Horse Whispering

Warrior Stance

by Deb Kitchenmaster

In working with horses, there are times when taking a horse stance or a warrior stance is required. Let me explain. Let’s say the horse is not used to yielding to pressure in the poll area, the place behind the horse’s ears where the top of the halter or bridle rests. The horse’s head goes up, nose in the air to pull away or resist. Now you are dealing with horse power, strength of the horse. In order to stay connected with the horse, to train to give in to pressure rather than react to pressure, a warrior stance can help you accomplish effective communication between the two of you. When you position your legs further out than the walking position stance, you are spreading your weight out evenly over both legs. You are bringing stability to your spine, core, hips, and shoulders. When a horse is unconscious of jerking your arm out of its shoulder socket, this warrior stance becomes an anchor in the storm. When your feet have less movement in this moment than the horse, the horse is signaled to calm, slow down, or even stop. Now whether or not the horse adheres to the signal is determined in that moment. It’s important to move through stances, not to stances. This is the ‘PERFECT’ classroom of being in the moment, and is one of the many gifts or graces with which horses bless us! When I went through my training as an Animal B.E.S.T. (Bio Energetic Synchronization Technique) practitioner, I was taught another form of warrior stance that I do before showing up for a scheduled appointment. This stance has to do with positioning my arms, legs, stretch, and breath. This is what is referred to as ‘clearing.’ I am clearing expectations, agendas, and intentions that I might have so I can simply be ‘present’ with the animal, connect, and move through blockages. When health is being challenged (structural, cellular, synchronization of bodily systems) there is a blockage of days conflicting voices are

your soul? WARRIOR STANCE! What if your church leader (pastor) is more about being ‘right’ rather than being ‘righteous’ and you feel sad, heavy, weepy inside? After all, being right is about me, myself and I; being righteous is about Jesus! His obedience, His sacrifice, He becoming my sin on the cross that I might become His righteousness (right STANDING with God) on this earth for such a time as this. Jeremiah 3:15 says, “Then I will give you shepherds after energy flow. my own heart, who will Early one morning (within and understanding.” Your the past 3 weeks), I woke warrior stance can shield up to the word STAND. An you from being jerked acronym came to my inside around by leaders who are TV screen -- Stay Together more parasitical (being And NO Doubting. The fol- right and bent to performlowing morning, I woke to ing rather than enjoying the same word STAND but a relationship with God) the acronym had changed and connect you with to Stay Together And No- shepherds after God’s own tice Deliverer. Honestly, heart (being righteous… this is the basis of Janu- right standing with God), ary’s article. where you will experience Therefore, put on the com- less lack, less fear, and less plete armor of God, so that instability. you will be able to [suc- I want to thank Mo cessfully] resist and stand Brooks and Tommy Tuyour ground in the evil day berville for their WAR[of danger], and having RIOR STANCE repdone everything [that the resenting “MY” voice. crisis demands], stand firm THANK YOU. THANK [in your place, fully pre- YOU. THANK YOU. I am pared, immovable, victori- grateful for you and your ous]. Ephesians 6:13 stance for TRUTH, RIGHWhat if in your ordinary TEOUSNESS, and LIFE. lead you with knowledge bringing mental and emo- Your NEIGHbor, tional instability -- war- Deb Kitchenmaster rior stance. What if the Corral Connections media continues to hurl 256-426-7947 double standards through the microphone that brings Animal B.E.S.T. practitioner conflicting confusion to horsinaround188@gmail.com