Most people think of a feel as when you touch something or someone and what it feels like to your fingers but, a feel can have a thousand different definitions. Sometimes feel is a mental thing. Sometimes feel can happen clear โcross the arena. Sort of an invitation from the horse to come to you.
Buck BrannamanTheoretically the human is supposed to be the smart one so as you get acquainted with the horse, you explore what it's going to take for him to understand what you would like him do, with as little trouble as possible. You're trying to avoid conflict, not trying to create it.
Buck BrannamanLike Tom Dorrance said, โIt boiled down to one thing: observe, remember, and compare.โ Do something, observe what you did, remember what you did, compare it to what you were doing before, and adjust.
Buck BrannamanThere's a difference between mastering something physical and working with an animal. There's a spiritual component to working with a horse. You're dealing with the spirit of a live animal that thinks and makes decisions.
Buck BrannamanYou can't think of everything in life your horse might encounter that might make him afraid so you'd better prepare em for it in other ways.
Buck BrannamanOn a horse there is a perfect position of balance where he doesn't feel like he's pushing you along with him or dragging you along with him. It's like two converging currents in a river, where those currents converge, there is a point where there is no movement, no energy; and that's what you're thinking when you're on the back of a horse.
Buck Brannaman