Monday, December 30, 2013

2014 - What Kind of Year do you Want?

The New Year is almost upon us -- a time for us to pause and reflect on the previous year and make plans for the coming year.  A lot of changes have happened in my life since this time last year, both in my personal and professional life.  While some events were true hardships and caused me much angst, all worked out in the end and all for the better.  The ability to deal with change and the resilience to deal with setbacks in our lives are skills that we are constantly learning and refining.  Each change, each setback, better prepares us for what is to come -- for good or for not so good.  Working with River and her health issues this year has been a shining example of that.
 
Out of this year and all that I have experienced, I am taking some lessons learned forward as my resolutions for 2014.  I posted similar words on Facebook.  By posting them, it holds me accountable to follow through on them.  This year, I will:

 - Practice more kindness toward others;
 - Listen more and talk less;
 - Work harder to attain "win-win" solutions;
 - Pay it forward every day.
 
All of these are talents of great leaders.  Let's all be leaders and make the world a kinder and more compassionate place in 2014 for each other and for our animal friends.
 
Maynette and River
 
 

Sunday, December 8, 2013

'Tis the Season - Always

This time of year is very special for so many reasons.  There is a different feel in the air -- even in Central Florida, where right now it is a balmy 80 degrees!  It is a time of preparation and a time of charity.  It is a time to take stock of the year coming to a close and starting planning for the next.  I often wish that one could bottle this feeling and sprinkle the "goodwill towards men (and animals)" throughout the year.

It takes so little to make a positive difference in another person's life -- or an animal's life -- and often it doesn't take much:  a smile, a kind word, a giving gesture. 

The best leaders are those that have the gift of empathy and of connectedness -- we want to follow them!  A personal challenge to myself is to better exercise those empathy muscles, starting now and into the coming year.  We can all make this world a much better place by treating those around us (human and animal) with dignity and respect, with kindness and compassion -- with genuine caring.

Living these traits can ripple and effect great change.  Just look at leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., or Nelson Mandela -- what enormous changes they made by embracing forgiveness, kindness, and compassion.  Maybe you are not out to change the WHOLE world, but how about working to change YOUR world for the better.

That is my resolution for the coming year.

From River and from me, all the magic and blessings of the Season and wishes for a very kind and compassionate 2014!


Thursday, November 28, 2013

Count Your Blessings -- Every Day

Thanksgiving is a time that calls us to think about all that we are thankful for in our lives.  Counting down to Thanksgiving, I have seen a number of friends posting one thing each day for which they are thankful -- which I think is a very cool thing to do.

In this hurry up kind of world we live in these days, it is easy to get caught up in the business of living, bemoan the stress and everything that is wrong in our lives and in the world and forget that we have so much to be thankful for.  Counting our blessings is a way for us to put things in perspective -- something that we need to be doing daily and not just once a year.  I am guilty of that as well and so I am taking stock of my many blessings today and, on River's behalf, listing hers as well....

River's Gratitude List:

- All the hay I can eat
- Pasture-mates that all get along together and look out for each other
- Love and attention from the humans in my life (and there are lots of them) -- including my horse-loving friends, my farrier, and my vets
- Yummy horsey snacks
- Medicines to make my hooves better and to keep me healthy
-.....and did I mention food?

Maynette's Gratitude List:

- Good health
- Family, friends, and co-workers who I care for deeply and they for me
- Pets, both large and small
- A good job which engages my mind and contributes to a larger cause
- A Free Nation to live in where I can write a blog like this and express my views

Wishing each of you a gratitude filled day, not just today, but every day.

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Learn As If You Were to Live Forever

The title of my post comes from a larger quote from Gandhi:  "Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."

So often people equate learning with a formal educational setting, but the opportunity to learn, to grasp a new concept or skill, or to become more knowledgeable on a subject is all around us every minute of every day.  We just need to be open to the experience.

I have always enjoyed learning new things.  I  love history, though I am no history major.  My favorite historical periods include  Ancient History and the Tudor Dynasty, so I started reading books on the subject and found some entertaining free podcasts online to listen to while I was driving.

After rediscovering my love of horseback riding a few years ago, I have been soaking up all things horse-related.  I have watched videos and read books.  Being at a barn with a group of horse enthusiasts, you can't help but learn new things all the time -- not to mention from your riding instructor, veterinarian, and farrier!

I also have rediscovered my love of doing arts and crafts.  I have had an opportunity to work on painting -- horses, of course -- tried some sewing (yes, that costume -- more on that in another post), played with porcelain clay to make jewelry, and have rediscovered my childhood macramé skills.  It is a wonderful opportunity to exercise the artistic side of my brain and relieve stress!

And of course, in my work, I continue to take expand my knowledge.

Learning is a holistic experience -- it develops the whole person.  It feeds your brain and it feeds your soul.  It connects you to others and to those subjects that you are passionate about.  A leader, positional or situational, is always learning and always open to learning new things in order to grow and become more effective.

What do you want to learn?  What are you passionate about?  So many wonderful opportunities to learn out there -- enjoy the process.


Sunday, November 3, 2013

Celebrating Milestones

The vet was out to see River again the other day.  River's exercise has been limited during her recovery and so she has lost muscle tone; and keeping weight on her has been a problem as we don't want to up her sugar intake.  After evaluating her trot and looking at her feet, the vet gave River and I the green light to start a concerted reconditioning process, starting with alternating 30 seconds of trotting with one minute of walking over a twenty minute period.  Over the next weeks, we will slowly increasing the length of the sessions and the trotting time.  This is another HUGE milestone in River's recovery; one I thought might not be achievable.  Of course, how River responds to the reconditioning process will be critical.  If she continues to do well,  this will break the chicken or egg cycle that I referred to in a previous post -- exercise will improve her overall physical well-being and also improve blood flow to her hooves.  I will continue to have to monitor River closely as she stands a good chance of developing laminitis again, but getting her back into fighting shape will definitely help the situation.

