Then Jesus exclaimed….. “Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.” ~Matthew 11:28-30, the passion translation
Buck Brannaman is the greatest horseman of our time, arguably of any time. His methods have led the Natural Horsemanship movement, one that is moving more and more industry professionals away from the rough, aggressive cowboy mentality of training and riding to one that is based on connection and respect. One who listens during his training clinics can’t help but apply the knowledge and instruction to more than their work with horses, but to their own lives: marriage, parenthood, friendship, work, faith, self. These are a few favorite takeaways:
There’s nothing like being in person, together.
Don’t tie up a green horse (young, untrained one) to saddle or pick his feet. Do it out in the open. If he’s uncomfortable and tied he can’t do anything about it.
Give the horse a job to do and get him (connected) with you.
First thing that has to happen is in his mind. It has to swing, then his body.
You gotta do what you gotta do to get a change, and not anymore.
You need to learn to do less sooner.
Be consistent. There has to be continuity.
Ride with dignity, always—even when people aren’t looking at you.
Be particular without being picky.
Until he (the horse) owned it, it didn’t make any difference how many times I said it.
What was true 40 years ago is still true, the truth doesn’t change.
Offer a good deal, then there’s justice in it if he doesn’t respond to you.
You have to have the humility to listen, the horse will tell you what he needs.
The horse will teach you if you’ll listen.
When things go well, relax and don’t move their feet. You’re teaching them to enjoy the prosperity of being together.
The rider is taught to respect the horse and how to know him, help him understand the task at hand and work together with as little force as possible to achieve the goal. The goal is relationship.
While taking riding lessons on a young gelding in training, I was learning quite a bit about horses and myself. I found I preferred more controlled experiences, those where I could pacify my fears and insecurities with the illusion of control, eliminate variables and risk. The tighter my nerves got, the more rigid my body, the faster my breath, the more pressure in my legs and around his body, the more anxious we both became and the riskier the ride became. Horseback riding can’t be a fully controlled experience, if there is such a thing, so I had to learn to ride the horse, unwind a bit, and breathe. The best riders can, in any situation, relax their posture, slow their breathing, open up their hips, lean back, take a deeeeeeep breath, be satisfied with progress not perfection… and maybe even enjoy the ride.
Riding on a donkey, Jesus entered Jerusalem nearly 2,000 years ago for peace and relationship, for connection when He came to die and rise from death. And on a horse, Jesus will return and ride victoriously at the end of days to make war on all that is against Him, to reclaim and restore that which is His, and to declare His name “Faithful and True.” Until then, we wait, and as Buck instructs, we ride with dignity even when no one is looking. We stay connected to our leader and “enjoy the prosperity of being together.”
Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. ~Revelation 19:11
This is the miraculous,
the power and the glory,
upon which we hope and wait.
Amen.
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