By Leslie Desmond, co-author of True Horsemanship Through Feel: This is a recent exchange I had with a friend about CD AUDIO BOOK TRACK ON FLoat...and its Importance
------------------------------ Leslie Have to tell you that THE FLOAT AND ITS IMPORTANCE just hit me over the head. couple of days ago. I get it. I got it. I mean, I REALLY got it. I get why you gotta let them move if they need to move. I get if I don't want them to brace against me, I can't brace against them. The float is the super highway to free rein, mentally and physically. This changes everything. I have slowed way down with Ruby. Because Im watching myself as much as her. I'm watching for that moment when I get in the way of the float. I want to understand that moment. sometimes, it's anger (why aren't you with me!), frustration (how the heck did that happen), uncertainty (oops, lost it, what can i do now to get i back). Lately it's more confusion than anything about, when is it okay to firm up? Like, how many books could youwrite on THAT! In my case, the question arises when , for example, I lead her out, and Im planning to go one way, and she goes the other way...do I firm up? Or do I go with her and just follow the energy around to where we are again going my direction? That's where I get really confused. I think she's going the opposite direction because I haven't made it clear I want her to go with me ... so therefore, it would be fairer to follow her for a bit until I make it obvious that I want her to go with me. That's what I'm thinking! Judy Dear Judy, The current dilemma you have about how much firmness to use, and when to use it, is something that you and Ruby can sort out together, but I will give you a little clue here, a hint that might help: Sidestep the emotional load usually inspires one beforehand to become firm (In other words, the mule will not benefit from any physical firmness that is fueled by thoughts like: "I hate it when you act this way...", WHACK "You know what I mean when I do this!!" BANG! Or, "I told you NOT to do that!" Crack! "You have done this to me for the last time!!" Slam....etc. Your other concern, about going with her too much. Yes, that can also become a habit, and problems associated with it are equally difficult to remedy. But....consider this..... by going with her (blending) too much, you create a horse or mule that takes over (drags you around, pulls you to grass, leads you anywhere but where you want to go, eventually learning to leave you standing there alone while they tear off towards the barn to join others or eat in a field half way across town....not so fun!) On the other hand, by not blending enough you create the monster called "resistance", or, sadly enough this can happen, too..... an "over-managed" horse / mule can learn to have no idea what to do and no inclination to do anything it is not instructed to do, which takes the poor creature pretty far away from its instincts ... I encourage you to experiment freely with firmness and offering the float, too, when you are feeling good and you are both trying to get along. If you are in a bad mood or getting frustrated, then forget it. Hand the rope to someone else, call it a day. Put her up! Just think of it this way: She can only find the float, and reliably maintain that flowing feeling between her head and your hand, (whether it be through the reins or the halter rope) if she can associate your moves (body language and clear intent) with the nearest (to you) hind foot of hers that, when engaged, causes the bridge of her nose to tip in YOUR direction,.... thereby creating the illusive and desired FLOAT between you. The only emotion I want to see this associated with is joy, as it is a genuine cause for celebration when someone figures this out! LD Leslie, I love this prescription for joy. Ruby and I have probably done as well as we do because I am largely inclined, now, to not even put the halter on if I feel myself not able to offer much that day. I'm also learning--it's okay to do JUST A LITTLE if that's all I have time for, or am mentally prepared- for.. any Little thing. Just a little done great is a great thing. The other thing that occurs to me about float is...it is kind of like aikido in the sense that, you redirect the energy. And that totally depends on how you position yourself in relation to that energy. And in aikido (as with float) you are NEVER to redirect that energy with any attitude -- anger, fear, hostility will only GET IN THE WAY! Judy in Oregon. ____________________ Judy http://icehorses.net http://clickryder.com
