Ever feel like you are asking your horse to behave a certain way and they do the exact opposite?

Frustrating right?

The same thing happens with me and my dogs. At times, they do the exact opposite of what I want them to do. It’s so frustrating I know!

Yet, when they are doing the exact opposite of what I want, they are simply mirroring how uncentered I am at that moment.

Let me explain the idea of mirroring & being centered a bit more ….

When I take my dogs to the park for free play – they are wild, as fun dogs are, chasing each other, fetching the ball, rolling on top of each other - you name it.

When it’s time to go, and here’s the key …. if I am not centered when I call them, they completely ignore me and run the opposite way.

I can chase them, call them, try to bribe them with treats to come back. Nothing really works. I only get more frustrated.

Here comes the being centered part. As soon as I center myself and hold the thought and the image “We are going home. Now”, they stop, literally mid-step, turn around and run right to me.

It doesn’t even matter how far away I am from them, they turn and run right to me.

I do not have to say 1 word, as long as I am grounded and centered and holding that thought and image clearly, they respond instantaneously.

Bet you are wondering how that works? Read on and I’ll clarify that for you.

It’s really pretty simple. As soon as I center myself, I step into my power. By stepping into my power, I turn myself into a homing beacon in essence and they react instantaneously to my thoughts. In this case my thoughts are ‘Come here. Now.’ and they respond immediately by running to me.

No thought, no hesitation, just action. Or rather reaction to me becoming centered. And stepping into my power.

That’s the key – they react and respond to my action which is being centered.

How could this work for you and your horse? Great question!

Imagine yourself in the warm up ring at a show and you feel your horse hesitating or doing the opposite of what you want them to do. Sound familiar?

Remember they are simply mirroring you.

So, 1st thing is to think about how you are feeling. Are you nervous or hesitating? Are you clear in what you want them to do?

Take a minute and work on centering yourself. Try to do this before you even get on your horse. Really find your center, your groundedness, your core, your anchor – whatever word works for you – to create that stillness in you.

When you are still and centered – you will be in your power. If your horse is tuned in or connected to you, they will respond instantenously to your stillness, your calm. Ultimately, they are recognizing your power and your stillness and responding to it.

From that place of calm centeredness, imagine your ride and feel it in your body. The feeling part is just as important as being centered. As you do that, your horse will respond to your images and how your body feels.

They will know what move you want them to do and when, which direction to go, which speed. You are sending your horse those signals very clearly by being centered.

By being in your power.  Clear.  Focused.

Need help finding that center stillness in yourself?  Want to work on elevating the bond between you and your horse?  Reach out to me.  I have a great Harnessing Horse Show Butterflies Audio that could help as well.