Later in the afternoon after the vet had left, I saddle up River and we went out in the arena. For the requisite twenty minutes, we warmed up and then did walk-trot transitions, alternating with stretches.  I was happy to be riding her for more than five minutes at a time, and she was happy too  -- as evidenced by her "relaxed" snort she gave periodically.

As River gets back into shape, I am as well.  Riding is a primary source of exercise for me, and since my riding has been limited these many months, I have lost a lot of my muscle tone and aerobic conditioning.  I just need to remember for the both of us not to overdo it!   Neither one of us are spring chickens anymore : )

A lot of my blog posts have been about patience.  The milestone that River and I are celebrating shows that patience pays off.  And all the milestones along the way -- they are meant to be celebrated!  My celebration of this milestone was actually getting to ride River for an extended length of time and River got to celebrate with some extra treats.  We all have long term goals we are working toward and we need to celebrate the smaller milestones or victories along the way to our end goal.  Think of ways that you can celebrate along the way to your goal.  Remember, enjoy the journey along the way to your destination.  Cheers!

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Nature is the Best Medicine

The hot, humid days of Florida Summer are giving way to the warm days and cool-ish evenings and mornings that I love.  As a Florida transplant, I have never been one for the heat and have always preferred Florida's Fall, Winter, and Spring Seasons.  I think River can say the same as well.

I have done some limited riding on River and continue to groom her and care for her feet.  Hoof care remains a priority as that is her Achilles' Heel (no pun intended).  Our latest challenge is a crack in her left front hoof, which the farrier has drilled out and I am regularly cleaning to ensure it does not get infected.  Once the hoof grows out enough, River will be getting shoes to provide better support for her feet.  Hopefully that will give River's feet the stability they need to allow her to get into shape and be able to exercise and get fit again.  It's a Catch-22 situation:  River can't get into shape until her hooves are sound enough, but exercise helps with the blood flow and overall health of the hoof. Given how long it takes a hoof to grow, we are several months away from shoes -- so we continue our routine of short hand walks or mounted walks and neck stretches until the hooves are more stable.  I sometimes despair that River will ever to be able to be ridden again like before; but she has continued to improve even through the setbacks -- though I still worry about her a lot.

With the cooler weather, I spent some time just walking around the barn where I board River.  There was a nice breeze, the weather was warm but not oppressive, and all you could hear were the sounds of nature -- horses contentedly chewing hay or grass, the swishing of horse tails to swat an errant fly, the neighing and nickering as the horses to each other, the call of the birds flying over head, and the gentle rustling of the leaves on the trees.  As I took in the view and the sounds, I felt a sense of calm come over me that I had not felt in a long time. What a balm to the soul!  Being out in nature is truly a healing experience.

After that walk, which included watching River contentedly eating hay with her pasture mates, I had regained perspective.  I left feeling relaxed and hopeful about my future and River's. 

So, I encourage everyone to take the time to partake of nature.  To bask in its wonders puts everything in perspective.  And if you can't get out in nature, at least look at some beautiful pictures of it.  I have included some pictures of my special time at the barn.  Enjoy!

 

Saturday, September 28, 2013

It's Better to Look Good AND Feel Good...

Remember comedian Billy Crystal's character, Fernando, who said, "It's better to look good than to feel good"?  Well, I reached the conclusion a long time ago that feeling good contributes to looking good -- I've never known a time when I felt bad that I looked good!  Though I still have a long ways to go to do everything that I should to feel good (e.g. eat more fruit, drink more water and less soda, get more sleep), thanks to having River I am much more physically active, which I believe has had a beneficial impact on my overall health.

River had a makeover this week, which makes her look "marvelous" but will also benefit her overall health -- she received a full body clip.  With the days getting shorter as we head into Fall in the northern hemisphere, the shorter light cycle triggers horses to start developing their winter coat.  For those horses who happen to be in Florida --where here in Central Florida the temperatures are still hovering during the day in the high 80's and low 90's -- that isn't ways a good thing.  And for River, who looks like a fuzzy teddy bear with her winter coat in, it can be very uncomfortable.  Combine the heavy coat with rain and sweat, makes for a lot of potential skin issues. So, River underwent a tremendous transformation yesterday, which makes her look great and also will keep her skin healthier, making for a healthier horse.

So what can you do to make you both feel better and look better?  It doesn't have to be as radical as a fully body clip to make a huge difference in your quality of life.





River - Before and After  (and the pile of hair as a result! -- Horse hair blanket anyone?)




Sunday, September 15, 2013

It Takes A Village...

The journey River and I have taken these past months with her health issues have required the efforts of many people working as team to get River on the road to recovery -- veterinarians, the farrier, the barn owner and the barn manager -- not to mention the friends and family that have supported me and River, including providing a late evening trailering of River to the vet's office.  On a small scale, it shows that it truly takes a village in any endeavor in order to reach a goal.  In our case, the goal is to keep River stable and healthy and that village is still working hard to keep her on that path.

In many ways, River's health issues have allowed the two of us  to forge a much stronger bond through spending quality time in other ways than riding -- quiet hand walking around the barn property, grooming time, and baths -- each of which take on even more special significance given what River has been through.  River's not the most demonstrative on horses, but she now comes to greet me in the pasture; whereas before, she would just acknowledge me by lifting her head up from eating. 

Additionally, I have come to know better and even more greatly admire "my village",  both the professionals that evaluate and take care of River and those friends and family who have been our moral and emotional support through journey.  For each of them, I am forever grateful.

So, as you enter a new week, think about the community making up your "village" and what a tremendous part they play in your life -- and thank them for the special part they play in your life.


 Me and My Girl, River.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

And Now for Something Completely Different

While this blog has been focused on River and how she is coaching me in my leadership and life skills, owning a horse sometimes brings some unexpected lessons beyond just those equine related.  Case in point -- have you ever made a Halloween costume?  Have you made one for a horse? And what if sewing is not one of your strong points?  Trouble -- yes?

I have made one costume for River several years ago for a Fun Show.  River was the Sphinx and I was Cleopatra.  And no, I'm not posting a picture as the costume was truly horrible.  I pretty much swore off the thought of doing it again -- until I moved to the barn I am at now.

