It was a long drive, through the countryside, and then a bit on the highway, back to the country side, to get to this place in the middle of nowhere Ohio for this workshop. It was a workshop for women called - Finding Your Voice; An equestrian assisted learning opportunity. This sounds interesting and unique, especially no previous horse or riding experience is necessary. I was excited about the horses, for I have a deep love for horses, but nervous because I knew no one there. Oh well, I will make new friends, am always good at these social things anyway.
I am the first one there, I left early cause I had no idea how long this would take. I was nervous, but met Carole, an amazingly friendly lady. She talked to me for a bit, until other ladies began showing up. I was so curious to find out more about these women, their energies intrigued me. A few in particular. The horses were gorgeous, 2 large horses, and 3 miniature horses. I was so excited, and had the urge to go get them saddled up to ride.
The program started after everyone got there. We were asked to write down our names, and two things we think we are very good at. I wrote down writing and hugs. After we went around in the circle, Carole, and Ginny (Ginny is the host and the equestrian expert in the program), asked us what we saw common in all of our skills. We pondered, and Carole pointed out that we had all listed soft skills, and men usually list hard skills, technical skills, aggressive skills. Wow! Eye opener 1.
The next exercise was to go meet and greet the horses, after a quick safety drill - horses by the side are safe, in front they can not see, and directly behind is danger zone etc. We split int two groups, and some of us went in to meet the bigger horses. Once in the fenced in field with them, the horses came up to us, curious. They were huge and intimidating. I had not been so close to a horse, since my riding accident in 2007. I had fallen off a Tennessee Walker, after the gelding I was riding got spooked by the Stallion which another rider brought out. Disaster, and dumb on the part of the other rider. Anyway I had to face my newly awakened fear - horses. Horses also my passion. So, I met Wager and Gia, they were lovely and friendly, and they could tell by my energy probably that I was shy.
The miniature horses were amazing, and friendly and much less intimidating, although am sure a kick from their hind legs could send a grown adult flying. The power of horses! We then began the first exercise. The small horses were brought in with us, and the task was we had a minute to discuss a strategy on how to make the 3 little horses Dolly, Caramel, and Cookie, get to the bottom right side of the field, without talking or touching!
The horses had no leads, or bridles on them, everything was meant to be body language, creative problem solving, understanding behavior, energy, and team work. This is more challenging than one can imagine. Until tried, one has no idea how helpless and frustrating it can be, just like your day to day job. Truly a challenging situation.
The group of nine or ten ladies, discussed and plotted, to bring the horses down. We discussed using the balls, however it struck me they are not dogs. Majority won though. I thought we could hold hands and barricade them. This idea was applied later, when they realized balls didn't help. The balls frightened them, and made them run. They were distracted by the grazing opportunity and there was nothing we could do to get their attention. We decided we would use logs to barricade them and drive them down to the corner, after we had negotiated with the teacher to 1- use our voice, and then 2- when that didn't work we used touch, which failed also.
When we were finally successful, we learned that 1- building relationships and trust at the work place is essential 2- speaking up 3- group / team work 4- making a compromise to get the task at hand done especially when impossible. Men usually compromise on tasks and bargain more with their bosses than women do. Men also apparently speak up more often and are heard more than women. Using brute force or fear tactics to move employees/ subordinates often just creates chaos.
The second exercise was to get Wager (the course's namesake) to walk around a circle and stay at each of the 9 cones in the circle for 5 counts/ seconds. This was challenging, and we learnt that 1- giving directions 2- in a clear way and direct way 3- guiding 4- positive reinforcement 5- relationship building are all very important in dealing with clients, coworkers and subordinates. It was truly amazing to see the shift in energy in the group when we realized what we were doing the first time round didn't work. The helplessness, the frustration. Then finally a few of us stepped up to the plate, and made a method work, the others followed suite, an helped as well. It was a very interesting study in management, psychology and sociology!
I would definitely go back, recommend, and incorporate this in future endeavors, businesses, and work. It was so enriching, fulfilling, and confirming in different ways. I have so much growing and learning to complete yet, and I have to really speak up, step up more often. Horses don't lie, and they certainly didn't lie to me.
The instructors, Ginny and Carole, expressed the way people interact with horses can tell so much about them in the first few minutes. As a former psychology student, that was fascinating. The therapeutic use of animals for cerebral palsy, down syndrome, heart disease reduction, stress reduction, etc. is proven already. However using them to bring out better qualities in us, is something so new, raw, but also age old.
Horses know their riders, and riders need to master their horses. In the old ages, when horses and other animals, were the sole modes of transportation we needed to bring out qualities conducive to mastering animals, lest we be mastered by them. We had more interactions with animals then on a day to day basis, than we do now. So coming back to the earth and animals, we can learn much about ourselves, than getting lost in the clouds... electric or geographic. Clouds blur our visions of ourselves and give us a different version, which might not even be true. Through this small workshop we can see reality in all its glory and dust once again.
