I was never a big fan of horses and never understood how people could find them so amazing.
But when I was in Namibia and taken to an area with wild horses, my attitude changed dramatically. At first, I wasn’t very excited, but I never imagined that this experience would change me in such a profound way.
The wild horses in Namibia live freely and are only captured for a day for training before being released again. It was fascinating to watch how the horse trainers caught and enclosed the wild horses – a true art form. Just imagine, these horses are wild and have never been accustomed to humans since birth. Watching the trainer gradually gain the horses' trust was magical and transported me into a different state of perception.
In a small enclosure stood a horse named Geronimo. He was the shyest of them all, yet he caught my attention. When I tried to enter the enclosure, he immediately moved to the other side. He was so shy, but his curiosity was written all over his face. I wanted to earn his trust. So, I turned around and watched the other horses. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Geronimo coming closer. He was interested in me too.
With a handful of grain, I approached him step by step. And he backed away, hoof by hoof. But eventually, there was a spark, and he came closer, cautiously, with his neck stretched out to keep his distance. To lure him out of his fear zone, I simply stood still. I wanted HIM to come to me to get the delicious grain. And TADAAAA – he slowly came over and ate out of my hand. What an incredibly moving moment.
This experience taught me valuable lessons that I can directly apply to my passion, pole sport. (After all, this is a blog about pole sport 🤣). These lessons are as follows:
Practicing Patience: Just as trust with horses takes time, learning new tricks and techniques in pole sport requires patience. We must first build trust in our own abilities and our body. You can’t master everything perfectly right away. Progress comes – little by little.
Having Confidence: Self-confidence is essential! Insecurities can lead to mistakes and injuries! Just as a horse senses uncertainty, you can immediately feel in pole performance when you don’t trust yourself.
Living in the Moment: During training and performances, it’s important to focus entirely on the present moment. Distractions and worries should be set aside to deliver the best performance and enjoy the training.
Staying Focused: Concentration and inner calm are crucial to mastering complex pole tricks. A clear focus on the goal helps make progress and avoid injuries.
My experience with the wild horses has fundamentally changed my view of horses. The connection that is built through patience and trust is indescribable.
It’s similar in pole sport: Patience, trust, concentration, and focus are key components of success.
I am grateful for this experience, which has taught me not only valuable life lessons but also lessons for my athletic passion. It has shown me that it’s often the unexpected moments that teach us the most valuable lessons.
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