The Facets of Equuality - Trail Venturing

In which I describe the way I approach the trail and how I use that approach to develop calm engagement and the meditative mind state.

In the wild, an American Mustang band will travel, on average, somewhere between twenty and thirty miles per day in order to sustainably access food, water, minerals, and other resources. Migration would thus seem to be heavily ingrained into the horse psyche. How can we, as stewards of equines that live in captivity, provide the intellectual, emotional, and physical stimulation of migration to our horses?

Riding versus Venturing

In my vernacular, a trail ride and a trail venture are two very different things.

A trail ride is usually perceived as a relaxing, low engagement activity wherein the horse "does their job" and walks dutifully down the straight and narrow with little or no communication. It's very safe, and very predictable. So much so that gunsels are apt to think they should be able to throw a saddle on any horse in any place at any time and go for a nice ride.

A venture is a quite different thing. One common definition describes a venture as "an undertaking involving uncertainty."

To my mind, it is the embrace of the element of uncertainty that makes a really wonderful outing. Perhaps we're on a new trail, in a new location, seeing totally new things. Maybe we're out with a different group of horses, by our selves, or at a different time of day. Then again, maybe the uncertainty is that we don't know what newness we will discover on the tried-and-true trails across the street from the barn.

No matter what the uncertainty is, a venture is about allowing that uncertainty to be a place for experimentation, growth, and enjoyment, rather than a source of fear, anxiety, or worry.

Lost in 5 Acres

When I was first being introduced to horsemanship I had the opportunity to go out on the trail directly across the street from our barn. It was a desert setting with plenty of lava rock, sage, juniper, and sand. For months, I walked down the quarter mile drive and explored this new terrain with my wife, her horse, and our dogs. For many, many ventures we were quite nervous about becoming disoriented and lost.

In that whole period, I doubt we explored more than five acres of a sixteen hundred acre BLM parcel. The experience was nice, but I spent much of the time worrying to a greater or lesser degree and got very little true relaxation. I just couldn't embrace the uncertainty.

Venturing and the Meditative Mind

One of the characteristics of an uncertain situation is that we don't know when or where an unexpected event will occur. On the trail, unexpected situations are often separated by long periods of monotonous activity. I believe that this is a characteristic of the trail environment itself and is as true for our ventures as it is for a Mustang in the wild.

The Mustang will travel for miles to reach a water source that may be dried up when they arrive. In the middle of a migration, they might be ambushed by a predator. Upon reaching a resting place, they may find it occupied by another band. They must deal with these situations as they arise, but they must also learn not to be preoccupied by their possibility during the journey itself.

This dichotomy between monotony and surprise is one of the keys to developing a calm, meditative mind state. During a surprise situation, the mind becomes totally active and engaged to solve the problem. After a resolution is reach and the norm returns, the mind becomes calm and still in order to be prepared for the next challenge.

My Practice

Ever since I learned to be calm in the face of uncertainty on that dusty BLM tract, I've treasured the experience of being on the trail.

In my practice, trail venturing is a key tool for developing a meditative mind in myself, my horses, and my students. I try to get out on the trail at least once a week and I love finding new places to explore and new people to explore them with. Sometimes I'll ride, sometimes I'll walk alongside; it all depends on the situation. One thing is for sure, each experience teaches me something and is invaluable in building the strong bonds I cherish.

Your Practice

Perhaps you and your horse have never had the chance to get out of the arena and off-property to explore. Now might be a great time to find a trail to explore, a road to walk down, or even just a different part of the property to play in. As long as you put safety, communication, and relationship first, you can hardly go wrong.

On the other hand, maybe you are an experienced trail rider who has seen and done it all. If that's the case, now might be the time to take a close look at what you mean by "all." How can you continue to experiment with that element of uncertainty on your rides or walks? Are there new ways to use the obstacles on the trail, new directions to go, or new people to go with?

No matter what your level of comfort in getting out and experiencing the bigger world with your horse, approaching your outings with the attitude of the venturer can be invaluable for the growth of your horse, your self, and your relationship together.

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