Obedience Is

The Key To...

THE RELEASE OF PRESSURE

"Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

(Psalm 118: 5 - 6, ESV)

Sometimes pressure feels like you're barely hanging on by a thread.  

Sometimes when we think of what constitutes pressure in our life, we tend to think it is all bad. Let's face it - no one likes pressure. Pressure tends to make us feel uncomfortable, as if we've been singled out for no good reason. To further complicate matters, and depending on how you choose to look at it, pressure seems to show up at the most inopportune times when we simply don't have time for such an unexpected guest. Today, I want to take the subject of pressure in our lives and look at it from a unique perspective - the horse's perspective. If ever there was a creature that has no natural tolerance for pressure, it is the horse. In fact, most horses spend their entire life trying to avoid pressure at any cost. And yet, with repetition and good training, a horse quickly learns the secret to finding a positive release from pressure. How is he able to do this? He's able to do this when he changes his perspective and begins to view pressure as a question that he must find an answer to. When he finds the correct answer to the question, then he finds a release from the pressure. Ready for a life lesson about how to handle pressure? Then saddle up and come with me...

The Art Of 

PRESSURE AND RELEASE 

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it"

(1 Corinthians 10: 3, ESV)

When I apply pressure to my horse's side by lifting up with my heels, he knows that I am asking him a question, "Will you lower your head and collect your body?" In this picture he has correctly answered the question, and so I release the pressure. It is the release of pressure, and not the pressure itself, that tells my horse that he answered my question correctly. 

Dictionary

Definition Of Pressure:

(noun) The continuous physical force exerted in or against an object by something in contact with it. (verb) An attempt to persuade or coerce. 

Although it may not be obvious at first, there is always a reason for pressure in our life. When we come up against pressure, we come up against a force. Because the force is usually invisible, it is easy to look at pressure as an enemy. This is often not the case. How you perceive pressure often dictates how you will respond to pressure. For example, if you see pressure in your life as an enemy, a mere irritant, or an annoyance, chances are you will simply try to avoid it's presence. The problem with avoidance tactics when dealing with pressure is that they don't work. The pressure simply turns up again and again in new clothes! 

Just like people, when horses are initially faced with pressure, their first response may be to fight it, or even run away from it. Seldom, if ever, do horses have the ability to ignore pressure. This works to their advantage since nothing is learned by ignoring the teacher! In fact, a horse's victory over pressure does not come until they begin to view pressure in it's proper perspective. And what is the proper perspective to have of pressure? According to the dictionary, pressure exerts itself on our life in order to persuade or coer  ce us into doing something different than what we are presently doing. This being true, it makes sense that pressure is nothing but a question mark in our life that is pushing us towards a correct answer.

One of the things I love most about working with horses is the natural order of their thinking process. There is nothing a horse values more than the release from pressure. Pressure, to the horse, is nothing more than a physical force he has come in contact with, and must find a way to escape. He has neither the will, nor the mental capacity, to make excuses for the pressure. Nor can he figure out all the many complex and hidden agendas for the pressure he feels. The horse only knows that he is uncomfortable, and he is willing to search with all his being for freedom from the pressure.

This is a good time to point out that a horse doesn't learn a single thing from pressure itself. He only learns from the experience when there is a release of pressure. It is only when the horse views pressure as a question that he is being asked, and he answers that question correctly, that he receives a reward (release from pressure).

In other words, a horse's greatest lessons aren't learned when the pressure is on. His greatest lessons are learned once he chooses the right answer. In many regards, it's the same for you and me. Seldom, if ever, do we learn a single thing from the misery of the pressure itself. It is only when we have correctly answered the question that pressure has posed in our life, that we understand the real lesson we were meant to learn all along.

HINDSIGHT

Is Always 20/20

Horses are creatures of habit, and move away from pressure. Knowing that, I set my horse up for success by putting pressure on him with my right leg in order to ask him for a left turn. I don't release the pressure until he makes the correct decision. As soon as his body begins to arc in the correct position, I release the pressure.

There are a lot of reasons for pressure in our life, and let's be real - not all pressure is from God. Some of the pressure we experience is self-inflicted. The problem with self-inflicted pressure is that it seldom has any long-lasting value, other than perhaps, to warn us not to be so stupid next time! Horses can do some pretty stupid stuff, too. For example, I might ask my horse to stop and then do a roll-back along the fence and head in the opposite direction. He may not be eager to turn back over his haunches, preferring to just amble down the fence line at his leisure. As a result, when I ask him the question, "Will you stop and roll back?", he might half-heartedly turn causing him to hit his own neck and head up against the fence post with a loud thud. 

