Seen at Horse Act - Control

Suz, a critical businesswoman who introduced herself in a somewhat condescending manner, came to Horse Act for a Horsepower Workshop. Suz was confident and loved to stay in control. Whatever she did, she always took the lead—and she believed she excelled at it. She arrived late and missed the morning theory session. She immediately joined the group at the round pen, where Ucardo, my young, large, black gelding, was waiting. Despite his impressive appearance, Ucardo has a very gentle nature and is rather timid. He’s a giant with a soft heart.

“Today, you’ll work with Ucardo,” I told Suz. “He’s young and sensitive, and he reacts strongly to people’s energy.” Suz looked at Ucardo and raised an eyebrow. “He looks strong, but I’m used to dealing with men,” she said with a smug smile. I asked her to try getting Ucardo to move and lead him around the round pen. Suz confidently entered the pen, shouting commands and waving her arms, hoping Ucardo would respond. Instead, he stood still, looking at her with his big, dark eyes before slowly stepping backward. “What’s wrong with him?” Suz asked, visibly irritated.

“Ucardo is sensitive to aggressive or controlling energy,” I explained. “He’s more submissive by nature. Try again, but approach him this time with softness and respect.”

Suz sighed, clearly unaccustomed to this approach, but she gave it another try. She approached Ucardo, stretched out her hand, and waited patiently. Ucardo stood tall, his ears turned toward her, observing her carefully. After a few tense moments, he suddenly bolted. Suz was shaken by this sudden outburst of raw power. Ucardo galloped around her, as if trying to say something. Suz broke down and started to cry. She admitted that she felt overwhelmed by the explosive energy of this immense black horse and said she understood the message he was trying to convey. Now that she had come down from her pedestal, I encouraged her to try connecting with Ucardo again. He stood watching her, still towering above us with his head held high. This time, he allowed her to approach, lowered his nose, and sniffed her head.

“Control resides in your mind, and you need to let it go,” I told her. Suz later explained that she shifted her focus to her body because she was still trembling. As she did, Ucardo lowered his neck, sniffed her stomach, and finally rested his immense head gently on her shoulder. Suz’s posture visibly softened. “Good,” I said. “Now, try leading him again, but stay calm and respectful.”

This time, Suz began with a much softer energy. Ucardo slowly and hesitantly followed her, moving in the direction she indicated. Suz seemed relieved for a moment but wasn’t entirely convinced by the process yet.

“What am I supposed to learn from this?” she asked, slightly skeptical. “Don’t fall for the illusion of control,” I explained. “True influence comes from submission, from listening and respecting. Look at how Ucardo responds to your energy. He’s teaching you that you achieve more with gentleness and respect than with force and control.”

Suz stood quietly for a moment, looking at Ucardo, who now stood calmly beside her. “I understand,” she said softly. “It’s not always necessary to be in control. Sometimes you just need to listen and show respect to truly make progress.”

For the rest of the day, she remained unusually quiet. When Suz left the workshop, I noticed a change in her demeanor. She was no longer the smug woman who had arrived that morning but someone who had learned that even the gentlest and most timid soul can teach you a valuable lesson. Ucardo, my large, sweet, and timid giant, had shown her the power of respectful submission, and I smiled, knowing that Suz would never forget this experience.