In horsemanship, the word connection is commonly used these days. When I first called my horsemanship program Connecting with Horses and Riding with Synchronicity more than 15 years ago, I had never heard that word used before in regard to horses or horsemanship. I used it because it was the only word I could think of at the time to describe the soul deep, mental, emotional, energetic and spiritual connection that had evolved for me when I was with horses. Back then, I was not aware of the word attunement — meaning to be deeply aware of another being’s inner experience; deeply feeling, seeing, and hearing another — their thoughts, emotions, and feelings — and responding to that inner experience with sensitivity and presence. This definition of attunement is what Connection means to me.
I think for many people using the word connection, it could be replaced with the word attention. That is, they would be thinking they have Connection if they have the horse’s attention. To me, they are two very different things. Attention could be gained through using strong pressure — so you might have your horse’s attention, with their eyes and ears directed toward you or focused on the task at hand — but there may be no quality of good relationship, or compassionate understanding and care for how the horse truly feels. On the other hand, you could be connected with a horse in that you truly know how they feel — and you care, with compassion and understanding. Physically, the horse may show no sign of giving you any attention at all. You might not be asking for anything — they may simply be grazing — but they know that you know, and they know that you care about how they feel.
To me this is Connection – knowing and caring about how the horse truly feels. Connection and Attunement are one and the same. They occur when we put aside our own agendas, come into stillness and care deeply enough to want to know and have compassion, for another.