Table of Contents
Introduction: Walking between Worlds Teaching and Learning Find the right place to start The horse is a mirror Teaching is one phase; training is three Bring a new question every day Reward abundantly The benefit of the doubt is a chance for success Let mistakes happen Correct, then caress Back up for respect The feather is mightier than the whip Patience is compassion Cultivate a beginner's mind Are we having fun yet? Finish better than you started Look for the breakthrough and seize it Provide a way out Make the right way the easy way Know when to let go It all begins at the gate Escalate out of the comfort zone Agendas hurt the relationship Nagging is the handmaiden of failure Ask, request, demand, and promise The better the trainer, the less the training Training trumps bloodlines Find the way to celebrate Horse whispering means being clearly heard Doctrines don't fail; methods do Patience creates time; time creates success Stutter steps build memory Hesitation precedes understanding A tired horse will eagerly stand still Balance fear and curiosity A windy day can make any horse stupid Learn the ABCs of teaching Wait for the lightbulb moment Back up to perfection Black and white are fine; shades of gray confuse The faster you go, the worse it gets Mindfulness: Attention and Inattention Never take a day for granted Every moment has meaning Intention focuses energy to effect change Behold the eye Elegance is economy Make it a habit Know how to be silent Timing must be impeccable Cultivate an eye for detail The mind shapes intention, but the body delivers it Clear your mind Drop the reins The horse's reward is peace Horses don't lie; people do Thinking knows; seeing believes A goal is a trap For horses, more than four is a bore Lists grow as time shrinks Stop wondering if it's quitting time Cinch four times; mount once Life is a series of plans punctuated by the unexpected and the unavoidable Equipment is character Stalking Happiness Invite the horse into a herd of two Practice affection Put love in your hands Hunt happiness Seek the heart of gold Just breathe Loosen up Tranquility comes with each turn Head position tells a tale Leading and Following Real power is born from stillness Use your mind, not the lead rope Get far more with far less The answer lies at liberty Master pressure, not punishment Boundaries define the geography of respect Find the curve of compromise Lead by invitation Partnership is purpose Greater power comes from less pressure The lower the head, the better the frame of mind The lead rope reveals the relationship Footwork: dominance first, then respect Horses act out forever, until they quit Circle for safety Never take the trail for granted Leadership is determined by the four Cs Give credit SPS: self-praise stinks Lead with your heart A physical confrontation is a defeat Before danger strikes, consider the possibilities Avoid idleness; employ stillness To be heard, whisper Overcome with leverage, not resistance The more a horse spooks, the less afraid he becomes Leaders assume the risk for all Loyalty is never convenient Horsemanship transforms Energy and Emotion Combining energy and emotion is a choice To know when to release is to know why Energy is duality The ground is closest to the truth Energy is sticky Grow beyond instinct Rhythmic movement is predictable energy Breaking Through There is no best way To conquer problems, imagine solutions Don't fix problems; change them Tackle small problems before they become big ones Try the 180-degree solution Love is never the problem Epilogue: There is still time for the predator to turn to the herd Acknowledgments