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by Suzy Graf (Author)
There is nothing like leading a horse through endless labyrinth-like circles or listening to the trickle of water running over swollen legs, to place me into a state of contemplation. And this is how my story begins. Nursing my ten-year-old Arabian mare through a mysterious week-long illness while my mind, and this book, remembers the five years of work, errors, triumphs and tragedies that ultimately led to a true partnership with my dressage and trail horse.
Horseback riding is my passion, part of my daily existence and happiness, and when my riding horse unexpectedly died, I needed to fill the void left in my emotional, and social life. Enter Meerah, a five-year-old rescued Arabian, a horse that my ego assumed I could easily train to my liking. But Meerah had her own opinion of how our new relationship should function.
I should have known better than to apply the negative-reinforcement-style training that I had used on my old Western Pleasure mount... but I didn't. I was in my late fifties and for the past twenty years had grown spiritually in my everyday life, however, my equestrian-mind remained mired within dominance. It was Meerah who healed my wounded emotions and introduced me to a new way of thinking about horsemanship.
Lessons from Meerah is a memoir, a five-year journey of my struggle to remember the simple path one needs to follow to form a successful relationship with a new horse, and not to blindly adhere to a recipe for training that I learned when I was much younger. Yet, ingrained habits are hard to recognize, and even harder to break.
My recently deceased horse knew what I wanted and our invisible body language of a raised rein hand, or a touch of the spur, would easily catapult my old mare into the proper response. But Meerah was young, inexperienced, and did not understand my minuscule cues, let alone being ridden. I was determined to lunge my new mare into submission, or bit her head into the proper position, or sit heavy and squeeze my legs into controlling her speed. I was determined to re-create the Western Pleasure and trail horse that I had lost, and never considered my new horse could have an opinion, let alone a different goal than I.
Meerah threw me off her back and into a fence, bolted and nearly unseated one trainer, and successfully wiggled her way out from under another. The beautiful Egyptian Arabian was a talented mover and had great potential, IF I could figure out how to ride her.
Two steps forward and one step backwards was the progress we made together as I struggled to get her into the frame I desired. And, ever so slowly, the epiphany of common sense seeped into my blue ribbon seeking equestrian head.
I learned to accept Meerah's ability to move as a dressage horse, and not as a pre-destined Western Pleasure horse. And as I learned the value of Centered Riding, Liberty training and Natural Horsemanship, I changed my perspective. Meerah was not the typical "equine slave" I could control. Quite the contrary, she became a partner. And through all these lessons I met new people, rekindled old friendships, and grew into the horsewoman I am today.
I'll always treasure the memories and experiences of my youth, it is acceptance of change, or is it growth, that I applaud throughout the contents of this book. I hope you find my words, and our story, inspirational for your own life's journey,
Suzy and Meerah
