Let's look at how Exmoor ponies can help us better understand - and develop - ourselves through learning how to connect with them.
Working with characterful herds of intelligent and engaging Exmoor ponies has brought me to a place where I’m acutely aware of how much they can help us with our self-development - and mental wellbeing. There’s an important reason why ‘self development’ needs to ideally come before
‘pony handling’. This is because reaching a place of mindfulness and inner calm - in the present moment - is vital to making a real, trust-based connection with equines.
This sounds obvious, but in the rush to ‘do things’ with our horses, people can sometimes forget to establish a proper, sentient, respectful ‘connection’ with them. And it’s this ‘connection’ that can perhaps be described as ‘horse whispering’. Or ‘pony whispering’ in my case. For me, the Core Connection Exercises (CEC)
that have helped Exmoor stallion Bear and me to win two world championships in international horse agility - are an invaluable practice. It’s been a 'drip-drip' process, over a long period, that’s helped me to understand the true benefits of these exercises - and I’m still discovering their nuances. Horseman Juan Caballero Cana commented how dynamic and complex the interactions in horse training can become, even though they are so subtle
. And he has a good point.
Initially, I thought it would be straightforward to run day, or afternoon, workshops - where I'd explain and demonstrate the principles of the Core Connection exercises
- that people could then go and practice. They form the basis for achieving 'whole body connection' with horses and ponies and pave the way for being able to better navigate various challenges and tasks, at liberty, and also ridden. (There's a chapter on these exercises in my book Wild Stallion Whispering
, which provides a detailed ‘step-by-step’ and accompanying photographs.)
Yet while people are concentrating on learning the practical methodology of the exercises, sometimes they're not focusing on themselves, or really reading the ponies responses. Their minds can be preoccupied elsewhere. This can create a kind of disconnection between the pony and handler. The 'mechanics' of the exercises are being noted, but myriad subtle communications are being missed.
The Core Connection exercises
The CEC exercises are quiet, gentle and one-step-at-a-time. The handler is looking to achieve willing responses from the ponies, from a place of mindfulness, as they move in various directions and ways, on request. However, the point is not
simply to go through the ten exercises perfectly (ie, with no resistance). Which you might think it was.
The real point is to use the practice to read and receive - and convey - information with the ponies. So that we can understand how they are feeling, see how they are responding, and use the opportunity to bring us together with them, into a place of willing cooperation to then progress to whatever we're going to do - agility, riding, etc. It’s as much an opportunity for the pony to communicate, as it is for us. This is an opportunity for expression
- not an end goal.
The Human Ego
The quest is to get participants (horses and humans) absolutely in the present moment, observing and responding to each other - with 100% focus. That can be the tricky part for the humans and it’s here that people can sometimes get stuck.
If a pony doesn't respond straight away, or at all, to a request to move in a certain direction - it is the natural human tendency to start trying to 'make it move'.
Suddenly, the relationship between pony and human can shift to a place of coercion - however subtle: 'You must do what I'm telling you - or I will look as if I can't do this'.
The human ego naturally kicks in, particularly with other people watching. There can sometimes be a tendency to do this in every day life too.
Tuning In
But remember, the pony has just come from their herd, has no idea what you have planned and is brimming with all the thoughts and emotions of their
day - not necessarily at all tuned into you and your objectives. They also need to read us, understand our emotional state and mindset that day - and adjust accordingly to work with that, and with us. The idea is that the pony and handler use the time during these exercises to 'tune in' to each other - and the key point here is to let all outside thoughts go. ’Being' with the pony in front of you (or beside you) and seeing what's actually there. So you can more effectively receive and exchange information through your mutual core energy connection.
For years, equine teaching has been based on immediate practical application, where time given over to 'tuning into yourself and into your horse' beforehand, has been either short or relatively non-existent, before the physical activities begin.
It turns out that the process of achieving focused mindfulness is actually not that easy. And this isn't just relative to 'pony handlers'. It reaches across the demographic population - through all walks of life. Why?
Well perhaps it's because, these days, we lead incredibly busy, full lives, with the accompanying stresses and strains. We're bombarded with stimulus
not just in our physical lives, but through the internet, media and all manner of technological evolution that is designed to help us - but which also fills our brains with overload a lot of the time, from the minute we wake to the minute we go to sleep at night. We pack a lot in. Maybe too much!
When do we really get time to relax?
To still our minds? Bring ourselves into a place of inner calm? Where everything is quiet enough - inside our heads and with our emotional responses - to simply ‘be'? Actually, not that often.
This leads to a naturally 'assumptive' thought process, where our minds are used to quickly jumping around, judging, assuming, justifying, explaining, deciding - taking in as much information as we are able to and processing it as quickly as we can, in order to deal with the constant trainloads of information buzzing around us. That can be quite stressful and remaining constantly 'stimulated' can be extremely tiring. It can also obstruct our natural observation skills, our energy fields and our intuition. This can be disconcerting and even alarming for equines when faced with a chaotic, unfocused human who is 'somewhere else' in their head.
This brings me to the matter of ' Mental Health and Wellbeing'.
Ask people what helps them to feel calm, mindful and relaxed and they will offer suggestions like being near the ocean, a waterfall, beautiful landscapes, tranquil forests, up a mountain - and with animals.
Many people take great comfort in the company of their pets and they love to see pictures and footage of animals in the wild. And whether horsey or not, many people are drawn to equines and feel a great warmth at the sight of horses and ponies. Particularly when they're running wild and free in their natural environment.
There is no doubt that connecting with horses and ponies can help people feel better. It's perhaps something to do with their beauty, magnificence, power and presence. And it's most definitely to do with how they make us feel. We respond to them - whether we know it or not - from our core energy centre. Instinctively, there is a draw, a comfort, a strength and an emotional bond with the horse. From our heart to theirs. An unconditional truth, an authenticity, a purity - horses bring us effortlessly to that sacred place of inner calm - of being.
So this year, I’m focusing my workshops on 'Connecting With Exmoor Ponies & Yourself'.
We’ll be looking at how to bring ourselves into a place of focussed mindfulness where we can explore how to start making an authentic connection with the ancient wisdom and intelligence of Exmoor ponies. This is the very basis for what can be described as ‘horse whispering’ and it is enriching and enlightening for horsey and non-horsey people alike. We can all learn from reaching a place inside ourselves where it’s possible to make an authentic connection with these ponies.
(Participants wanting to take this further can attend subsequent workshops to learn the Core Energy Connection Exercises).
These initial Afternoon Workshops take place at the Exmoor Pony Project on 22June 2019, 13 July 2019 and 18 August 2019 and cost £65 per person. (Proceeds benefit the Exmoor Pony Project). If you'd like to take part, please email dawnwestcott@hotmail.com.
Our working farm is located in one of the most beautiful parts of Exmoor, the National Trust Holnicote Estate, nestling at the base of the 5000 acre Dunkery Commons moorland wilderness, in the Porlock Vale. There are plenty of lovely places to stay in the area. We have over 30 Exmoor ponies in our direct care, who live in various herds. Our quest, alongside safeguarding and promoting Exmoor ponies, is to help people connect with and better understand this very special ancient native pony breed.
Dawn Westcott is co-founder of the Exmoor Pony and author of Wild Pony Whispering, Wild Stallion Whispering
and Wild Herd Whispering
. More info on Exmoor Pony Project Workshops
at http://www.wildponywhispering.co.uk/events-workshops-talks
