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Article

…..and give

 by

Declaration and David  Gower

Mid May in Georgia is just about perfect.  The weather is a bit rainy but the temperature is just right for horses.  The days are getting longer and the horses and the trainers from the winter circuit in Florida return to their homes to teach those of us that are non-migratory.  This story starts on just such a perfect day in May during a clinic that I was riding a lesson with Michelle Gibson.  Declaration, my trekener, and I had just passed C in front of Michelle demonstrating proudly the advances I had made during the winter with half halt and with suppling.  “Half halt” said Michelle just before I started in the next corner, “…….and give” said another voice as I came out of the corner.  I was mildly irritated.  It is hard enough to concentrate on the horse, the corner, Michelle, and the half halt without having someone else thrown into the equation.  But as I looked around to find the source of the mystery voice, there was no one there. 

As a physician I am well aware of the ramifications of people who hear voices.  So, I kept this little encounter to myself.  I must confess that the voice was right.  I tried the give after a half halt on three other occasions that day and found that the horse was more supple and willing after the give.  Michelle was glad that I finally got it.  “Finally got it?” had she told me about the give before and I had not heard her? 

I was on a post-great-ride high as I took Declaration for a bath and to dry out.  Then back to her stall where I made sure she had some fresh hay. “Great ride” I told her as I patted her neck, “I wish I knew who the mystery trainer was out there” I confided to the horse.  It was then that she raised her head, looked me in the eye and as plainly as I sit here today, she said  “It was me.” 

It was a perfect day in mid May in Georgia that suddenly turned into one of those days that I would never forget.  What do you do when you and your horse after years of riding, start to communicate? “How did you learn to talk?” I stammered.  “All horses know how to communicate” said Declaration, “It just takes some people a long time to learn to listen”.  “Was it the Clinic today that taught me to listen?” I queried.  “Yes,” said Declaration, “and I was finally able to get a word in edgewise, and that word was ….Give”

I spent another 30 minutes that day sitting in the stall with Declaration discussing riding, and how I had come along in my ability to listen to what she was trying to tell me. But the give  was the thing that opened up my ears to her.  “The give is the second half of the half halt”  Declaration explained that she heard Michelle tell me this time and again.  “Half halt really means “half halt ….and give” she said.  While so many people who don’t listen only end up with “Half halt ….and hold”.  “If you hold on to me after the half halt”, said Declaration, “I can’t move freely and cannot engage my back.”  “Some of us, like that gelding in the stall next to me get really mad if you hold to long and don’t let us do our job”

I tried to defend my lack of sensitivity by explaining to her that I had come a long way with my riding. I rode for a long time without stirrups to try to improve my seat and cut down on the bouncing.  With a more stable seat I was able to stop wagging my hands around.  “And I kept talking to you through the whole thing” she said.  “It wasn’t until today that you had a stable seat, stable hands and were good enough at the half halt to listen to my needs” She said “I need you to give”

From that day forward I have tried to ride every ride listening to Declaration and her coaching. She has been working with four legs on the ground much longer time than I have.  We have worked through a number of problems.  The first big one to come up occurred when I just threw the rein away rather than giving it back to her in an elastic manner.  It was after this little incident when I found out how colorful a vocabulary my horse really had. “Don’t do that again,” she said through clenched teeth.  “It hurts my back when you throw away the rein, be gentle and supportive.  Try to ride with feeling, even if you are a man.”

Declaration has shown me that horses are truly the noblest of creatures.  They put up with so much from us until we are finally able to listen to the words of wisdom that come from their mouths.  If you don’t believe me, try to give back the rein and see if you don’t start a more active and engaging conversation with your best friend, your horse. 

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