While driving cross-country one afternoon, after I had been working with a client to teach free lounging in a round pen,  `something' clicked, as I recalled a bird, --taking flight. IF that bird 'pressed down' on --`something' to make it `lift' into the air, then, that same `something' just might be `felt' by the horse, as we `push' the horse (plus that something) away from us, -with our hands, without even touching the horse.

We 'our 'pushing' the air towards the horses hind-quarters, as they move away from that `something', -and perhaps not ONLY from the `visual' effect on our movement? 

Thinking more on this, I thought about how we swim in water.  Like the bird, we also push down on the 'water', so we can 'float', --of course, until we learn how to relax in and 'on' the water (like a bird 'soaring' in and 'on' the air in the sky...)

Why then can the bird `fly' in the air and we only `float' on the water? I thought about the bird's wing shape, then looked at my hands. When fingers are closed, we can `cut' the water better, just like the bird cuts the air --before spreading it's wings to press down --on the air.  We then press down on the water to stay afloat. 

As soon as we spread our fingers, we start to sink. Of course our fingers aren't wings or feathers, however it leaves the question, just what is `it' that is so different for a bird, a human, and a horse?  When the bird spreads their (fingers, or) feathers, they are slowed down, or they begin their decent downwards. 

While later free lounging a young horse, I was taken by her 'immediate' response to my waving my hand to move her forward. It was as though she didn't have time to 'see' my hand movement.

I questioned the extreme `sensitivity' of the horse, --and now believe they are more sensitive than I originally believed.

Our hands make `waves' in the water. We can see them. The bird must also make `waves' within the air, ---that WE do not 'see', but the horse really does `sense', or perhaps feel, by their hair sensors!

To take these thoughts farther, I had the privilege of then working with a 3-yr. old mustang, who would stand to be `touched' by humans, --at that time.

The DENSITY of the `air' for a bird, --the water for a human, is now questioned farther.

IF the last horse I worked on earlier today showed me such intricate response; --will the wild horse also show me something?

The same sensitivity was there, however almost exaggerated. This horse did not survive in the wild --by NOT responding to his instincts.  So I watched more carefully in my first session with him.

Exaggerated movement --is distracting --and even fearful to a horse on occasion, --especially when the work is intent. I insist on no outside distractions --when we work, for total attention and concentration. My students, horse or human, --begin to `feel' this after a couple of sessions, that this is different! There is MORE to this!

To push the air with my hand --pushed the 'density' of the air towards the horse, making invisible `waves' in the air. I thought, --'how stupid I am. Of course, when you `fan' yourself, you 'feel' the breeze against your face. However, this horse is 15 feet away from me in this round pen.

I am appreciating the horse's sensitivity even more still, --and I am 'opening' to that same thing, now becoming more 'aware' of it.

Is there also an `energy' that they feel, since they are so far away from me?  Is it friction, or fusion of electrical energy, on a minute scale?

We took this wild horse into a stall. (Actually we opened the door, and he went in on his own, to get away from me.) I went in, carefully, and stood in the corner so he could get used to me. The two others (owner & associate) stood quietly by the doorway --not to show 'entrapment' at the door.  We allowed the visual --for him to be able to leave quickly, if he felt he must.

I blew down, several times. (pull air in, and slowly blow out, or down, --while relaxing the shoulders, and body) I asked the observers to do the same thing. This `BLOW-DOWN' may now --be MORE than I suspected.. The blow-down very softly pushes air from our lungs, and may be gentle or soft, --almost making caressing `waves' that would seem to pacify the horse. Here, with this wild horse is the best opportunity to experiment with this.

On blowing down (all 3 of us, in that stall) the horse 'settled'. When I moved my hand he was startled and bolted strongly away from me to a corner, hitting the wall --HARD. I just stool still. Blew down again. 

We did this a few times, after he settled each time. He was questioning me. Me him! I wanted to express there was nothing to fear. He had been penned before arrival at this farm, to be given shots and was naturally --severely traumatized by this. The `touch' of the human hand was a signal to panic for him. This was his survival instincts, we were watching.

Now, -he was definitely asking us many questions. The horse was far from stupid.

We took a lot of time to just allow the horse to settle. To show `my' trust in him (DO NOT try this), I knelt down in the center of the stall so he could move around me if he wished. He stayed still. There were NO `waves' of movement! He settled even more.

Before leaving, after about 20 minutes, all three of us entered the stall again. He accepted. We were walking very softly, so NOT to make `waves'. (Yes, we've heard this before, and now it makes more sense, doesn't it?) To make this experiment more valuable, we all stretched our hands toward him, with fingers relaxed, and just held them there, ---making no waves…

To our amazement the horse seemed to relax ---even more. We were all about 2 foot from him. This was an awesome experience. This was enough for his session. We had gained a lot of ground with his trust, and he gave us a wonderful lesson in sensitivity.

DENSITY…

Let us not loose respect for what 'is' --between beings.

Let us `soften' our own beings, in mind/body, spirit, our breath & our movement.

 Perhaps then, ---we can all swim in the same --'calming' waters.

The imagined division of densities,

seldom understood by humans.

There are many -'LEVELS' to UNDERSTANDING!

Rose Foreman  -Equine/Rider Consultant & 'Coach'

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