper connection and feelings of safety with your horse.