"The Mane Event- 2013"

First I would like to thank Dr Stephen Smith for giving us an opportunity to experience such an astonishing event. I was little aware that this event existed and I may never have if I was not part of the HEAL program. It was marvelous watching the show with my cohort with rich discussion between the shows. I am looking forward and excited to attend the 2014 Mane Event. 

The trainer’s challenge was an opportunity to see the distinct skills, abilities and methods of training an unbroken horse of the 3 trainers. The event was not only entertaining but was enriching and led to my personal growth and development as well. The experience I had watching the relationship between the trainers and their horse, their verbal and non-verbal communication and their understanding of each other that created a meaningful, trustful relationship was amazing. It kept me relating back to my relationship with my students, a meaningful trustful relationship that is important for their learning and development.  The techniques and approaches trainers used to train a naive horse are so related to the techniques that I use in my teaching as well. Although the goal of all three trainers were the same, each trainer took a different approach and techniques to train his horse. Consistency, flexibility of plans, equality of power balance, and maintaining a trustful relationship at the end of the session were some of the key factors the trainers kept in mind throughout their training session. 

Reflection of the event

We are constantly sending, receiving, and reacting to non-verbal messages. Horses like people are good at reading, interpreting and responding to non-verbal messages. All trainers used and depended on non-verbal communication such as patting, touching, various sounds and signals to communicate with their horse. The horses could interpret the meaning of these non-verbal signals and responded accordingly. For example they could interpret their trainers pat as a reward, comfort and trust. A little push from their trainers meant they were to move. Consequently, the trainers knew when their horses were uncomfortable following their directions and changed their techniques to make and maintain their trust with their horses. With common understanding, the trainers and their horses were able to communicate with each other and function effectively. Consciously  and unconsciously the application of nonverbal communication goes on in our everyday life with people around us. 
The Trainers show rejuvenated my belief that a healthy environment is one that is of trust, cooperation and collobration and not one with stress, fear and control. In order to create a meaningful relationship with our students, collegues and people around us we first need to develop a trustful and sense of belonging relationship with them. This was evident from the trainers show where all trainers tried to build a meaningful, trust relationship with their horses first. They knew that if their horses were able to trust them, then only would they follow their trainers directions without any fear. One of the approaches that I found fascinating was " if you push too hard you create resistance, if you don't you create curiosity and exploration". The trainers did not force their horse to follow their directions or imposed materials on them that they were little aware of.  They first gave them opportunities to feel, touch and explore things they would be exposed to later and understand that it was not dangerous. The horses first felt the rope, the saddle etc before it was actually used on them. It was neat to see that the horses(session two and three) after exploring, (through repeated touch and feel)  managed to overcome their fear and went over thelog.  

I believe classroom is a similar environment where students would learn better through curiosity and exploration rather than force and fear. 

Postures, gestures, and expression conveying particular meaning

Forward ear position.
Alertness  

                               

One ear forward one ear backward
Divided attention