{"product_id":"lessons-from-meerah-how-a-rescued-arabian-mare-helped-me-evolve-as-a-horsewoman-paperback","title":"Lessons From Meerah: How a Rescued Arabian Mare Helped Me Evolve as a Horsewoman - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eSuzy Graf\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThere is nothing like leading a horse through endless labyrinth-like circles or listening to the trickle of water running over swollen legs, to place me into a state of contemplation. And this is how my story begins. Nursing my ten-year-old Arabian mare through a mysterious week-long illness while my mind, and this book, remembers the five years of work, errors, triumphs and tragedies that ultimately led to a true partnership with my dressage and trail horse.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHorseback riding is my passion, part of my daily existence and happiness, and when my riding horse unexpectedly died, I needed to fill the void left in my emotional, and social life. Enter Meerah, a five-year-old rescued Arabian, a horse that my ego assumed I could easily train to my liking. But Meerah had her own opinion of how our new relationship should function.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI should have known better than to apply the negative-reinforcement-style training that I had used on my old Western Pleasure mount... but I didn't. I was in my late fifties and for the past twenty years had grown spiritually in my everyday life, however, my equestrian-mind remained mired within dominance. It was Meerah who healed my wounded emotions and introduced me to a new way of thinking about horsemanship.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLessons from Meerah is a memoir, a five-year journey of my struggle to remember the simple path one needs to follow to form a successful relationship with a new horse, and not to blindly adhere to a recipe for training that I learned when I was much younger. Yet, ingrained habits are hard to recognize, and even harder to break.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMy recently deceased horse knew what I wanted and our invisible body language of a raised rein hand, or a touch of the spur, would easily catapult my old mare into the proper response. But Meerah was young, inexperienced, and did not understand my minuscule cues, let alone being ridden. I was determined to lunge my new mare into submission, or bit her head into the proper position, or sit heavy and squeeze my legs into controlling her speed. I was determined to re-create the Western Pleasure and trail horse that I had lost, and never considered my new horse could have an opinion, let alone a different goal than I.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMeerah threw me off her back and into a fence, bolted and nearly unseated one trainer, and successfully wiggled her way out from under another. The beautiful Egyptian Arabian was a talented mover and had great potential, IF I could figure out how to ride her.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTwo steps forward and one step backwards was the progress we made together as I struggled to get her into the frame I desired. And, ever so slowly, the epiphany of common sense seeped into my blue ribbon seeking equestrian head.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI learned to accept Meerah's ability to move as a dressage horse, and not as a pre-destined Western Pleasure horse. And as I learned the value of Centered Riding, Liberty training and Natural Horsemanship, I changed my perspective. Meerah was not the typical \"equine slave\" I could control. Quite the contrary, she became a partner. And through all these lessons I met new people, rekindled old friendships, and grew into the horsewoman I am today.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI'll always treasure the memories and experiences of my youth, it is acceptance of change, or is it growth, that I applaud throughout the contents of this book. I hope you find my words, and our story, inspirational for your own life's journey, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSuzy and Meerah\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 360\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.75 x 8.5 x 5.5 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e January 01, 2025\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52469015118131,"sku":"9781959621249","price":43.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0300\/5595\/6612\/files\/5OIVY_qF8r9781959621249.webp?v=1759380816","url":"https:\/\/www.vysn.com\/en-ca\/products\/lessons-from-meerah-how-a-rescued-arabian-mare-helped-me-evolve-as-a-horsewoman-paperback","provider":"VYSN","version":"1.0","type":"link"}