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"A Horse allows you to borrow his freedom" - Lakota saying When I was nine years old, I started my first colt, a lively little sorrel mare named Papoose. With only an old, worn-out ring snaffle headstall and no saddle, Papoose and I started where we could both start, and I rode bareback. Because Papoose knew a little bit more about being a Horse than I knew about being a Horseman, we often "parted ways" so I needed to fairly quickly learn to be "with" Papoose, because when I wasn't "with" her, I soon found myself "without" her. By the end of that first summer, we both had a good thing going, and for the next several years, Papoose and I helped with the family ranch work, moving and sorting cattle, checking water and riding across the prairie just for fun. Papoose served many useful years on the ranch, and as far as I know she never wore a saddle. Over the years, as Bobbi and I have grown our horseback adventure company, we have guided hundreds of horse people from around the world, and I discovered that many of the avid horsewomen and men that we've encountered are hungry to learn a more "organic" style of horsemanship, in addition to being quite impressed with the quality of our Horses. I realized that a large part of my job has become helping people learn how to become better horsewomen and horsemen. I have had to think, study, and then figure out how to articulate what Papoose taught me years ago; the philosophy that has evolved is what I've termed "Three-Dimensional Horsemanship." In order to understand the "Three Dimensions", one must be comfortable with the concept of shape or shaping, as in a sculptor shaping wet clay into a finished, three-dimensional piece. The sculptor starts molding the piece by removing a little excess high spot here, and placing it in a small void over there, exposing and complimenting the true nature of the clay, while keeping in mind and working toward the end result. With this analogy in mind the "First Dimension" is what can be called the Rider shaping the Horse. This statement would perhaps be what most people would define as "training" or worse yet "breaking" a Horse, but the terms are not interchangeable. Understanding that it defeats the purpose to try and change the Horses' true nature, we only want to mold the Horse a little, removing small excesses here, filling in voids there, in a manner that lets the rider develop a useful Horse, yet does not violate the Horse's true nature. The "Second Dimension" can be called the Rider shaping the Rider. Realizing if the rider wants to achieve harmony with his or her Horse, it is necessary for the horsewoman or horseman to learn, experience, and change as much as, if not more, than the Horse by re-arranging his or her own "clay." Those riders who can shape their own characters to more comfortably fit the Horse's needs will achieve a much higher level of harmony with their Horse. In other words, help the glove more closely fit the hand. Seemingly, the most difficult concept to internalize is the "Third Dimension", which is the Horse shaping the Rider. Often, our own egos, fears and entrenched beliefs keep us from listening to the Horse as it points out the riders' "high spots here, low spots there", and allowing the Horse to shape us as humans as much as we try to mold the Horse. After all, there is no one more expert on the Horse than the Horse. If we will allow the Horse the opportunity to shape us, then good things can happen, and I think this is what Papoose was trying to teach me years ago. The really good Horsemen that I admire, when asked where they learned what it is that they know and practice, will tell you "I learned from the Horse." Though it has been almost 40 years, countless miles horseback and many different Horse experiences later, I can still remember the feeling of loping bareback with Papoose, across the short grass prairies of Wyoming. She was a good teacher and though I am far from being an expert, I have tried over the years to be a good student. The feeling of freedom that she taught me, of being "with" a Horse, is something that is still strong in me. I have been asked by several of our loyal customers to hold out a special week from our regular horseback adventures to share these ideas in a hands-on learning experience. The setting will be similar to my original prairie "classroom", in the wide-open spaces of the high desert wilderness, during September, which I consider to be the best season of the year to ride in Wyoming. You can choose from among any of our remuda of good Horses to practice these ideas yourself. These Horses will be your teachers. I invite anyone who might be interested in these ideas to come and explore your own "Three Dimensional Horsemanship" potential. Chris from Connecticut will be joining us again this year on the September week; here's what she had to say about her experience in 2007: "We were thrilled about the "clinic" component of our trip this summer. I found it so valuable and I would really like to know more about the method of communicating and working with my horse that I am reading about in the books you suggested. It intrigues me and yet puzzles me; I am a better learner when I can see something first and then go work on it. I think it is the ride for me next year. "Yahoo!" that you will be on the Little Sandy again. It was so beautiful. My friends back here we amazed at the beauty and emptyness of the open land." See Chris' notes from 2008 here . . . Nancy from Georgia writes: "Mike's horsemanship clinics were so informative and enjoyable. Reminding us to stay aware of our horse's "thought bubble" helped make the daily rides through the wild, open spaces safer and more enjoyable to us all. It helped keep us connected with our horses. I felt really honored to be given Winchester to ride for the week. What a nice trail horse. His intelligence and attention to his rider made for a very pleasurable ride. " Sally from New York, has ridden with us on back-to-back seasons: "THANK YOU for a great riding experience, and some instruction; I'm much more confident and feel more fit (and 'solid' in the saddle - independent seat ) This gave me the courage ( and I didn't fall off and had a lot of fun) to participate recently in a 'cutting clinic' with the paint gelding (he's done a bit of this before, and a young man also wants to take him to some "real" cutting events-fun to do & see ) I bought a year or so ago. Plus he's now boarded at a barn near a park with nice trails. My life is GOOD . . . " |
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Three Dimensional Horsemanship
