It is all about relaxation

IT’S 35° IN THE SHADE. THE HORSES HAVE JUST HAD A SHOWER, AND THERE’S NOTHING QUITE LIKE A SAND BATH AND A LEISURELY ROLL IN THE SAND. WE’RE RULING OUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT THIS IS STRESS-INDUCED ROLLING, WHICH OF COURSE DOES HAPPEN. THE FLIES ARE TOLERABLE THIS YEAR, WHICH IS PERHAPS BECAUSE THE SEA BREEZE IS MOSTLY KEEPING THEM AT BAY.

‘RELAXATION’ IS A WORD I USED TO UNDERSTAND DIFFERENTLY THAN I DO TODAY. I HAD SEPARATED MENTAL RELAXATION TOO MUCH FROM PHYSICAL RELAXATION, WHETHER IN THE PRESENCE OF A HORSE THAT I’M OBSERVING AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND AND SUPPORT, OR IN MY OWN LIFE.

SO WE HUMANS CAN EASILY INFLUENCE OUR AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. FOR INSTANCE, WHEN I’M WITH A HORSE AND I’M TENSE DUE TO PHYSICAL PAIN – SAY, BECAUSE I’VE SPRAINED MY ANKLE AND IT HURTS – I’M NOT ENTIRELY MENTALLY RELAXED. WHILST RIDING THE HORSE, I TEST AGAIN WHETHER THIS IS REALLY THE CASE, OR WHETHER THE SLIGHT TENSION IN MY BODY ISN’T ACTUALLY TRANSFERRING TO MY THOUGHTS AFTER ALL. IN ANY CASE, THE TENSION IN MY BODY IS TRANSFERRED TO THE HORSE’S BODY. TO CUT A LONG STORY SHORT, LET’S RESOLVE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN AROUND OUR BELOVED HORSES TO ENSURE WE DON’T PASS ON OUR OWN TENSION. BECAUSE THESE BEAUTIFUL FLIGHT ANIMALS, WHICH QUICKLY BECOME MENTALLY TENSE WHEN UNDER PHYSICAL STRESS, ARE SIMPLY MARVELLOUS WHEN THEY’RE ALLOWED TO RELAX.