You see, the barn I am at is very focused on Arabian Horses.  River fits in perfectly as she is part Arabian and part Quarter Horse.  And many folks who own Arabians will make (or buy) traditional Arabian Costumes, both for the horse and rider.  They are quite elaborate and elegant.  See the painting below.
 
 
So, getting into the spirit, and knowing that Halloween is rapidly approaching and my new barn does have a Halloween Costume Party, I've thrown myself in making an suitable Arabian Horse costume for River.  Now, about the sewing part...thank goodness for fabric glue and tape to supplement my rudimentary sewing skills!
 
So far, the costume for River is looking pretty good, if I do say so myself!  It has been challenging and frustrating, but a grand experiment, and is teaching me new skills and definitely moving me out of my comfort zone.
 
What does this all have to do with Leadership?  Leaders have to learn to be comfortable with moving out of their comfort zone and be open to trying and doing new things and to encourage others to do the same.  This enables growth, and without growth both at a personal and organizational level, a person or organization stagnates.  And the more you step out of your comfort zone, the easier it gets to do it.
 
So here's to learning new things and to stepping beyond what we find familiar and comfortable!  As with anything, my foray into the new and unexplored may be a failure or it may be tremendously successful.  Either way, I will have grown from it.  And if I really am successful, you may see a picture of River in all her Arabian glory in a few weeks.  : )

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Taking Baby Steps...

Today was a huge milestone for River and for me!  For the first time in about five months, I was able to actually ride River.  Admittedly, it was only for about five minutes at a very slow walk, but it was a happy, yet also scary experience for me.  You see, I was terrified that the ride would be a setback in her recovery -- even though the vet had given me clearance to do so.  We walked -- okay, she walked and I rode -- in the sand arena with nice soft footing for her feet, and then I spent hand-walking her for a few minutes after our short ride to make sure she was still comfortable.  All is good!  And now, I begin the slow and uncharted process of getting her back into shape.  I am scared, impatient, and excited -- all wrapped into one. 

River and I are taking baby steps on the road to her recovery, as we are now past the acute phase and now managing a chronic condition.  These baby steps require a lot of observation and research on my part to ensure that we don't proceed too fast and cause her condition to become acute again.  And of course, River will let me know in her own way how we should proceed. 

On this road, we are both co-leaders in the hopes for a long and full life for River and very special equine friend for me.  Love you, River!



Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Stand Up and Be Counted

A good sign on the road to recovery for River -- she was moved to another pasture as she had decided to upset the horse hierarchy in her pasture.  River was low mare on the totem pole in her pasture, waiting quietly for the other two bonded, larger mares to eat.  River largely stayed to herself as she was the "third wheel" so to speak.  When River strayed from the hierarchy, she was immediately put in her place by the other two mares.  So, I was really surprised to hear that she had decided to take charge!  River is on a grain-restricted diet due to her laminitis issues, and she was put in with those horses in particular as they wouldn't let her near their grain.  With River stepping up and taking over the top of the "feed chain", River was moved to another pasture with another set of horses. She has settled in nicely as "top horse" in the hierarchy for that pasture.

So -- River decided to assert herself.  Now, in the horse world, that means re-establishing her place in the herd, which usually means forms of physical and verbal communication  such as pinned ears, kicking, or biting --- not acceptable behavior in the human world!  The concept, however, of being assertive when necessary (not aggressive -- assertive) definitely applies in the human world, both in one's work life and personal life.  This could be as small as saying "no" to a social commitment in order to spend time with your family to standing up for a cause you passionately believe in.

The dictionary defines the term "assertive" as:  "having or showing a confident and forceful personality".  Words associated with term "assertive" include confident, assured, forthright, firm, and emphatic.

Being assertive is necessary for us to establish boundaries in our lives.  I know that there are times that I need to be more assertive as I often have trouble saying "no".  Are there areas in your life where you need to be more assertive?  Food for thought courtesy of River.

 
                                  River doesn't hesitate to tell me how she feels about a bath.


 
  

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Yesterday was another milestone in River's recovery from a bout of laminitis -- and time for another round of x-rays to look at how the bones in her two front feet are doing.  I am happy to say that her condition continues to improve, though we are still trying to pin down the underlying cause for the laminitis, as well as chart a path for her long term care to minimize future flair-ups.

[As a side note, technology is a wonderful thing in the equine veterinary field.  The vet can bring portable x-ray equipment to the barn, take an x-ray and get an x-ray image almost immediately on a laptop screen.  At the end of the process, I get a CD of images that I can take home and look at, as well as export images as photos and send them to my farrier, another critical team member in River's recovery.]

In addition to having to stand for x-rays, River was also subjected to a blood draw (for an endocrine test to see if the underlying cause of laminitis can be determined) and her annual dental work.  As always, she was quite the trooper, including standing still for a significant period (well... most of the time) for multiple x-ray images.

I peppered the vet with questions about her follow-on care (yep, I'm an engineer -- I have my list!) -- remain with a hay only diet; anti-inflammatories on a regular basis; additional hoof trimming on the front....  After the vet left, I had a chance to reflect.  River is now out of the immediate crisis phase and moving into the longer term managed-care phase.  She is comfortable on her feet, but she has a long way to go, with the possibility of having another occurrence.

The door has been slightly opened to the possibility in the near-term future (weeks) that I may actually get to ride her to do some very light exercise -- which I find exciting and scary at the same time.  Scary as I want to be careful not to exacerbate her condition.

River has come so far in these past few months -- bringing me along with her as I get a crash course on laminitis.  Her slow and steady progress will be the key to a long and comfortable life for her and a long-term equine friendship for me.  The recovery requires lots of patience on my part -- River is always patient;  she takes what comes to her with equanimity.

In practicing patience, I have developed a stronger bond with River as I now spend time with her in other ways than riding, like leisurely grooming sessions and baths.  I have to remind myself periodically, though,  that slow and steady will ultimately win this race.

