The Power of Listening
In December I bought the most beautiful dressage saddle at a really great price. It fit well, and Penny and I were making great progress in our lessons. However a few weeks ago, Penny started to show stress under saddle. There was a very sudden change in her attitude where she was refusing to move forward, and overall was very antsy. At first I assumed she was having an “off day” but the next time I got on her, she immediately reared which I took as a sign that she was trying to tell me something was wrong.
After a quick look over, it was determined my saddle didn’t fit. I had failed to notice that as Penny had rounded out (big boned, not fat!), her saddle had started to cause discomfort. I had a saddle fitter come out, who shared she could adjust my saddle a little (but it may still cause pain) or I could purchase a better fitting saddle (which meant I’d be without a saddle for awhile). I made the decision to sell my beautiful saddle as a way to show Penny I was listening to her needs. I wanted to show her that when she tells me she’s uncomfortable or in pain, I will listen.
In a world that moves fast, and rewards multi-tasking, Penny showed me that we need to feel, notice and listen to what our bodies are telling us. We often push through discomfort, ignore stress and disregard the clear signs our body is giving us, which ultimately can lead to bigger problems that are harder to repair later. I could have pushed Penny, but her trust and confidence in me would have suffered. By stopping and listening to her needs, we were able to work through a small problem (before it got bigger) to support her overall well-being.
Horses remind us that listening requires presence, and forces us to check our egos at the door. Horses live fully in the present, they don’t judge but simply respond. When we tune into our own bodies, we enter that same space of awareness that helps us better navigate discomfort and pain so we can always prioritize our overall well-being.
Does anyone wanna buy a saddle? ;)
