Page 36 • NOVEMBER 2011 • HORSEMAN’S
NEWS.com
Life Lessons learned from Horses!
By CelieWeston “The grass is always greener on
the other side…” Or is it? “If only I had:…-Then I
could be happy” - But is this true? It seems like we’re always focusing on the obstacles instead of the goal. A dear friend of mine who is an
internationally recognized and well established business coach, once, in a meeting with me, held up a ball point pen in his hand and placed it in front of his index finger on the other hand. Then he said: “Celie, my index finger represents your goal…the pen repre- sents the obstacles on your path and in your mind. Which one are you focus- ing on?” No surprise, I was focusing on
the pen. This was not due to the logistical
fact of the pen being located in front of his index finger. It was because the pen was an easy target for my reactive mind. Horses have a strong reactive
mind. It’s the part of the brain that controls survival and instinctual behavior. As a horse behaviorist, I’m always trying to teach the horse to override his flight instinct. The flight instinct is what saved his life in the past, but no longer serves him. At least not in the communication with people. His first instinct is to run away from what he perceives as danger and think about it later. But to be safe as handlers and riders, we need him to think and check in with us first, before he blindly flees the scene. Running is rarely an acceptable option, if ever. The funny thing is, that we humans do it all the time, it’s just less obvious. The reactive mind is like a fight
or flight program. It has nothing to do with your true self nor ultimate reali-
ty. It is a false perception of danger that is based on past experiences which caused you pain. Upon experi- encing that pain, you made an uncon- scious decision/judgment.
For instance: You were hurt as a child by some-
one close to you. At the time you made the decision that you can no longer trust anyone. Unfortunately the reactive mind works in ways where the decision you made as a child will continue to haunt you in your adult life, in ways you don’t even compre- hend.
The program has an invisible
“PLAY” button that is pushed when certain triggers come together. You don’t know why you are reacting the way you are, you justARE… When the program has played to
the end, you are often left with a feel- ing of hopelessness, guilt or remorse. Whether you’re willing to admit it or not, pain is the result. The way to change it is by
becoming aware of your program.You can stop it dead in it’s path if you pay attention to how it looks and sounds. Realizing that whatever obstacles you come up against you can change at any point.You are the cause of every- thing that crosses your path. If you ever doubt that, it is because your sense of responsibility, for that specif- ic area in your life has been dimin- ished. Take it back!…Be your own boss,
not a victim to anybody or anything. By the way…No one can ever really make you do anything you don’t want to do.
Unless, you let them. Celie Weston is an interna-
tionally certified Life Coach and Horse Trainer. Originally from Denmark, Celie has lived all over the world from Europe to Australia, the Middle East and now the US. Celie has been featured in
Danish media for newspaper, magazine articles, radio broad- casts and TV documen- taries/shows. As a columnist,
Celie has been published in both Danish and American newspapers and equestrian magazines. Celie’s main passion is the
Art of Classical Dressage and Natural Horsemanship. Her life’s purpose is to inspire change and help people gain success in all areas of life and horsemanship.
www.celieweston.com celiewest-
onhorsemanship@gmail.com (818) 862 7785
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