“Stop slouching and sit up straight!”
Many of us heard this when we were growing up. I know that I tell my children that the way they carry themselves communicates information to people around them. My youngest has a habit of taking long strides but with a slouch in his shoulders. I’ve told him that it makes him look insecure and he needs to pull back his shoulders and adjust his stride accordingly.
But what about when you’re around your horse? Are they picking up information that we don’t mean to be sending out?
Anna Twinney says yes.
Anna Twinney is an internationally respected equine specialist. Her position is that your posture, the way that you carry yourself, sends a message to your horse. Every movement and gesture that you make transmits a different message to your horse.
In fact, Anna asserts that by walking in an assertive manner towards your horse with your shoulders square to theirs and your eyes focused on theirs, your horse will move forward. If instead, you want your horse to follow you, you should not have your shoulders square, but rounded and walk in an arc in front of your horse. Continue this while walking in a “leader” pace and drop your eyes to where you want your horse to come…this will entice your horse to become engaged with what you are doing and follow.
So, the next time your around your horse, think about your posture and the type of information that you’re transmitting!
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Anna Twinney is the founder of Reach Out to Horses®, based in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado. As an internationally respected Natural Horsemanship Clinician and Trainer, Animal Communicator and Reiki Master she travels the world teaching the art of creating a trust-based partnership between Humans, Horses and all Animal Companions. She has conducted clinics, classes and training sessions in Australia, Canada, Denmark, England, Germany, France, Holland, Sweden, Spain, Norway, New Zealand and throughout the entire United States. www.reachouttohorses.com
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