Meditating with Delight

“Peace is the ego’s greatest enemy.” This is something I read recently and made me reflect on the concept of a “horse whisperer.” What the heck is a horse whisperer? Well, you can always turn to Hollywood for answers and watch Robert Redford’s film. Or you can go to the source, which I prefer to call the Truth, and learn about the inspiration for the movie, “The Horse Whisperer.”

The main character is modeled after Buck Brannaman, a real life horse trainer and skilled trick roper. Buck was a student of Ray Hunt and Tom Dorrence, who were some of the pioneers of natural horsemanship. Even this term is somewhat misunderstood. Natural horsemanship is a philosophy of handling horses based on classical concepts from the Vaquero tradition, developed in Mexico and originally from Spain. 

Buck has one of those stories of transformation. He came from an abusive childhood. During his early career, he recognized that troubled animals have the same fear and response as he did. In an interview, Buck said, “Abused horses are like abused children. They trust no one and expect the worst. But patience, leadership, compassion and firmness can help overcome their past.”

I have always been fascinated with horse trainers like Buck Brannaman, Ray Hunt and Tom Dorrence. The more that I research about them, the more I came to believe the title “horse whisperer” is inaccurate. These trainers are “horse listeners.” 

Isn’t this where all healing begins? Not by doing or fixing, but by listening and being still. When you invite stillness, you invite a higher consciousness to enter. When I watch Buck in action, I see a man with calmness and an interest in the global picture of the horse. He is responding to cues from the horse and then engaging the horse with a dialogue. He begins the dialogue with “I hear you.”

Isn’t that we all want? To be heard? To be seen? To be recognized as our True Selves?

I have been working with a herd of rescue horses thanks to the Equine Rescue Network. This group of volunteers do something that few are willing to do. They go to auctions to purchase animals before they are shipped to a slaughterhouse, and then bring them back to life. Equine Rescue Network have been kind in letting me work with a herd of three that includes a Standardbred, a Tennesse Walker, and a Mini. The herd is slowly accepting me and letting me work with them.

Recently, I decided to take a folding chair into their paddock and sit there for fifteen minutes. The three were gathered together by a hay net about a hundred feet away. They acknowledged me when I entered the paddock. I set up my chair, sat down, grounded my feet and focused on my breathing with my eyes open while gazing about forty-five degrees off to the side of the herd.

After about five minutes, Delight, the mini approached me and had her head in my lap, nuzzling me and sniffing my jacket. She is lowest in the pecking order of the herd, but with the biggest personality! Most minis are like this. Hugo, the standardbred, stopped eating, walked about ten feet and stood watching us. I scratched Delight’s neck while she nuzzled my arm and sniffed my jacket and phone. She was searching for treats. I had none, and never carry any treats with this herd! As I videoed her, I watched her explore.

She was curious, just as much as I was curious! I told her without words, “I hear you.” I stayed present with my feet grounded, and not moving out of my chair. I provided her a safe space with a human which she might not have always had with her former owners. 

When I think about Buck, Ray, Tom and other horsemen and horsewomen, I think about what they do, not what they say:

1. They use their whole body to listen, not just their ears and eyes.

2. They wait patiently. Give up on your schedule and adapt the horse schedule

3. They know when to put pressure on

4. They know when to release pressure

5. The best treats are praise and releasing pressure. They avoid the carrots and mints

6. They set good boundaries

7. They adapt to their mistakes and move on

8. They celebrate the victories

9. They give praise to the horse and human when finding connection

10. They spend time reflecting

Delight and the herd gave me a gift. I let go of all my expectations and showed up to learn. I gave up on the ego’s plan. I found peace. The enemy was defeated. 

Go meditating with Delight (and in Delight)!