I’ve heard Jane talk about how animals live in the present, but humans tend to live in the past and in the future. There are advantages to both ways of thinking, and disadvantages as well.

Having a clear memory of the past is why humans are able to learn so much more. Your species creates books and videos, passes stories down from generation to generation, and has entire institutions set up to teach what your predecessors have learned. Horses don’t do that. Our memories are more cellular. We learn some of our behavior from our mothers and our herd mates, but generally speaking, we don’t know that much more than our ancestors did.

Living in the moment has advantages, in that horses can react and adapt to the events at hand. We don’t worry too much about what’s going to appear around the bend, or fret about tomorrow’s horse show, or wonder if next week the barn is going to run out of hay. We are NOW.

When you’re doing something physical, being NOW is very important. If you’re riding your horse thinking that you might get bucked off because a horse bucked you off three years ago and hurt you, then you’re not NOW. You’re not going to be reacting to what is really going on in the present; you’re going to be reacting to the negative thoughts in your head.

If you find yourself dredging up the past and worrying about the future, stop for a moment and breathe. That’s right… just notice your breath going in and out of your lungs. Give your breathing your full attention. Think of nothing but the sensation of the air going in and out of your chest. That will bring you back to NOW. Give it a try, right now. Just breathe.

Jane has lots of techniques to help you learn to be in the Now. Would you like to hear more of them?

Love, Moshi

From Indy:

I got a bug in my ear. It made me mad and really got on my nerves. I was grumpy for days. Jane didn’t know what was wrong with me. She looked in my ears and brushed my coat, but couldn’t figure out why I was so uptight.

I scratched and shook my head and rubbed my face and ears in the grass, but just couldn’t get to the bug. It was making me crazy! I tried to ignore it, but it just made my life miserable.

Have you ever had something in your life like that? Something that made you squirm? Perhaps it was a physical itch, or perhaps it was something you really wanted to change, but just didn’t know how.

Jane finally took me to the vet. The vet had the tools to really look deep into my ear and find that darn bug. She got a big pair of tweezers and pulled the nasty little creature out of the crease where it had been hiding and biting. Relief! Oh my… I was so happy, I licked her face with great gusto.

What in your life is causing you to “itch”? Is it something you can change? Can you ask for help? Sometimes you just need the right person to help guide you, or someone who has the right tools for the job. Don’t give up! That itch is your inner self telling you it’s time for a change. Honor it, and your life might just be that much brighter.

Let’s go to the pond today! I need a swim! Bring the bug spray, will you?

Love, Indy

Jane Savoie
1174 Hill St ext.
Berlin, VT 05602
Jane’s Website
DressageMentor.com