In canter, I scribe Lazy loops in the sky One two three One two three One two three Fly. Downward I ask From canter to trot Ground center grow Breathe in breathe out Trot. In trot, I draw Rolling waves in the air One two One two One two In pairs. Downward I ask From …
Tag: horse training
Leo’s Life Lessons
"The Horse" by Ronald Duncan Where in this wide world can man find nobility without pride, Friendship without envy, Or beauty without vanity? Here, where grace is served with muscle And strength by gentleness confined He serves without servility; he has fought without enmity. There is nothing so powerful, nothing less violent. There is nothing …
Subtler Ways
Subtler Ways by Gregg Hake I asked my steed to lift me high, "Collect yourself, give it a try!" He weaved and bobbed and said "I shan't" I bid him more, he said "I can't." So once again another day We exercised in subtler ways. And once the balances were set To my delight he …
Praise or Persecution
In the face of persecution, you have two options. You can either assume the role of the victim and be overcome by the attack or you can use the energy focused against you to move you closer to your goal. There is only one energy. There is no "good energy" or "bad energy." Energy can …
Deep and Broad
"The loftier the building, the deeper must the foundation be laid." - Thomas Kempis I heard the whistle of an interesting train of thought while listening to a podcast the other day about the life of Michael Page, an Olympic-medal winning American equestrian. The interviewer asked Page which horseman had influenced his riding career most …
Energy, Discipline, Spirit
Managing people, like training horses or parenting, is all about harnessing energy and teaching discipline, while preserving spirit. The best managers, like the best trainers, possess a remarkable capacity for empathy and their high expectations are never lowered by sympathy. I have no doubt that there is a marvelous spirit resident within each and every …
Known to Unknown
I had two conversations yesterday that carried a common thread. While I was the common denominator in both, the principle outlined came from my riding coach and a new business associate, not from me. I couldn’t help but notice the coincidence and I am compelled to share it with you this morning. When you understand …
A Team of Stallions
I had the good pleasure of attending Cavalia's Odysseo in Atlanta yesterday evening and the performance was riveting! Our tickets came with a tour of the stables and an opportunity to ask questions of the show's Equestrian Director, Benjamin Aillaud, and my thoughts this morning center around an answer he gave to a member of …
Success is Optional
"Success is a science; if you have the conditions, you get the result." ~ Oscar Wilde A perfectly aligned set of circumstances is more often the exception than the rule. Resources are frequently insufficient, tools are disorganized, agreements are not set and objections stand in the way no matter what you undertake, so one of …
Kinetic Fluidity
Have you ever stumbled across a realization in one area of your life that unlocks the door to understanding in another? This can occur with relative frequency to the degree that you view your life holistically, rather than as a collection of compartments. Modern science conditions us to think reductively, to the point that our …
Gregory Hake 