The 6 I's of Horsemanship Expanded

The 6 I's of Horsemanship

From Philosophy to Practice

In my last article, I introduced the 6 I's of Horsemanship and the philosophy behind it.

The idea that becoming a better horseperson isn't necessarily about knowing more, but about learning to think differently.

But understanding a philosophy and knowing how to apply it are two very different things.

So how do we actually use the 6 I's?

One of the things I love most about this framework is that it isn't limited to horses.

In fact, the more I've developed it, the more I've realised that the principles apply to almost every area of life.

Relationships, work, personal challenges, difficult conversations, decision-making and, of course, horsemanship.

Because at its heart, the 6 I's is about developing the ability to think for yourself and problem solve.

Not another set of instructions to follow.

Not another method to master.

But a way to develop your own understanding, judgement and confidence.

The framework doesn't say, "Here's what to do."

It says, "Here's how to decide what to do next."

And I believe there's a very important difference.

The 6 I's can be used in two ways.

The short form, which is designed for everyday situations and can become an almost automatic way of thinking.

And the long form, which allows us to explore more complicated challenges in greater depth.

Before we look at how to apply them, let's explore the six pillars themselves.

Understanding the Six Pillars

Each pillar has three elements.

The definition: The literal meaning of the word.

The question: What we ask ourselves.

The statement: The principle we aim to practise.

Together, they create a process that takes us from awareness, through understanding and decision-making, to action and reflection.

1. Instinct

Listen to Your Horse (Notice)

Dictionary definition: An innate tendency or natural impulse to behave in a particular way without conscious reasoning.

The question: What is happening?

The statement: Listen to your horse.

Instinct is our survival system.

Long before we consciously understand what's happening, our bodies can begin responding to the world around us.

Our heart rate changes.

Our muscles tighten.

Our breathing becomes shallow.

We might feel the urge to fight, flee, freeze or withdraw.

Horses experience survival responses too.

As prey animals, they are particularly sensitive to potential threats in their environment. Their survival depends on recognising danger and responding quickly.

But humans aren't so different.

We might not be watching for predators in the paddock, but our nervous systems are still constantly processing information about our surroundings and our sense of safety.

Stress, fear, uncertainty, previous experiences and even our physical wellbeing can influence how we respond.

This is why I believe body awareness is such an important part of horsemanship.

When a horse becomes tense, resistant or reactive, we need to recognise that something is happening before we decide what it means.

And just as importantly, we need to notice what's happening within ourselves.

Are we holding our breath?

Are our shoulders tightening?

Are we becoming frustrated?

Are we feeling rushed, anxious or threatened?

Sometimes our bodies recognise that something isn't right before our conscious minds have caught up.

Instinct invites us to pay attention.

Not to immediately react to every feeling or assume that every sensation means danger, but to recognise the information our bodies and our horses are giving us.

Before we can respond thoughtfully, we first need to notice what's happening.

2. Intuition

Listen to Yourself (Feel)

Dictionary definition: The ability to understand or know something immediately, without conscious reasoning.

The question: What does it mean?

The statement: Listen to yourself.

Intuition is the pause.

It's the moment between recognising something is happening and deciding what we're going to do about it.

It's where we stop reacting and start listening.

To ourselves.

To our horses.

To that deeper sense of knowing that doesn't always come from logical reasoning.

Some people call it a gut feeling.

Others describe it as listening to their heart, their inner wisdom or something more spiritual.

For me, intuition is about recognising that sometimes we know something doesn't feel right, even when we can't immediately explain why.

And that knowing deserves our attention.

Perhaps we're working with a horse and things begin to unravel.

Our instinct recognises the tension.

Our horse becomes reactive.

We become frustrated.

The situation begins to escalate.

Intuition is the moment we recognise that continuing may not be the right thing to do.

We don't need to push through simply because we've started.

We don't need to have an immediate solution.

And we certainly don't need to make a decision while we're overwhelmed by emotion.

Sometimes the wisest and safest thing we can do is nothing.

We pause.

We breathe.

We listen.

We give ourselves and our horse the opportunity to settle before deciding what comes next.

Because our horses have their own instincts, experiences and ways of responding to the world.

They know when they feel safe.

They know when they feel threatened.

They may not understand what we're asking, or why we're asking it.

And we don't always know what they're experiencing.

Intuition invites us to respect that uncertainty rather than force our way through it.