And the patience I am learning through this experience is helping me in other areas of my life where previously I may have acted more quickly than I should.  Patience is certainly a virtue in all areas of our lives.  Sometimes it takes a significant event to teach that lesson.


River takes a drink after some grooming time.







Saturday, July 27, 2013

The Power of Relaxation

I have often noticed that I carry tension in my neck and shoulders.  After a very stressful day, I can actually feel that my shoulders have migrated almost up to my ears!  It seems that I walk around in a semi-permanent state of being knotted-up.  And it appears that this is also the same with our equine friends too.

River had the opportunity to be evaluated by an equine veterinarian who is also an equine chiropractor.  It was recommended that as an adjunct to her recuperative regimen that River also be evaluated by this vet as he specializes in equine sports medicine and horse performance.

After an evaluation, the vet indicated that River has some areas in her poll and jaw that needed adjustment -- areas that are often impacted by laminitis as the horse tries compensate to get away from the pain in their feet.  The vet adjusted River's problem areas and immediately River let out an long and very audible sigh of relief -- it felt so good!  Afterwards, the vet asked me to walk River around the property at her own pace for 15 minutes.  At first, River was full of energy. Ten minutes into the walk, she was almost tripping over her feet.  Endorphins released as part of the adjustment had flooded into her system and she was so relaxed she was ready to take a nap!

It got me thinking about my physical state and the constant tension I feel.  Just watching River being touched and adjusted made me relax.  And the rain gently falling on the barn roof added to the relaxing environment!  The experience watching River is making me evaluate what I can do to get to a more relaxed physical state.  Constant tension brings us out of physical and mental alignment.  It affects our health.  Being relaxed, both physically and mentally, allows us to fully engage in life and all it has to offer.  Just as being relaxed (and aligned) is helping River to recover more completely from her laminitis and become stronger as a result, so can the same concept help us to live stronger, healthier lives.

So, what can you do today to learn to relax?

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

There is only the Present

“I've had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.”    ~ Mark Twain

I woke up this morning in trepidation of another budget meeting and trying to figure out how be more creative with managing my resources. My stomach was churning and my neck was stiff just in anticipation of what was to come today and I had already scripted the outcome of the meeting and my reaction to the decisions that would be made.  I was ready for battle!  Bring it on!  And meanwhile, the rest of my body joined in on the churning and aches and pains as I started anticipating all that could happen (or had already happened in my mind).

And then I thought about River.  As a horse, River, doesn't anticipate the future -- she lives in the present.  She doesn't worry about the past -- she lives in the present.  Something that she as a horse does naturally, we struggle with on a daily basis. 

Living in the present.  How often the present speeds by us as we are anticipating the future!  The things we have missed as we are planning out what we are going to say next as someone talks or we worry about only to have whatever we were afraid of never come to pass.

My budget meeting is yet to come today, but from minute to minute today, I'm going to focus on the present.  My neck and stomach feel better already!


Saturday, July 20, 2013

We are all Teachers....

It has been a week now since River and I started our adventure at a new barn.  Everyone has been very friendly and River is doing well.  The farrier visited this week to trim River's hooves to the vet's specifications and, in 30 days, we will do another x-ray to see how River's coffin bone rotation looks -- I am hopeful for her continued improvement.

River is a very laid-back horse and while not openly demonstrative most of the time, she does love attention.  Waiting for the farrier to arrive, I had River out and was spending some quality time grooming her.  The barn was hosting horsemanship camp and there were a lot of young girls and boys in attendance.  Many stopped to ask questions about River and if they could pet her.  A few wanted to groom her, so I gave them some brushes and guidance on what to do.  The children really enjoyed interacting with her, and River enjoyed all the attention! 

A few children stayed to watch the farrier work on River's feet.  One asked a very good question about why we take care of horse's hooves since horses in the wild don't get hoof care.  Very insightful question from a young, inquiring mind!  The farrier graciously explained to her why.  And of course, I was peppering the farrier with lots of questions as well.  My farrier is a natural teacher and, like my vet, I always learn something new from him.

All of this caused me to think about the fact that while we may not be teachers by profession, we are all teachers.  We each have knowledge to impart or an example to give.   I taught the children a few things about horse grooming.  My farrier taught that one child and also me new things about horses.  Each of us also teach by how we interact with others.   By being friendly, open, and respectful with the children, I hopefully provided a good example of how to treat others.

Something to keep in mind as we go through our day.  How can we be good teachers in our daily lives?

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes...

"If there is no struggle, there is no progress." ~ Frederick Douglass

River watches Titan play ball.


That quote, as well as a bunch of others on the subject of change, have been truly applicable to my life.  Change occurs every day, but  large-scale changes have been the focus of the last few weeks -- ones that truly caused me to struggle emotionally.

Yesterday, River was moved to a new barn.  With her chronic hoof health issues, it was time to move her to a barn that could provide more focused attention on River to facilitate her recovery.  I am extremely attached to the horses and people at the barn I have been at these past four years, and the decision was very difficult to make.  That barn will always be a part of my life and so will the people.  I will still see them, but not as often.  That is the downside.  The upside is that I will meet new people and make new friends, and River will recuperate and interact with a new set of equine friends as well.  It is a new adventure for the both of us.

So, moving today was sadness at moving and excitement and nervousness about going into a new situation. It almost felt like being the new student at a new school in the middle of the school year! 

We arrived at the new barn after a short but uneventful trailer ride.  River immediately acquainted herself with the grass, while I set about unloading the rest of River's "stuff".  Everyone was extremely friendly and helpful.  River got to meet  the barn's resident dog, Titan, who wanted her to play ball with him. While she is well acquainted with dogs, she wasn't quite sure what this playing ball thing was all about!  River then settled in to a temporary stall where she happily munched hay and watched all the new goings on. 

As an amazing coincidence, I met a friend and former co-worker who I hadn't seen in at least a decade!  Her daughter was taking lessons there and we had a chance to reconnect and I'll be able to see her regularly at the barn.

