From The Heart

One of the most important lessons I've learned with training horses is that a behavior can change without truly changing the heart and mindset of the horse.  But at some point training falls short if the core isn't also transformed.

One of my first horses I trained for someone else was a gorgeous big blue roan Quarter Horse.  She was about 4 and had never really been touched except for one time someone tried to work with her.  This ended in her running, panicked, round and round the pen with the long rope "chasing" her.  When I got her, I started at the beginning with her, and worked her into even allowing me to saddle her.  She responded well to cues and to my less experienced eye, she seemed to be a totally transformed creature.  Then a day came when the rope ended up on the ground and drug beside her.  Her world broke into a million pieces.  Once again panicked, fearing for her very life, this beautiful big mare took off, running through two fences before finally stopping, probably resigned to be eaten alive by a "monster."  In the moment that seemed to last forever, none of the training of the many cues mattered. 

Confused at this, I spent much time pondering what might have happened.  Working through my own therapy, I finally found an answer.  Behaviors, and even surface ways of relating, can be changed, even fairly quickly.  But unless the heart is also transformed and healed, that foundation will ALWAYS be returned to in time of trials and pressure.  This mare had been traumatized.  I had taught her a lot, but had not been able to teach her to bond with and trust me in a way that could replace that foundation. 

So many times, we find something in Scripture and truly want to change something about us to align with what the Word says.   We focus on how it APPEARS.  But this appearance can NOT last because our heart hasn't been transformed.  And we can't transform it.  We can press in....that's what a horse has to do.  The horse can not build or rebuild the needed foundation, but as they press closer to a good leader,  they guide them into a transformation process.  We, as humans, can not transform ourselves...we have to press in to our Lord and leader.  He can transform us into amazing masterpieces.  But as long as we only look at surface appearances in applying His principles and instructions, we are relying on OURSELVES and OUR strength.  I think it's hard to look deeper...it's frightening to know I can't change me.  It's refreshing and precious to work with horses....they're not really concerned at all in how they look or act.  But if horses find a leader who is good, safe and trustworthy, the horse will press in and mentor him/her until we, as an outsider who loves to judge appearances, find it beautiful and perfect. 

As I work on a horse, and a behavior begins to change and blossom, I've learned to check...where is this behavior rooted?  My goal is that the motivation is on a trust, love, and respect relationship.  If not, I can be certain that when we meet up with something scary like a cougar, things will fall apart and I will not be able to count on my equine partner.