Lessons Learned From Horses Important Throughout Our Lives

"The horse teaches us self-control, constancy, and the ability to understand what goes on in the mind and the feelings of another creature, qualities that are important throughout our lives.  Moreover, from this relationship with his horse the rider will learn that only kindness and mutual understanding will bring about achievements of highest perfection."

- Alois Podhajsky from "The Complete Training of Horse and Rider

In order to be able to train a horse successfully, the trainer should practice patience at all times.  If patience is lost, tension and stress set in causing confusion for the horse, at which point nothing is learned nor accomplished.  Only frustration on both sides leading to nowhere.  

We should also work on learning to understand what goes on the mind of the horse . . . what the horse is thinking.  Horses communicate through body language, unlike humans who use vocalization.  Therefore, we must learn what their thoughts are.  They are always communicating and it is up to us to learn their language so we can speak "horse".  

Understanding the feelings of others is extremely important.  Some humans tend to show emotions and feelings towards one another.  Horses do the same.  They can get emotional and they do show their feelings in their own way.  As an example, years ago, two of my horses were best buddies.  They were always seen together, even though there was a huge age difference.  The one spring, the older horse had to be put down.  The younger of the pair ran around all night screaming, hoping to hear from his buddy.  The next morning, he was standing in front of the barn in a daze.  Didn't even hear me coming.  He also didn't eat all day, except for a few nibbles of hay here and there.  He just stared into space.  This is just one example that horses do have feelings and do show emotions.

Training with kindness and understanding, the horse is not only willing, but also the progress will be much quicker.

The same goes for working with customers and clients.  If we use patience and learn to listen to them instead of telling them what we will do ot what is the best for them, they will begin to trust us.  Listening to them shows that we care and we are trying to understand their needs, keeping their feelings in mind.  After all, selling a home can be very emotional to some, especially those that have many memories in that home.  It is up to us to understand this.

Treating out clients with kindness will give us a much better, trusting relationship with them.  They want to be treated as individuals with individual needs.  Understanding these needs will help us in helping them.  Who knows, it may lead into more than a successful business relationship.