Later in the day, as I checked in on River, she had her head over door to the stall and was watching Titan play ball.  I could see the wheels turning in her head.  She might master this game yet!

So, River and I are starting a new routine where new people, new horses, and new experiences await us.

Change is an integral part of life.  Learning to embrace change and the opportunities it brings, as opposed to fighting the inevitable opens us up to so many amazing opportunities.  How can you better embrace change in your life?

Thursday, July 4, 2013

The Three P's

So, River, my Equine Coach, has been convalescing these past several weeks, recovering from a bout of laminitis.  Laminitis can be extremely serious.  Laminitis and Colic -- which River doesn't have -- are responsible for one-third of all horse deaths.  Understandably, I have been very vigilant and concerned.  So yesterday was a big day for River -- it had been several weeks and the vet was going to take x-rays to see if the rotation in her coffin bone in her two front legs had changed.  If the angle had gotten higher, then we had a bigger problem.  Needless to say, I was very nervous about a dire prognosis.

When I arrived at the barn, River was happily eating hay in her stall.  My vet came and set up the portable x-ray equipment.  Very cool stuff -- essentially a large portable camera connected to a processor and a laptop.  The x-ray takes digital images which the vet can look at right on the PC screen and evaluate.

The vet did a physical assessment of River and was pleased with what he saw.  The hooves looked good. Next the x-rays.  River was, as always, very agreeable -- stepping on the plates and standing still for a series of four images on each leg.  A group of fellow barn buddies were there and we all gathered around the laptop to see the images.  GOOD NEWS!  The rotation on the bone on one leg had decreased and the bone on the other leg was stable.  The vet had a huge grin and I was getting happily teary.

Next the vet had River trot -- she looked comfortable and happy.  My girl looked like her old self! That is not to say she is fully there yet.  A few more weeks of recuperation and weaning off the anti-inflammatories.  Also some special hoof trimming and a recheck in 30 days.  No riding yet.  And a condition that we will have to watch closely the rest of her life.

So, even in her convalescence, River has still been coaching.  She has shown me the power of patience,  presence, and perseverance.  Wishing all of you the gift and power of the three P's!

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Grace Under Pressure

As I mentioned in the last post, River, my Equine Coach and 1000 pound baby-girl, has been having some health issues -- specifically laminitis.  Laminitis is a serious hoof condition and if not treated can have huge consequences.  As a result, I have been monitoring River's condition very closely as I follow the vet's orders; however,  I noticed this week that she was walking very stiffly and ended up taking her in a trailer to the vet. 

On the chance that her laminitis was actually getting worse, we soaked River's two front feet in an ice bath.  Now, an ice bath is uncomfortable for me to even THINK about much less do it for my own feet;  imagine trying to coax a 1000 pound horse to put her two front feet into a large bucket of ice water!  Amazingly enough, River, with some gentle prodding, put both hooves in the bucket and stood there for the requisite soaking time, a vision of patience and stoicism.  She actually started looking sleepy during her "pedicure"! 

Later in the afternoon, we put River in the trailer and started out on the hour's drive to the vet hospital.  River was good as gold through the whole experience.  Once we got to the vet, the vet looked her over closely and let her do some grazing.  The news was good.  Her laminitis was actually improving!  As the vet went to make notes and give me some additional medicines, I followed him over to his vehicle -- River made to follow, then placidly decided that she enjoyed the grass and watching the cars go by on the street nearby, as well as checking out the vet's other horses.  With the good news and some additional medication, River was back on the trailer.  As she got off the trailer after arriving home, she made a quick beeline for her stall, where she happily started noshing on some hay that was waiting for her.

So, needless to say, I was relieved; though I know her recuperation is going to take a while and her long-term prognosis is still to be determined.  What struck me throughout the whole day was the grace she showed while in pain and under stress.

In our high stress world, it is so easy to succumb to the pressures around us and not act with "grace".  River was a living example of how to act with grace under pressure.

Get well, my girl.  You are truly an inspiration to me -- in good times and in bad.



Saturday, June 8, 2013

Pain and Patience

River, my Equine Coach, has been dealing with a hurt foot these past two weeks.  After rest and visits from the farrier, the veterinarian came to visit.  Being that River can't speak in human terms, there was a deductive process that the vet used to isolate the location of the problem.  River, due to the way she is built,  has some imperfect conformation, which she has been able to compensate for all her life.  Her new horse shoes may have changed the way she compensates and she has become sore.  So, off come the shoes, and she is now recuperating with anti-inflammatories and rest, as well as some compound to apply to her feet to make her the bottom of her hooves stronger.

Watching River as she was given shots for nerve blocks to isolate the cause of her pain, I was impressed with how stoically she withstood the shots injected into her foot area and how patiently she stood during the x-rays.   She was a model of perfect behavior, whether an equine or human patient!

In our lives, we often have to deal with pain -- whether it be physical or emotional -- sometimes as minor as just not wanting to do something because we find it unpleasant.  Strength to do what is necessarily in the face of pain takes courage.  And sometimes pain can last longer than we would like.  To cultivate patience in the face of pain or adversity takes strength and courage.  As this is all part of the human (and equine) condition, my wish for all is the strength of courage and patience through pain and adversity.  And of course, a speedy recovery for my beloved Equine Coach.  Love you, River!

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Space and Time

When I last wrote, I spoke of a new horse at the Barn.  His name is Ray-Ray.  Ray-Ray and River have been getting along well.  They have stalls next to each other and River is smitten with the new "boy" in town.  Today, Ray-Ray and River were introduced into the same pasture (under close human supervision).  River coyly walked up next to Ray-Ray and started to eat grass.  Ray-Ray kept watching her with a close eye and proceeded to keep his distance.  River would advance and Ray-Ray would retreat.  This dynamic kept going, though River never pushed it.  Now I should mention that Ray-Ray towers over River -- Ray-Ray being part Warm Blood and part Thoroughbred;  River is barely above pony-size.  Finally, the two horses did touch noses and sniff each other.  Ray-Ray then went back to keeping his distance.  It was a successful first meeting.  No fussing or fighting.  No hard feelings.

