Awareness

When we have a tangible connection to the horse—reins, lead or a rope—we can allow his attention to drift and still get him back anytime. After all, we have the rope; he can’t leave us.

Not so when working the horse with no physical connection. We have to keep him with us mentally. That means being keenly aware of when we’re going to lose him.  Be aware when you’re losing the horse’s attention, and do something, before you lose him.

The greater our awareness, the more this understanding will come from within. 

But at first, physical indicators will be key.

The horse’s inside ear is tipped in our direction, his body’s arc follows the shape of the circle he’s traveling, his strides are fluid and relaxed, his one eye is looking in our direction, he is stretching through his top line, he disengages the hindquarters by stepping through and in front with the inside hind… these are all good signs that he is with us mentally.