Breathe
I am the first one there, I left early cause I had no idea how long this would take. I was nervous, but met Carole, an amazingly friendly lady. She talked to me for a bit, until other ladies began showing up. I was so curious to find out more about these women, their energies intrigued me. A few in particular. The horses were gorgeous, 2 large horses, and 3 miniature horses. I was so excited, and had the urge to go get them saddled up to ride.
The program started after everyone got there. We were asked to write down our names, and two things we think we are very good at. I wrote down writing and hugs. After we went around in the circle, Carole, and Ginny (Ginny is the host and the equestrian expert in the program), asked us what we saw common in all of our skills. We pondered, and Carole pointed out that we had all listed soft skills, and men usually list hard skills, technical skills, aggressive skills. Wow! Eye opener 1.
The next exercise was to go meet and greet the horses, after a quick safety drill - horses by the side are safe, in front they can not see, and directly behind is danger zone etc. We split int two groups, and some of us went in to meet the bigger horses. Once in the fenced in field with them, the horses came up to us, curious. They were huge and intimidating. I had not been so close to a horse, since my riding accident in 2007. I had fallen off a Tennessee Walker, after the gelding I was riding got spooked by the Stallion which another rider brought out. Disaster, and dumb on the part of the other rider. Anyway I had to face my newly awakened fear - horses. Horses also my passion. So, I met Wager and Gia, they were lovely and friendly, and they could tell by my energy probably that I was shy.
The miniature horses were amazing, and friendly and much less intimidating, although am sure a kick from their hind legs could send a grown adult flying. The power of horses! We then began the first exercise. The small horses were brought in with us, and the task was we had a minute to discuss a strategy on how to make the 3 little horses Dolly, Caramel, and Cookie, get to the bottom right side of the field, without talking or touching!
The horses had no leads, or bridles on them, everything was meant to be body language, creative problem solving, understanding behavior, energy, and team work. This is more challenging than one can imagine. Until tried, one has no idea how helpless and frustrating it can be, just like your day to day job. Truly a challenging situation.
The group of nine or ten ladies, discussed and plotted, to bring the horses down. We discussed using the balls, however it struck me they are not dogs. Majority won though. I thought we could hold hands and barricade them. This idea was applied later, when they realized balls didn't help. The balls frightened them, and made them run. They were distracted by the grazing opportunity and there was nothing we could do to get their attention. We decided we would use logs to barricade them and drive them down to the corner, after we had negotiated with the teacher to 1- use our voice, and then 2- when that didn't work we used touch, which failed also.
When we were finally successful, we learned that 1- building relationships and trust at the work place is essential 2- speaking up 3- group / team work 4- making a compromise to get the task at hand done especially when impossible. Men usually compromise on tasks and bargain more with their bosses than women do. Men also apparently speak up more often and are heard more than women. Using brute force or fear tactics to move employees/ subordinates often just creates chaos.
The second exercise was to get Wager (the course's namesake) to walk around a circle and stay at each of the 9 cones in the circle for 5 counts/ seconds. This was challenging, and we learnt that 1- giving directions 2- in a clear way and direct way 3- guiding 4- positive reinforcement 5- relationship building are all very important in dealing with clients, coworkers and subordinates. It was truly amazing to see the shift in energy in the group when we realized what we were doing the first time round didn't work. The helplessness, the frustration. Then finally a few of us stepped up to the plate, and made a method work, the others followed suite, an helped as well. It was a very interesting study in management, psychology and sociology!
I would definitely go back, recommend, and incorporate this in future endeavors, businesses, and work. It was so enriching, fulfilling, and confirming in different ways. I have so much growing and learning to complete yet, and I have to really speak up, step up more often. Horses don't lie, and they certainly didn't lie to me.
The instructors, Ginny and Carole, expressed the way people interact with horses can tell so much about them in the first few minutes. As a former psychology student, that was fascinating. The therapeutic use of animals for cerebral palsy, down syndrome, heart disease reduction, stress reduction, etc. is proven already. However using them to bring out better qualities in us, is something so new, raw, but also age old.
Horses know their riders, and riders need to master their horses. In the old ages, when horses and other animals, were the sole modes of transportation we needed to bring out qualities conducive to mastering animals, lest we be mastered by them. We had more interactions with animals then on a day to day basis, than we do now. So coming back to the earth and animals, we can learn much about ourselves, than getting lost in the clouds... electric or geographic. Clouds blur our visions of ourselves and give us a different version, which might not even be true. Through this small workshop we can see reality in all its glory and dust once again.
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| Gia, a lovely horse, at Wager's Way |
Breathe
