REGION 1
Sara MacKenzie — Region 1 Director
The Silence, by Wendell Berry
Though the air is full of singing
My head is loud
With the labor of words
Though the season is rich
With fruit, my tongue
Hungers for the sweet of speech.
Though the beech is golden
I cannot stand beside it
Mute, but must say
“It is golden,” while the leaves
Stir and fall with a sound
That is not a name.
It is in the silence
That my hope is, and my aim.
A song whose lines
I cannot make or sing
Sounds men’s silence
Like a root. Let me say
And not mourn: the world
Lives in the death of speech
And sings there. ?
Heather Higgins had the privilege of riding Nairobi, Kimberlee Barker’s recently imported 7-year-old APSL Lusitano by Rubi
While some are traveling afar to enhance their riding, we also have fabulous resources across Region 1. I recently spent time in Corvallis, Oregon, along with fellow R1 Amateur Heather Higgins at a Training Intensive with USAWE Professional Instructor and Masters rider Kimberlee Barker. While there, the word “listen” kept coming to mind – listen to the horses, mentors and friends. To listen, per Webster, is to pay attention, to hear with thoughtful attention. Perhaps, as captured in the poem, it is because when we are in silence we can contemplate and hear things more clearly.
With Arwen, my 4-year-old thoroughbred-warmblood, I wanted new skills to support her being more forward. Kimberlee observed and encouraged increasing my expectations in every interaction. We worked in hand and on the lunge line. Even though I never once got on, Kim taught me to “listen” more closely to what Ari was telling me – the leaning in of a shoulder, the swing of a hip, the flick of an ear. Ari’s language had become more subtle, but she was still challenging. As I listened more closely, we focused on emotionally disengaging, quickly correcting and moving on.
With George, my 8-year-old quarter horse-warmblood, I wanted to work on suppleness to strengthen his canter and flying changes. However, on his first trip with Arwen, he was tense and distracted by her. Again, Kim helped me listen more closely to what he was telling me. Kim has an amazing “bubble” – the space around her that the horse needs to respect. George quickly listened to her cues, which helped me raise my expectations. I practiced expanding my bubble.
The local Training Intensive allowed time for conversations. Off horses, we discussed dressage theory, working equitation challenges, and shared stories about remaining emotionally calm and truly listening (to humans and horses). I now implement Kim’s trick of saying, out loud, “that’s rude” as a non-emotional response to a misbehavior. I found this short verbal acknowledgement – I hear you; I will correct you (quick get in and get out); and I will add humor – very helpful. Taking time away from my usual routine, being open to what I needed rather than what I wanted was a gift. I plan to practice listening more intentionally moving into 2025.
Sara Mackenzie riding George while Kimberlee Barker provides aids from the ground
What experiences have helped you listen to horses (and humans) more effectively? Please share in the Region 1 Facebook page comments so we can learn from each other.