Doing vs Being

I've been reading "Gallop to Freedom, training horses with the founding stars of Cavalia" by Magali Delagdo and Frederic Pignon. And Fred talks about observing and seeing what your horse is like, how she stands, how she breathes, how she holds her head, ears, eyes. He suggests trying different ways of touching and see what they like and dislike. And how to allow them to be themselves. And to be together with them. And some much more.

Today's undemanding time I thought I'd observe Cici. And try different ways of touching, scratching her. It is cold and muddy today. She has her blanket on and her neck and jaws are covered in dry mud. So I start to scratch the mud off of her. But she moves her head away. Hmmm, how interesting. I stand next to her quietly. And she stands next to me. I am noticing that when she chews she does it for much longer than before. I used to be happy if she did three chews. Now, well here I find myself counting, she will do six or seven. Notice I'm already doing things. Trying to get the mud off. Counting her chewing.

As the time passes my arm is getting tired so I go sit on the rock. She walks over to me. And quietly stands over me. I reach up to work some more on the dry mud. She moves her head out of the way. I drop my hand. I just sit. She swings her head over my head. Just breathing in my hair. She nuzzles my shoulder and starts to groom it LOL! But I have to sit still. Slowly I am hearing her. Quiet time. Just be.

She is teaching me to just be in the moment. No plans, no doing things, just be. Who is the master and who is the student now?