In the human realm, this reminds me of the idea of personal space and getting to know a person on their terms, not ours.  In our face-paced world of deadlines and speed-dating, the idea of taking the time to get to know a person sometimes is forgotten.  River and Ray-Ray are a reminder to me to respect one other and our personal space and to take the time to know each other.

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Welcoming Curiosity

A new horse came to our barn this week and I had the opportunity to be there as he was unloaded from the trailer and acquainted with his new home.  It is always fascinating to see the reactions of all the horses when presented with a new member of the barn equine family.  Every horse was watching this new horse -- all of them standing at attention with ears forward, sniffing the air, and calling out to the new horse.  Many of the horses were moving around try to get a better view of the new addition -- which wasn't hard to do as he is a big horse!  All the horses were openly curious and welcoming. There were no preconceived notions, just excitement and a willingness to meet this new horse.  (Of course, how the new horse would fit in the horse hierarchy when introduced into a pasture would be a whole separate blog entry!)

This got me to thinking about how curious we as humans when we are dealing with people,  especially when we are dealing with people we think we already know.  Are we eager and curious?  We often come into a situation with preconceived notations, which tend to dampen our curiosity.  I had the opportunity to work with an excellent Executive Coach (shout out to you, David Brown!)  and one thing he always told me especially when dealing with difficult situations with people was to be curious.  And he was so right!  Curiosity leaves us open to making remarkable discoveries and resolving conflicts.  By stepping away from our preconceived notions about a situation, being curious allows us move beyond obstacles.  It is a critical tool for a Leader.  So, my goal today is to be more like those horses meeting the new herd addition -- open and curious.  What about you?

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Servant Leadership

Due to a crazy work and home schedule, I haven't been able to ride River over the past week or so, but I am looking forward to spending time with her over this Memorial Day Weekend.  In addition to riding, I have a list of "must do" chores to support River, including cleaning River's grooming equipment, cleaning River's tack,  and airing out and putting away her horse blankets (the hot season has begun in Florida -- don't need them now!).  This is in addition to the regular horse chores.  It takes a lot to maintain a horse -- including a lot of physical work.  Sometimes I feel like a servant -- the work can be un-ending, but to ensure a healthy and happy horse my work is definitely worth its weight in gold.

Such it is with Servant Leadership.  A leader needs to genuinely care about their employees and their welfare.  This requires a lot of work to ensure that the physical, material, and emotional needs of employees are met so that they can excel in their careers.  The fruits of a Servant Leader's labors are bountiful, including:   rich relationships which energize the Leader and the Employee alike; and engagement and willingness to go the extra mile by the Employee because their Leader genuinely cares about them and their success.  So, how you can you apply the principles of Servant Leadership in your life?

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Don't Shoot the Messenger...

The barn where I board my horse is a very family-oriented atmosphere and people develop close friendships.  Sometimes though, those friendships can become strained and it boils down to communication.  As humans, we tend to shy away from confrontation and unpleasantness.  When it comes to having to relay something to someone that is uncomfortable, people may sometimes try to buffer that "bad news" by telling un-truths or partial truths.  It can be viewed as being kind in the immediate situation, but can often backfire when data later comes to light.  So, we need to learn to constructively and compassionately be truthful in situations.  It benefits the giver and the receiver in the long run.

Look at a horse.  A horse is always truthful (sometimes painfully so!).  If River is unhappy, she will swish her tail or put her ears back.  With a horse, you always know where you stand.  So, how can you become a better communicator when things are tough?  How can you remain compassionate and constructive when bearing uncomfortable or difficult information?  Conversely, as a receiver of this information, how can you accept the data and allow the giver the space to be truthful?  All easy in theory, but very hard in practice.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Walk In My (Horse) Shoes

So, River, my "Equine Coach" has been having some hoof issues -- getting dry and cracked -- and no amount of hoof treatment was going totally fix the problem.  A horse's hooves are made of the same material that our nails are, so it's kind of like dealing with dry, cracked nails and cuticles, but on a much larger scale!  When the vet came out to do the Spring vaccinations last week, I asked him how to handle the hoof problem.  He recommended putting horse shoes on her two front feet to help with the cracking problem, to give them extra support and strength.  River, for as long as I have known her, has gone barefoot,   So, when the farrier came out this week to do the regular foot trimming (every 6 weeks -- their hooves grow out like our nails and without regular trimming it can give them severe problems), he evaluated her feet and River now has new shoes on her front feet.  While she seems to be used to them now, River was walking funny after she got her shoes. 

Makes me think of the saying, "To know a person is to walk a mile in their shoes."  Everyone brings a unique perspective based upon their life experiences -- and often we can't understand a person's perspective until we understand some about what factors shaped their views.  Have you often had a person grumble at you and you wondered what you did to deserve the response, but later find out that it had nothing to do with you at all?  The person had a bad day or was dealing with a hard personal situation?  We tend to internalize responses to us as relating to us, but often times it has nothing to do with us at all.  River's new shoes are a reminder to me to try to look at situations from the other person's perspective, to at least walk a few steps, if not a mile, in their shoes.

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Mom the Leader

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mom's, whether a Mother or one who has been a Mother-like figure to someone!  Our Mom's are the first to teach us leadership skills.  My Mom was a woman ahead of her time -- a college graduate and career woman in the 1950's, she instilled in her daughters a sense of independence and confidence that has carried us through the good times and not-so-good times throughout our lives.  She knew her daughters could do anything they put their mind to! My Mom is in her 80's now and still very independent.  I love you, Mom!

I have also been blessed by other wonderful women who have been like second Mom's to me and guided me.  I salute them today as well.

In the equine world, the true herd leader is the matriarch of the herd -- a wise, older mare, who ensures the herd has access to adequate food and water.  Who has been a matriarchal leader who has positively impacted your life?

Thursday, May 9, 2013

It Won't Hurt a Bit....

