I grew up in Springdale, Arkansas home to the PRCA Rodeo Of the Ozarks, Tyson Foods, J.B. Hunt, and of course Wal-Mart country. I chose to join the Corps after high school and quickly excelled. I’ll spare you from rattling off a bunch of military accomplishments that are now history. However, during my enlisted service, I was surrounded by good people and leaders and I later became known as a MUSTANG; an enlisted service member that received a commission as an officer. I served 10 years enlisted; 14 as an officer, two tours in Iraq and one tour in Afghanistan, and held command at every officer rank achieved.
I met my wife, Ana Lawson, on Good Friday in 1995, and we got married during a 1996 Easter vacation back home in Arkansas. She didn’t speak English, and I didn’t speak Spanish; how did that work out? Our son was born in 1997 and is now serving in the Corps in Southern California, and twenty-five years later, we are still going strong.
Although I would ride as a kid and young adult, while serving on active duty, I was walking past an office on the Marine Base in 29 Palms, CA. I heard the word “horse” mentioned from that office. I immediately leaned inside the door and said, “Hi, I want to learn more about horses”, and that is how I met Jim. Jim began to teach me that sitting on a horse, a horse running with me on them, is not what it is about. Sure, I had some athletic ability and some natural talents, but I lacked horsemanship education. Jim began teaching me what horsemanship was all about – leadership, feel through experience, confidence, softness, and a lot of humility. Through this relationship with Jim challenging me, I found myself unable to get enough time with horses. I sold my Harley; I sold my boat; I sold my house and moved to horse property. I reorganized everything so I could to get more time with horses. Again, I thought I could ride, until I was educated with horsemanship – it was different. Now, I find it satisfying to help others learn how to work with their horse, and how to help the horse by teaching people how to work with a horse.
So, how did Ana and I make it in the beginning? Remember, we did not speak each other’s language (no more than the Taco Bell menu anyways). It takes patience and balanced body language. We eventually learned each other’s language, but patience and body language were critical in the beginning.
How do you communicate and provide leadership to a 1200lb horse that does not speak your language, and you are not a “horse whisperer”? It is your patience and body language. You see, we do not have to say a word to our spouse or our horse – they can already read us like a book through our body language. We must simply be patient, demonstrate the appropriate body language using the appropriate tool(s): a stick and string, or a bouquet of roses. I am not saying everything is always easy or that frustration will not arise, but tools and education will largely determine the outcome.