>>>> While all of us probably have traits from each side of the brain, we can probably categorize ourselves as either pre-dominantly left or right brained.
Just within the USA Icelandic community, I see the left-brained versus right-brained people aligning pretty strongly...or at least that's what I think it is. It's always annoyed me no end that so many people in this breed seem to be pursuing the "whole Icelandic experience", totally going off on the whole cultural experience...even when it appears to me that what is best for the horses gets lost in the whole "experience" garbage. To me, a new horse owner first and foremost needs to be practical, and take care of the logical necessities of horse ownership. The "facts" of horse ownership determines the horse's safety and well being. But, once the basics are taken care of, of course, there's a huge spot (even a need) for use to draw on our intuitive, "feeling" sides in building relationships with our horses. I suspect to this list I come across as uber-logical...but among the engineering-types I work with, I'm pretty "arty" - depends on who you hang out with, I suppose. :) Relating this to a journey towards becoming a horseman, I think I've always had an easy time with the logical, factual side of horsemanship, since the very beginning. I think, however, it was more of a struggle for me to open up and allow my intuitive side to surface as well. A couple of things happened to make me realize that logic alone wasn't going to get it...one, there was no immediately "logical" explanation for the back issues that Gracie suffered with for years, and two...soon afterwards, I met Anneliese, and decided to breed a few horses. I was at a point where I was looking to move to the next step of horsemanship. Anneliese told me so many things to watch for, how to let the horses "tell me" things, and I think that broke the roadblock I had imposed on myself. I think, pre-Anneliese, I had been stifling my intuitive side way too much, so I met her at the right point in my journey - I think if I'd met her a few years earlier, she wouldn't have had the same effect on me. Karen Thomas, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.15.1/1079 - Release Date: 10/19/2007 5:10 AM
