Why Mindfulness and Horses go Hand in Hand

As I continue to study and learn more and more about mindfulness, I can’t help but consider how mindfulness in my life is directly in alignment with my horses. Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment. All of which is required while being with horses and riding horses—Provided you want to have the most authentic relationship possible with your horse(s).

This idea of mindfulness also involves acceptance, meaning that we pay attention to our thoughts and feelings without judging. This includes believing that there isn’t always a right or wrong way to think of feel in the moment. I can relate to this through my experience over the years with horse trainers. Many times I have seen a trainer abuse or send a horse away when that horse doesn’t fit into their training program. I have witnessed the “my way or the highway” mentality instead of the trainer changing his or her training program. Thus, accepting the horse for his or her individuality and being malleable and flexible enough to adjust the training program for the individual horse. Our thoughts tune into what we are sensing in the present moment rather than rehashing the past or the future. When we learn to practice mindfulness with our horse, it translates into other areas of our life and reflects in other relationships.

Author and professor emeritus, Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, simply explained that mindfulness is really about paying attention in a systematic way and for no reason other than to be awake. If you pay attention to where your mind is at, it usually isn’t in the present moment. It’s off someplace else worrying, planning, being upset about something that did or didn’t happen. We are blasting through our present moments. The conditions are never perfect for the present moment, which is why we don’t want to be there. We watch Netflix, play video games, and scroll through Facebook never-ending avoiding the present moment … but why?

Why would you want to practice mindfulness with your horse?
Greater Good, the science-based magazine published at the University of California-Berkeley, explained that studies have shown that the practice of mindfulness, for as little as a few weeks, can bring an array of physical, psychological, and social benefits. The following included some of these benefits, which encompass a variety of diverse scenarios:

• Mindfulness is good for our bodies: A seminal study found that, after just eight weeks of training, practicing mindfulness meditation boosts our immune system’s ability to fight off illness. Practicing mindfulness may also improve sleep quality. I am quite certain that being healthy and getting a good night’s rest would benefit my riding.
• Mindfulness is good for our minds: Several studies have found that mindfulness increases positive emotions while reducing negative emotions and stress. Indeed, at least one study suggests it may be as good as antidepressants in fighting depression and preventing relapse. I know that when I am in a good mental state I have a much better ride as opposed to when I am stressed out and focusing on the events of a bad day.
• Mindfulness changes our brains: Research has found that it increases density of gray matter in brain regions linked to learning, memory, emotion regulation, and empathy. This would surely benefit my ability to memorize dressage patterns, regulate my nervousness at a horse show, along with sharpening my responsiveness with my riding aids.
• Mindfulness helps us focus: Studies suggest that mindfulness helps us tune out distractions and improves our memory, attention skills, and decision-making. This is pretty self-explanatory when applied to riding.
• Mindfulness fosters compassion and altruism: Research suggests mindfulness training makes us more likely to help someone in need and increases activity in neural networks involved in understanding the suffering of others and regulating emotions. Evidence suggests it might boost self-compassion as well. I know I could stand to have more compassion towards myself and others. I believe this is easily applied to understanding the suffering of animals too.
• Mindfulness enhances relationships: Research suggests mindfulness training makes couples more satisfied with their relationship, makes each partner feel more optimistic and relaxed, and makes them feel more accepting of and closer to one another. Mindful couples may also recover more quickly from conflict. I don’t know about you, but I feel that there is always room for improvement with relationships including my relationship with my horse. When I am connected and relaxed with my horse, I always have a good ride!
• Mindfulness affects the way we see ourselves: More mindful people have a stronger sense of self and seem to act more in line with their values. They may also have a healthier body image, more secure self-esteem, and more resilience to negative feedback. Again, these are all aspects that would improve my riding. When I am in a place of having a strong sense of self, I do not second guess myself and my aids when I ride. I can always use a healthier body image-especially when my riding breeches feel extra tight and resilience to those who judge me and my decisions with my horses is always helpful.
• Mindfulness is good for business: Mindfulness training could help make leaders more confident, improve creativity, reduce multitasking, and improve client satisfaction. I can see how this would benefit professional horse trainers of all disciplines.
• Mindfulness fights obesity: Practicing “mindful eating” encourages healthier eating habits, helps people lose weight, and helps them savor the food they do eat. Being healthy and in good physical condition is indeed a necessity for a rider of any discipline.

           
The present moment is the only time we can be in a place to be creative, love, or be in a relationship. Mindfulness in Chinese characters translates to presence of heart. Even though mindfulness is rooted in the Buddhist meditation tradition, a secular practice of mindfulness has recently entered the US and noticed in Jon-Kabat Zinn’s Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program. Thousands of research studies document the physical and mental health benefits of mindfulness. This research has motivated places such as schools, prisons, hospitals, veteran’s centers, and more to incorporate the MBSR model. I want to encourage you to include mindfulness in your everyday practice with your horse(s). It doesn’t happen overnight, but can begin with one simple step: Start to breathe, become more grounded and pay attention to your horse. He or she is always reliable to guide you in the right direction toward mindfulness-based riding. And most of all … you will enjoy the ride!