At this point, I know that his head is probably ringing, but I also recognize that his neck and head are his responsibility. If he had answered the question, "Will you stop and roll back?" correctly, he would not be dealing with the pressure of this new problem. Instead, his attitude got in the way and produced unnecessary, self-inflicted pressure. It usually doesn't take but a time or two for a horse to learn the error of their ways. It's a simple deduction - that hurts my neck and head, therefore I won't do that again! For people, that simple deduction can take months, if not years to come to. The good news is, hindsight is usually 20/20 and we can all learn from our mistakes. There's no time for self-inflicted pressure. You have a destiny to fulfill, and a dead-line in order to get the job done. If there is pressure in your life, it should only be the kind that is there to turn your life around, and head you in a brand new direction. 

Let The Right Pressure

Point You In

A NEW DIRECTION 

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God promised to those who love Him."

(James 1: 12, ESV)  

The art of pressure and release is a private conversation that takes place between a rider and his horse. It isn't necessary for anyone else to be a part of that conversation in order for it to be effective.

Oftentimes when we're experiencing pressure in our life, we feel the need to  open up and share with someone about our feelings. Rarely, if ever, do there seem to be any words that can fully express what we're going through, and yet, we try again and again to define the ethereal-like force that seems to be relentlessly keeping us under it's thumb. One of the reasons it's often difficult to explain the pressure we feel is that the real communication of "pressure and release" is a private one. That doesn't mean that we can't share our feelings with others. It simply means that we do so with eyes wide open and the understanding that others cannot answer the question that has only been asked of us. Pressure and release is always a private communication. Only God can free us from His pressure. And He is always willing to do so when we provide the right answer to His never-ending question.

The Never-Ending Question -

WILL YOU OBEY ME?

But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the Lord; your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams."

(1 Samuel 15: 22, NLT)   

Ultimately, pressure and release is meant for one purpose - to bring two beings into perfect partnership with one another.    

One of the hardest things for me to explain or teach to new horseback riders is the "feel" of pressure and release. The reason is simple. Feel is an intangible thing. It is hard to put into words for others what is meant to be a private conversation between me and my horse.

When I put pressure on my horse to step to the side, or to move forward, or to back-up in a straight line, that pressure can clearly be felt by him, but it wasn't meant to be felt by anyone else. So, how do we teach others about pressure and release? Experience is the best teacher. The first time a student asks a horse to bend his head laterally, they feel a natural opposition. The horse usually braces, and in essence, says, "No Ma'am, I don't think I'll be bending my neck today!" The inexperienced horseman will then let go of the pressure, not wanting to offend the poor horse. The horse then says, "Ahhh, they let go - therefore, I must be in control." One  of the most difficult things to teach a person is to "keep the pressure on" until the horse gives the right answer by bending his head in the direction asked for. If I can get a person to hold the pressure in place until the horse "gives the correct answer" and softens his neck, I can then teach that person about pressure and release in their own life, - i.e, the right question always demands the right answer.

Where there is Godly pressure - there is always a question being asked. The question is always, "Will you obey me?"

With horses, it's always the person in control that asks the questions. "Will you turn your head? Will you go in this direction? Will you back-up?" If the horse answers correctly, the pressure goes away. Although our relationship with God is not nearly so simple, in many regards the principles are the same. God is asking you and me today, "Will you obey me?"  Some will do so willingly, and the pressure will be replaced with a peace that comes only from  obedience. Others will continue to try and bear up under the pressure, explain away the pressure, fight the pressure, or escape the pressure. But the pressure will remain until they answer the question correctly. And what is the correct answer to pressure? The same as it's always been, "Yes, Lord, I choose to obey you!"

Natural Horse

Faith-Man-Ship

(Teaching biblical faith using horses)

 

 

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*Susan Klaudt Horse Ministry and Natural Horse Faith-Man-Ship are protected by exclusive copyright, and are outreaches of Kim and Susan Klaudt World Ministries, Inc., a 501 (C) (3) not for profit ministry.
 

 
COMING THIS SPRING... 

We're excited about this coming spring when we plan to post some new YouTube equine ministry teaching videos, and also some fresh, new horse videos just for fun. These new videos will replace some of our older videos that are now online which will be deleted. Be sure and watch for our new stuff this year, and think spring!