The vet came to our barn today to give the horses their Spring shots and to do some other assorted check-ups of leg boo-boos and other minor items.  I had the opportunity to help out with all twelve horses, including River, and watch the vet at work.  It is always interesting observing each horse and their reaction to the vet, and it is always a fantastic learning experience with our vet as he graciously shares his expertise.  I always leave the barn feeling so much smarter about my horse and about horse health after spending time with our vet!

Watching the vet is watching leadership in action.  He is able to read each horse and change his style of engaging with each horse based upon the horse's reactions and needs.  He is able to observe a myriad of details about a horse's physical condition based upon "book knowledge"  as well as "experiential knowledge" and develop a recommended course of action.  In the midst of all this, he appears to do it effortlessly, maintaining and aura of confidence and composure.

Just as with horses, leadership in the human arena involves adjusting leadership styles based upon each person's reactions and needs, and evaluating personnel and situations based upon a combination of formal and experiential knowledge.  The leaders that most resonate with us are those that appear to do this effortlessly and through their confidence and composure make us want to follow them.  

So, who has exemplified leadership for you today?

Monday, May 6, 2013

The Fine Art of Listening

River and I had a great lesson yesterday.  The weather has been so unusually rainy for Spring in Florida (we're talking tropical storm-type rain), that we hadn't had a chance to do any riding for a week, but yesterday was a beautiful cool, sunny day.  We both enjoyed the chance to be out and about. 

Now, to continue with my story, I need to give you a little terminology lesson.  The horse has a piece of equipment called a bridle that is fitted on the head that is used to guide the horse.  The bridle consists of a headpiece, bit, and reins.  The bit, which is usually made of metal,  rests on the bars of the horse's mouth, an area which has no teeth.  The goal is to find a bit that is not hard on the horse's mouth and fits well.  My horse loves her snaffle bit and likes to hold it in her mouth even after I have taken the bridle off!

My instructor had me working on getting River "on the bit" at a trot.  "On the bit" means that the horse is accepting the bit, lowering her head and raising her back -- the first steps in the ultimate dressage goal of "collection".  River has a tendency to raise her head high at the trot and hollow her back.   We were trotting in a circle and River was looking beautiful -- until she hit one spot in the circle, where she popped her head up and tried to stop.  Each time we rounded the circle, she did it at the same spot, showing her displeasure by putting her ears back.  Part of the issue was her strong preference not to do the work -- but a major part of the issue was that I was not releasing the pressure on her mouth when she got on the bit.  In other words, I was talking (asking her to get on the bit), but not listening to her (releasing when she did what I asked her).  As soon as my instructor pointed out my communication error, River was much more cooperative, and my ride was much easier!

Another prime example of the importance of listening as a key part of communication.  Have you ever been so busy trying to make your point in a conversation that you focus too much on your message and not listen to the message being given TO you?  Sometimes the answer is there, if you just stop to listen.

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Sometimes You Gotta Follow in Order to Learn to Lead


I have talked about being a leader in horse society, but you can't lead a horse until you understand how to think like a horse -- "Yes. Be One with the Horse, Grasshopper" : )      Us humans tend to attach human attributes to animals, also known as anthropomorphizing.    Unfortunately, not learning to think like a horse tends cause a lot of misunderstandings between human and horse, and a lot of frustration on both sides as well!  So, we need to learn to think like a horse so we can really communicate with out equine friends.  And to learn how to think like a horse, we need to spend time studying, observing, and listening to horses -- following them and putting ourselves figuratively "in their hooves".  And once we learn their "language", we need to remember that in addition to "talking", we need to be "listening" as well  -- that is truly what communication is.

In much the same way, to be effective leaders of people, we need to be good communicators.  We need to observe how others communicate and "follow" to adjust our communication style to ensure that others understand us.   And that means actually listening in addition to speaking. So, what are you doing to be a better communicator?

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Learning to Stop Clutching

I mentioned in an earlier post that horses have a kind of telepathy -- actually, it is their ability to read verbal and physical cues.   As was pointed out by a comment in an earlier post, our horses often times know our mental state before we do!  One my my biggest issues, though I am much improved, is learning not to clutch  with my knees as we go into the trot.  It seems counterintuitive, but the harder you try to stay on a horse by gripping with your knees and legs, the more unbalanced you become.  And at the trot, that can mean a lot of bouncing!  The key is to remain relaxed and balanced to move with the horse; however a human's natural instinct for self-preservation makes one want to grip.  Not only does this make you more unbalanced in the saddle, but the horse reads this as tension and a cue to go faster -- which of course just makes you bounce more in saddle.  It takes a lot of work to learn to balance and to relax and to not grip.  Learning the fine art of balance and relaxation  results in a more pleasant ride for horse and rider alike.

So, it is with Leadership.  It is hard to be an effective leader if you are "unbalanced" -- whether that be mentally (e.g. high emotion) or physically (e.g. physical infirmity or weakness).  Working to attain and maintain a "balanced" state, both mentally and physically allows a leader to be able to function in a manner that allows the leader to remain focused and objective.  And "balance" takes lots of practice!  What things do you do to help you remain in "balance"?  Do you exercise?  Do you have a hobby that you love?  Do you meditate?  Do you eat well?  What works for you?

Monday, April 29, 2013

My "Equine Coach"

I have been referring to my equine partner through the last few posts just as "my horse" and it is time you get to know my "equine coach" a little better. as she is my partner and teacher through this journey. 

I am proud to introduce, River Angel, or River for short - a 13 year old Arabian/Quarter Horse.  A little more than pony size, she proves that good things can come in small packages.   I don't know River's total life history, and I wish she could talk and tell me about her early life.  She is quiet and relatively easy going, but can be fiery and stubborn when the mood strikes.  She is a pro -- it doesn't rattle her to be loaded into a horse trailer or to go to a horse show or to walk over a mattress. The only thing that I have found that she doesn't like are those nasty "horse-eating" palm fronds that might cross her path on a windy day in Florida.  In other words, she is an excellent teacher and mentor -- though I hope that I have managed to teach her a few things as well.  So in subsequent posts, you will no longer hear the term "my horse", but her name, River, and the things she is teaching me as we journey down the path together.

