Energy in Practice: A Short Preparation Before Every Session

The theory of energy only makes sense when it becomes a routine. This is the preparation I use before every session with a horse, whether on the ground or under saddle.

The first step is clear intention. Before you enter, know exactly what you want to achieve in that session. If it's not clear to you, the horse perceives it as uncertainty.

The second step is breathing. A few deep and slow cycles lower your heart rate and send a signal to the horse that everything is okay.

The third step is presence in the body. Feel your feet on the ground, relax your shoulders, lower your gaze from a level of tension. A soft yet stable posture is read by the horse as leadership.

The fourth step is removing emotional noise. Frustration from work, haste, or anger enter the arena with you. If you can't leave them outside, do something calmer that day.

The fifth step is consistency. The same signal always means the same thing. The horse doesn't need a perfect human; it needs a predictable partner.

Meditation, conscious breathing, and slowing down the heart rate are not just embellishments to horsemanship. For the horse, they mean faster relaxation, easier learning, less reactivity, and greater trust. For the human, they mean clearer decisions and stability, which is the foundation of any good communication with a horse.