A story of a horse and a student, finding the way Pip’s way

Buying my beautiful six month old Pure Bred Arab foal, Comet, was a dream come true. He was probably the only foal I would have in my life and it was my chance to do everything right. I was determined to bring up a well adjusted, happy and confident horse, free of all the hang ups that conventional horsemanship can bring. Comet was a gorgeous foal, bursting with character and playfulness and mischief. I spent every spare second with him, playing with him, taking him for walks, showing him the world. Although I enjoyed my time with him, I often felt directionless. Everyone I knew that could give me advice came very much from the traditional mould, and for many reasons I was determined to steer well clear of that!

So when I read about, and later received instruction in a well known brand of Natural Horsemanship I was swept off my feet. This was everything I was looking for - a way of being with horses that allowed them to maintain their integrity, blossom as unique individuals and form astoundingly strong relationships with their owners. Well, that was the hype anyway, and I truly believed it. I threw myself into working my way up through the levels; my focus was all about learning skills, techniques, and systems. I embraced the method of teaching by (endless!) repetition. I had a lot of fun but it was not plain sailing. When things didn’t go so well there was no-one around to ask. I fell into the trap of becoming ‘task focused’, getting quite exasperated with poor Comet if I couldn’t get a task right. With this method of distance learning and emphasis on completing tasks we had some great times, but the bad times were starting to leave their mark.

It was therefore an extremely lucky day when Pip came along to fit Comet’s new saddle. When she asked me to ride Comet as part of the fitting she politely suggested that I could benefit from some lessons, to work on my position and how it was affecting the way Comet moved. I was fascinated and leapt at the offer.

With a sensitivity that I now know to be at the core of Pip’s approach to people and horses, she recognised that I wasn’t ready to let go of the natural horsemanship programme I was so deeply engrossed in. She patiently stood alongside me and didn’t demand that I abandon what I believed in. Instead she worked within the model that I had chosen but through gentle, sensible and intelligent discussion she helped me to think less rigidly about horsemanship. Before long I was starting to question how ‘natural’ this natural horsemanship programme really was. Bit by bit, Pip helped me see that although I had found new techniques, skills, programmes and goals, in the process I had managed to lose my horse.

This was my first lesson in letting go, a theme that has recurred as I have explored horsemanship with Pip as my guide. Letting go of the security of lesson booklets, progress sheets, belief systems etc gave me a freedom to really listen to Pip, who in turn helped me to listen to Comet. Finding my way back to him was a painful process, but Pip’s support was never ending while I faced some uncomfortable truths. Comet was screaming out that he was uninspired by me and my methods and the burden of being the centre of my frustration was just too much for him. He needed me to become a steady, reliable leader, free from emotional outbursts so that he could stop having to ask me ‘can I trust you to take care of me today’. But Pip also helped me see the strengths we both had, most importantly a strong relationship despite the ups and downs.

This is one of Pip’s greatest gifts – she makes it feel safe to question things you hadn’t dared question before and as a result helped me find a depth of understanding that would not have previously felt possible. As I said, the soul searching was tough, but Comet and I have never looked back. Comet has come alive again and is becoming the proud, beautiful, expressive horse that he always had the potential to be. I have always been someone that enjoys learning, but since I began working with Pip I have been so excited by just how much there is to learn. She has helped me learn form my horse, and every horse that I come into contact with. The joy of discovery is never ending! It is clear that Pip takes real pleasure from seeing her students develop, and as a result the lives of so many horses begin to change for the better. Pip’s deep and genuine commitment to the welfare of horse shines through in everything about the way that she works.

The first thing that hit me when I began working with Pip was the language she used. It was different to the language I had heard in the world of natural horsemanship before. I had become used to hearing and using expressions like ‘respect’ and ‘dominance’. Whilst these are words that do come up when talking with Pip, (issues of dominance and mutual respect are indeed very important) words like trust, leadership and understanding are much more common. I had become used to the words ‘respect issues’ being used as a cover all for any difficulties people have with horses. For example, if your horse is bargey when you try to lead it then it doesn’t respect you. Well, this is probably true, but in the lower levels of the horsemanship programme that I was studying I could only find one solution to this – to demand respect by metaphorically shouting at the horse, waving ropes and sticks with such conviction that the horse could not help but listen. But through talking with Pip, I soon saw that respect is a much more three dimensional concept than that.

The reasons why horses sometimes don’t respect us humans are complex, and unique to each horse/person relationship. In trying to unpick this Pip will study each horse and handler in order to learn what the horse is trying to teach us. Pip helps people learn why leadership is so important, but also what qualities within that leadership each individual horse requires. She helps people have the confidence to believe in their horses, so that they too can confidently believe in themselves. Pip speaks of the need to develop an inner sturdiness and knowledge that can be quietly communicated to the horse so it they can feel safe, cared for and understood. Just as we need to feel safe in order to grow and develop, so do horses. Within the kind of relationship that Pip promotes, horses can play, learn and truly give. Through Pip, I have come to feel the magic of a moment when a horse willingly, exuberantly and generously gives to us. At first these moments are rare and sometimes hard to spot, but they are the essence Pip’s way of being with horses.