 
The author and River at a Horse Show.


Sunday, April 28, 2013

Telepathy

One thing I found out early on after returning to my love of horses was the link between my emotions and the behavior of my horse.  Horses are keenly aware of your emotions -- almost like telepathy.  As an "older" rider, I am more fearful of falling off and getting hurt than I was in my tween and teens.  I don't bounce like I used too! And if a horse sees that his human leader is fearful, the horse figures there must be something to be fearful about and starts to become fearful as well.  Which starts an upward spiraling cycle, unless the human can get a hold of their emotions.  It takes time and effort for a person to develop the confidence to learn to constructively manage their anxiety and fear, but once done, it pays phenomenal dividends in the relationship with your horse.

This exercise in learning to deal with my fear and anxiety with respect to riding horses has paid dividends in my work and personal lives as well.  By learning how to constructively manage my fears (whether it be fear of confrontation or fear of the unknown), I can more constructively deal with difficult situations.

Not to say that I am totally there yet.  I am constantly being challenged by new experiences with my horse that cause my fear and anxiety to rear their ugly heads.  Case in point just happened yesterday.  My instructor had a clinic on ground training, focusing on how to properly lunge your horse.  My horse is not particularly thrilled with being lunged, and that was exacerbated by the fact I hadn't had an opportunity to exercise her in a while.  After my instructor demonstrated the proper lunging technique, I stepped in to lunge my horse.  My horse refused to lunge!  Every time I tried to get in the proper position to get her started, she pivoted to face me.  She pinned her ears and showed her extreme displeasure.  We kept up this dance for a short while.  My horse was not happy and I was alternating between being frustrated as nervous as I was trying to stay in the proper position by her shoulder if she decided to kick out.  So the more frustrated and nervous I got, the more she acted up.  She was testing me and I was failing as the "alpha" or leader.  Of course my instructor stepped in and showed me what I needed to do, but it is going to take me a lot of practice with my horse to develop the technique and the confidence to meet this next challenge -- just like one needs to practice and develop the confidence with each new challenge in your life.


The author lunging her horse.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Horse Herd Dynamics

There are a lots of books and online resources dealing with herds of horses and the social dynamics of the herd.  I am summarizing here to give context, which I will be using to relate to human leadership dynamics in later posts.

Domestic herds of horses reflect many of the social charactistics of a wild or feral horse herds.  Horses are by nature very social creatures.  As a prey animal, the security of a horse lies with being a member of a herd.  And within the herd, there is a very defined social hierarchy that is adhered to -- it is survival for each horse to understand their place in the social hierarchy of the herd.

In the wild, the herd consists of a stallion and a harem of mares and younger horses.  The stallion is the protector of the herd.  An older mare is actually the leader as her experience ensures the herd has access to food and water.  Once a young male horse becomes mature, he is driven out of the herd.  Often times, there is a herd of younger male horses who have been driven out of their birth herd.  At some point, an older stallion is challenged by a younger stallion for his harem.  And the cycle continues.

Hierarachy in the herd is demonstrated by physical cues, which range from how the horse positions itself to chasing, kicking, and biting. Once the hierarchy is established, unless there is some change (new horse arrives, old horse gets sick), it is pretty static.

This can also apply to a domestic herd, though the complement of the herd in a domestic setting can be somewhat artificial.  At the barn where I board my horse, we have several small "herds".  In one, the mix is similar to that noted above, and there is a very dominant alpha mare and a dominant gelding (no stallions at our facility).

Even with a human, a horse is looking at how it figures in the pecking order with the human.  Is the horse the leader or is the human the leader?  In order to be an effective rider and to establish the proper relationship with a horse, the human needs to establish him or herself as the leader.  However, how the human does this is critical -- it can't be done by force, but by establishing a relationship built upon trust with the horse.  And this process of establishing that leadership dynamic with the horse finds striking parellels in how humans develop and display leadership within human society.



Thursday, April 25, 2013

Managers and Leaders

I have been a supervisor/manager for over 20 years.  As an engineer, transitioning from employee to supervisor was probably the hardest change for me in my almost 30 year career.  Supervision/Management requires emphasis on a completely different skill set than engineering --particularly the soft skills .  Learning to step away from the minutia and look at the big picture, as well as letting go of the concept of "control" (since your employees are developing the products and your are facilitating getting the resources to get the job done) makes for a total change in how one approaches the job. Not to mention that it is hard backing away from the fun "tech stuff".   It took me the better part of a year to come to terms with my new role -- and that was only the management part!

Leadership and Management are two separate, but related, animals. One can be manager but not a leader and vice versa.  A person can be a leader by virtue of their ability to lead others regardless of their position in an organization's hierarchy.  However, there is an expectation that once put in a position of supervision/management, that leadership skills are part of the total package. There is a need for both managers and leaders.  Each has an important role to play in an organization.  And if you have aptitude for both, then you have a powerful combination!

Returning to my childhood love of all things horse, with the added perspective of my life as a supervisor/manager, it has really brought home how many things translate from the equine world to the business world.  I'm not the first person to realize this -- there are books and clinics on the subject -- but this is an opportunity for me to show how horsemanship is shaping my leadership view and vice versa.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Returning to where I started....horses.

Several years ago, a friend suggested that we both take horseback riding lessons.  We had ridden as children and in our younger adult days.  Her daughter was taking lessons and we decided to tag along.  Even though it had been 20+ years since I had been on a horse, I still remembered how to post the trot! I guess it is like learning how to ride a bike....you never forget.  Unfortunately, being that many years older, I walked kind of funny for the next week -- but I had caught the riding bug again.  Soon, I was so hooked that I actually leased a horse, and later ended up buying the horse. 

Fast forward about two years later, and my horse and the barn she boards at, are a big part of my life.  I spend my free time reading up about horses, horsekeeping, and horse behavior; or, I am at the barn tending to my horse or riding my horse.

So, how does this relate to Leadership?  Well, that's the next part of the story!