"Everything in the universe has rhythm. Everything dances."

Maya Angelou

And this is definitely true of the horse. Where every movement of shoulder or hip and the back in between is the beginning of a new dance.

Try to pick up the reins with the thought of not going on contact but of feeling carefully for the dance for the rhythm that is about to express itself. Trying so carefully that you find and follow the dance.

Rest your legs and your hips the same carefully placing them with the touch of a butterfly, ready to get out of the way, to follow the inherent dance about to be expressed by your horse.

Sometimes there is one rhythm sometimes several each an overtone of the next, until the various rhythms together create a symphony.

But if you are not prepared, not ready to follow the dance and instead insist on presenting yourself to the horse, you will miss the chance to dance with the universe.

Nadja King