Whilst Pip’s way of working focus’s sharply on the mental and emotional development of the horse she certainly does not neglect how this connects with physical development as well. As I said, my horse Comet is an Arab. When I bought him I did not know that without the correct schooling Arabs can easily develop a ‘head up and hollow backed’ way of going. Neither did I know how much my own riding style could effect my horse’s physical development. But I certainly hadn’t realised that my mental state could also have a dramatic impact.

By the time I met Pip Comet had already become ‘upside down’. He looked like he’d been carrying a ten tonne rider and his movement was so restricted he was almost going backwards!! These were some more of the painful truths that I had to face. The training methods I was using were very good for developing a horse that will stop easily, but they had hindered any fluidity through his paces, and from one exercise to another. Also, while I had been endlessly repeating a task so that I could tick it off the assessment sheet, poor Comet had survived the boredom by switching off. He was slightly more alive when I played with him at liberty, but he was a fantastic, young horse – he should have been full of exuberance. By the time he hit his adolescence the only outlet he had for his exuberance was through testing our relationship when we rode out. I was not providing him with a productive way of expressing himself so he put his energy into spooking and napping, which I have to say he did with exceptional style!

However, the more subtle reason for Comet’s poor movement was my own fear. Comet was the first horse I had backed and I was determined not to turn him into a horse that bolted. The power of my emotional attitude was such that even though I always rode Comet with a lose rein, he could not freely move forward. My fear of developing an out of control, bolting horse stood like a brick wall in front of him.

Finally I had to relearn to ride! Pip pays enormous attention to the effect of the rider’s body on the horse. So here we are again – another lesson in letting go! This time it was physical tension. Pip teaches riders to let go of their fears, put trust in the horse and let the body mould to the horse, moving with its every move. This is a life long learning curve – there’s always another muscle to relax, examine and use, another joint to unlock, better balance to achieve. Even though I have a long way to go, the changes I have made to my riding feel fantastic – my enjoyment of riding has reached a new pitch.

But the real changes to the way Comet moved took place through ground work. Pip’s knowledge of the horse’s locomotion is astounding, as is her knowledge of how to encourage horses to use each part of their body correctly, with flair and enthusiasm. Whilst Pip’s method of loose schooling is an amazing way of developing the horse/rider relationship, it also helps the horse develop balance and lightness of movement through play. In Pip’s way of working, lunging is an extension of this and is a truly meaningful activity to engage in. Pip really does transform lunging into an art form. Through work on the lunge, Comet has rediscovered the joy of moving, which has had a dramatic effect on his ridden work. Pip has taught me so much about how to help the horse develop natural self carriage, to use its muscles correctly and become supple, light and free moving. Through this work, which I will continue to develop, Comet is a different horse to ride. He delights in his new strength and the freedom of movement that he has developed. He remains a little spooky (due to blips in my leadership skills!!), but his energy now goes into his work; and Comet has started to become passionate about his work. I never thought I’d see the day!

My work with Pip has helped me to believe in myself, so much so that I have bought myself a beautiful little 2 year old mare called Cuba. Cuba came to live on the farm that I kept Comet on, with her mother and brother. All had been taken under Pip’s wing as they were in need of a permanent home. They were to stay with us until buyers were found. I soon began to feel there was something special about Cuba but I had always believed that horses as exceptional as her were bound for other people, not me. She had a spirit that inspired me, an intelligence that shone and was (and is) well built and beautiful. I knew she was a horse that could teach me so much, if I was up to the challenge. Again, Pip’s support was right there. I started to feel that I could not let this horse go – I wanted her to stay with me and Pip gave me the time and consideration to help me make my decision. I bought Cuba a year ago. Equipped with all Comet had taught me and with Pip at my side, Cuba is growing into a willing and generous partner. Her mental and emotional needs are so different to Comet’s so there is much new territory that I look forward to exploring.

With growing belief in my knowledge and a strong conviction in the way that I wanted my horses to live, a new dream developed for me. The limitations of livery yards and the pressures that they put on my horses made me long to have my own land. Pip has encouraged me to have faith in my own instincts, and my instincts have long told me that my horses should live as naturally as possible, in a herd that remains as stable as possible so that their relationships with each other can strengthen and the hierarchy does not get interfered with by constant change. So I really do feel lucky that I have finally managed to fulfil this dream. Earlier this year Mark and I made a shared purchase with another of Pip’s students, Velia and together we have an extremely happy herd of four horses living naturally on ten acres of pasture. I had also learnt so much from Pip about the environment horses need, so I was really able to look at land from a horse’s point of view when we were looking for a plot to buy. Luckily Velia bought Cuba’s mother, another exceptional horse called Dinage and it is a pleasure to see her and Cuba together. Dinage is an incredible natural leader and brings security to the herd, but also teaches us plenty about the qualities of true leadership. The field has become a place for me to watch and learn and brings endless pleasure. My work with Pip helped give me the courage to go for it!

Working and playing with horses will always have its ups and downs. Once you become a student of Pip’s she will be there with you to celebrate the ups, but also to support you during the downs. In fact Pip sees the tough times as an opportunity to learn and has given her time generously to help me understand and learn from the rough spots. Comet’s complexity is a wonderful thing, but at times I have been daunted by it. In one lesson I asked Pip ‘why didn’t I buy myself a nice easy horse?’ Pip replied ‘well just think of what you wouldn’t have learnt if you had!’ Of course she is right, and so all that remains to be said at the end of this story is…

Thank-you Pip
And
Thank-you Comet!!