We blinked once again and the calendar now says August! The year seems to be passing like a horse running across the open field!
We have completed the summer sessions of the equine activities for the participants of the Boys and Girls Club. Children of all ages from Cashiers and Highlands have enjoyed spending time with the horses of Carpe Diem. They have learned how to interact with the horses safely as well as how to groom and care for them.
The “brave” participants (their choice) learn how to lunge and exercise them in the arena while others choose to watch. It’s an experience in learning how to partner with a 1,000‑pound sentient being that operates on a fear‑and‑flight mentality.
Learning the art of lunging teaches the person doing the activity how to calmly ask the horse to walk, trot, or canter in a circle. They learn to “direct” their energy by looking at the horse’s hindquarter, the lunge line in one hand and the other hand extended out, pointing at the tailhead, visualizing an imaginary line between fingertip and tail. Energetically, they “drive” the horse in a circle.
It’s a powerful learning, realizing that with focused intent and a calm demeanor, the horse will respond first by walking in a circle, and with the “push” of the lunger’s hand in the air, continuing to focus on the tailhead, the horse will increase its speed.
Once the horse has responded to their request to circle at a walk, trot, and even canter, a partnership forms. The final step: the lunger turns their energy inward by dropping the extended arm; the inside shoulder turns away from the horse, resulting in the horse turning toward them and stopping. That’s the basis of “joining up,” being one with a horse.
Lunging is one of those activities that can teach each of us a variety of skills: patience, perseverance, and partnership. Asking a 1,000‑pound‑plus flight animal to follow your lead with nothing more than you visualizing pushing their energy with an extended arm can be purely magical.
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