AnimalTalk: I Want To Buy A Horse!
Animals live long lives, and most folks intend to give them a forever home. After all, our animal companions are often a large part of our lives and we spend a great deal of time, energy, money and effort on their behalf! But the fact is that millions of animals are purchased or trade hands every year, and more than 40% of these amazing beings wind up moving on from one owner to the next, until they are at the end of their lives which often comes a lot sooner than expected. Through no fault of their own, they either weren't the right animal for the job, they were outgrown, abused, or injured, or were simply misunderstood and mishandled so they became sad or frightening animal nightmares! People don't mean for things to go wrong with their animal, but they do, all the time.
Dear Val,
I want to buy a horse. Not just any horse, of course! I want to learn how to compete in show jumping and since I'm just a novice beginner, I need a hunter jumper that will take care of me, teach me how, and then go on to compete with. My trainer has sent me to look at a lot of horses now but none of them seem right and they're all very expensive. I'm getting discouraged. How can I know which if any of these horses is the right one?
Thanks, Linda
Hi Linda! You are right to worry! You wouldn't get married without knowing someone pretty well, and you wouldn't take a job without interviewing, right? Getting the wrong horse - or any animal - can be a frustrating, expensive or even dangerous situation. Before purchasing (or leasing) any horse, be sure and have your veterinarian do a complete workup on them. This will hopefully reveal many potential current health problems that you need to know about before signing that check.
You also need to ride them not just once, but several times. Handle them yourself. Check their manners. Be sure you are communicating well with each other. See them at different times of the day and go visit at least once with no advance warning.
However, that's only the beginning. One of the most important consultations I do with my clients is the pre-purchase evaluation. We need to interview each of the potential candidates (through animal communication) which will let us know things like:
Do they have any real interest in teaching you about jumping? Many horses don't enjoy their jobs, and when it comes to jumping, this can be especially dangerous (remember Christopher Reeves). In my opinion, few horses truly enjoy jumping or are considered natural jumpers. If they don't love the sport, then they won't last in it and eventually, someone will get hurt.
Have they had injuries or other body problems that we need to know about?
Not all vet records disclose these things, and often the current owner doesn't know their full history. Only the animal really knows how they feel, if they're in pain, feel sick, or have other types of problems, chronic, traumatic or acute.
Communicating with them first invites them to tell us who they are, and also shows them that we are interested in listening to them. This goes a long way toward building a great partnership with a horse! And by the way, if they take a dislike to you there isn't much point in continuing. Some beings are just oil and water - they don't mix well without a lot of shaking.
I would also want to know if they will negotiate an agreement with you to do their best, and to keep you safe as you learn. And what kind of training or handling do they prefer; how do they learn most easily; how much training have they actually had; and, are they physically/mentally/emotionally capable of doing what you want them to do?
If their answers are all good, then by all means, invite them into your life. I often hear from clients who have gone through this process and they give me glowing reports of great relationships with treasured animal companions.
Performing or competing with your equine partner should be a joy for both of you, human and animal. Easy and effortless, dancing together through a heartmind link. We always need to listen to our partners when they are trying to tell us something isn't working for them.
I specialize in assisting performance athletes achieve their personal best (humans, horses and dogs). Animal communication in combination with various healing therapies for both humans and animals helps address the multiple causal factors each individual team must overcome, and also in uniting the two so they can think, move and dance as one being. We can enhance and improve performance in the show ring by addressing various issues, clarifying the rules of the game, identifying learning styles, and we can even shorten training time by identifying talents, skills, abilities and purposes.
I can often help improve competition scores by more than 20%!
Another major factor in improving performance is identifying and resolving health problems and physical discomforts or imbalances, whether it's coming from the horse (or dog) or their human. Many of our horse problems actually come from their human partner's imbalances. If you are struggling with them, you can trust that something isn't working for your animal friend either!
Our best riding instructors and coaches are right there beneath our saddle!
Why wouldn't we ask them for help or feedback when we are trying to work through a difficulty? They know intimately better than anyone observing from the outside what we are doing wrong, if our signals or cues are being misinterpreted or applied in a confusing manner, or if we're doing something that's interfering with their ability to perform easily.
Once we know what's wrong, we can work towards correcting the problems through appropriate care-taking, making the needed changes and general rebalancing. I can help you and your horse heal from trauma, such as from injury, illness, death or grief.
I talk a lot more about this and many other serious problems in my forthcoming book: The 12 Most Common Mistakes People Make With Their Horses: Why you have an unhappy horse and what you can do about it. I also have a Mistakes with Dogs book in the works, so stay tuned!
If you are ready for personal coaching and to experience the difference animal communication can make with your animal friends, and to get the help you need to work through training and behavior problems, performance issues, and even health challenges, then schedule a private session so we can resolve the problems now. It doesn't help you or your animal to keep putting up with problems because neither of you are happy and are just causing yourselves more stress. I work with animals but I help you regain your sanity, balance and well-being!
Do you have a question or need help with your animal friends? Call me or just CLICK HERE to submit a question. Did you know I offer a Free eNewsletter and Free Happy Pet Tips? Subscribe Today for animal information, more articles, tips on animal communication, news and much more! Just go to my website's Welcome page and sign up now.
While you're there, be sure and get my Free Report: The 10 Things You Must Know Before Hiring an Animal Communicator!
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR FREE REPORT NOW!
I hope to hear from you soon!
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Val Heart, MBA, PaCBP - Expert Animal Communicator & Master Healer for People and their Animals! Specializing in the Human Animal BodyMind Connection, I work with chronic pain, illness, trauma, resolving health, performance, training & behavior challenges for humans & animals. Speaker, Teacher, Columnist, PaRama Certified BodyTalk Practitioner, seen on TV and heard on radio. Workshops, TeleClasses, Free Happy Pet Tips, Free eNewsletter. (c) Copyright, Val Heart & Friends. All Rights Reserved.
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