Books with Spirit – Joyfulness between horses and people

Dear Jenny

I just wanted to say thank you, and tell my story – of how your book has helped us (myself and my horse) on our journey.

I had studied with Pat Parrelli and achieved my level 3. Not long after that my life took a down wood spiral and I was out of horses for six years. My life at that that time had never been so bad and I realised I needed another horse. I put out to the universe for the perfect horse for me. My dear friend said she had the perfect horse and said she is meant to be with you.

Sissy had the greatest phobias of saddles and before I met her had a MAJOR bucking problem. She was classed as a rogue and turned out in the paddock to be a pasture horse.

My relationship with Sissy – although beautiful, was missing that special element – unconditional trust. We had come so far – we had grown together, learnt from each other, beginning to understand each other. But none of my ways that I new – worked with her, I knew there was something else out there for me that would help her with her fear.

I began to listen to Sissy and became softer, gentler and more patient. I could saddle her and ride her around at the walk and not once did she buck. But something was missing, she was still scared of the saddle (even though she allowed me to put it on her). I had run out of savvy, I sat in the paddock wondering how to solve this problem. I put it out to the universe – that I had a problem that was in need of a solution. I then let it go and continued on my journey with Sissy regardless (remembering at this stage I had not yet found your book – you can imagine my astonishment when I read this in your book).

With in two days, I received a phone call from a dear friend. She had phoned to ask my opinion about a book she had recently read. I said to her, is it regarding horses with fear – she laughed and said how did you know? I filled in the details about needing a solution etc. This was the beginning of my new journey, ready to change my life as I knew it. Your book “Zen Connection with Horses” arrived in the post from my friend.

When the students ready the teacher appears! As I’m reading the pages of your book, I had a “knowing” that all of what you were saying was real. After asking the four magic questions and realising the fear really did belong to Sissy. The next answer to your second question scared the hell out of me. The first thought that came to my mind was – Sissy needs to know she has a say in this, she needs to know you have trust in her too! So with that I hesitantly took off her halter and lead rope and said out loud while looking up to the heavens “God I hope Jenny knows what she is talking about”.

Now standing at liberty in a ten acre paddock, I picked up the saddle. The moment she reached forward and smelt the saddle, I simply put it down and waited. I stayed within her energy zone (having previously asked permission to enter), and kindly, compassionately waited for the “lick and chew”. To my amazement within 15min she licked and chewed – softened in the eye and through the body.

The next time I picked up the saddle – the fear had gone and was replaced with curiosity – she smelt, licked, and bit the saddle and at that time, gave me a little more of herself.

I intuitively knew she had a right to be who she really truly is – whatever the results might be. I picked up the saddle, she looked at me , looked over her shoulder and said “bye bye” and she left. I smiled and knew I had done the right thing. She hid herself behind the tree, peering out. I walked over to her with love in my heart, rubbed her on the head and she willing followed me back to the saddle.

By allowing her the freedom to be who she is, to leave when the need arises and that there are no mistakes only choices – she was able to build confidence in herself, trust in me. All of this was possible without crushing her spirit, or expecting her to fit into the mould of “normal” horse behaviour. I picked up the saddle (waiting on several occasion for the lick and chew) and saddled her at liberty, with all her previous fear gone like a miracle had occurred before my very eyes. Sissy, saddled at liberty, and me beside her – the two of us walked around the paddock together – Sissy was so proud of herself, so trusting of me. I put the halter and lead rope on her, and mounted her and rode around the paddock. The energy between us huge, the trust overwhelming, the connection real. I feel so blessed, so privileged to have experienced such a gift of true connection between horse and human – THANK YOU Jenny!

I love stories like this… Jenny

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