Of course, intuition isn't about assuming every feeling is right.

Our experiences, fears and expectations can influence what we feel.

But rather than dismissing those feelings or blindly following them, we can become curious about what they're telling us.

Instinct recognises that something needs our attention. Intuition is the pause that allows us to listen before we respond.

3. Integrity

Honour Both (Align)

Dictionary definition: The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; the state of being whole or undivided.

The question: What matters?

The statement: Honour both.

Integrity is where we bring together what we've noticed in our horse and what we've recognised within ourselves.

It's where we consider what matters to both of us.

Because good horsemanship isn't about choosing between the horse's needs and our own.

It's about recognising that both matter.

Our horse's safety, welfare, confidence and understanding matter.

And so do our own safety, wellbeing, limitations and values.

Integrity asks us to be honest about what we believe in and whether our choices reflect those beliefs.

It's easy to become so focused on achieving a result that we forget to question whether the way we're pursuing it actually aligns with what matters.

We might feel pressure to train a certain way because someone we admire recommends it.

We might continue with something because we don't want to appear incapable.

We might ignore our own discomfort because we believe we should be able to push through.

But integrity reminds us that how we achieve something matters just as much as whether we achieve it.

And that respecting our horse doesn't mean disregarding ourselves.

In life, the same principle applies.

We can consider the feelings and needs of others without abandoning our own.

We can be compassionate while maintaining boundaries.

We can be honest without being unkind.

Integrity is about finding alignment between what we believe, what we feel and how we choose to act.

4. Intention

Choose Your Direction (Decide)

Dictionary definition: A thing intended; an aim or plan.

The question: What am I trying to achieve?

The statement: Choose your direction.

Once we've recognised what's happening, allowed ourselves to pause and considered what matters, we can decide what we're actually trying to accomplish.

Sometimes we become so caught up in a problem that we lose sight of the bigger picture.

Are we trying to win an argument with our horse?

Or are we trying to develop understanding, confidence and cooperation?

Are we trying to get through today's training session?

Or are we building a relationship that will last for years?

The same applies to life.

Are we trying to prove we're right?

Or are we trying to reach an understanding?

Are we trying to get more done?

Or are we trying to create a life that feels meaningful and sustainable?

Our intention influences the choices we make.

And sometimes, simply clarifying what we're actually trying to achieve changes the entire way we approach a situation.

We don't need to know exactly how everything will unfold.

But we do need to know which direction we're trying to move in.

5. Initiate

Take the Next Step (Act)

Dictionary definition: To cause a process or action to begin; to start something.

The question: What am I going to do?

The statement: Take the next step.

Eventually, thinking needs to become doing.

But taking action doesn't always mean doing more.

Sometimes it means changing our approach.

Sometimes it means asking for help.

Sometimes it means breaking a problem into smaller, more manageable steps.

And sometimes it means deciding not to continue until we have a clearer understanding or a safer plan.

One of the most important things I've learned is that we don't need to know every step before we begin.

We just need enough clarity to make the next thoughtful decision.

And if that decision doesn't produce the outcome we hoped for?

We can reassess.

We can adjust.

We can try something different.

The important thing is that our actions are informed by everything we've considered.

We're no longer simply reacting to the situation in front of us.

We're choosing how to respond.

6. Improve

Become Better Than You Were Yesterday (Learn)

Dictionary definition: To make or become better.

The question: What did I learn?

The statement: Become better than you were yesterday.

This is what brings the whole process together.

Every experience offers us information.

Sometimes things work exactly as we hoped.

Sometimes they don't.

But neither outcome needs to define us.

Instead of labelling an experience a success or failure, we can ask what it taught us.

What worked?

What didn't?

What surprised me?

What might I do differently next time?

Improvement isn't about becoming perfect.

It's about remaining willing to learn.

And success doesn't always mean achieving the result we originally wanted.

Sometimes success is recognising when to stop.

Sometimes it's asking for help.

Sometimes it's changing our minds.

And sometimes it's simply responding to a situation better than we would have yesterday.

What we learn becomes part of the experience we bring into the next situation.

Which brings us back to the beginning.

The Short Form: Six Questions for Everyday Life

The short form is designed to become something you use naturally throughout your day.

You don't need a notebook.

You don't need half an hour to think.

You don't even need to consciously recite all six questions every time.

It's simply a way of checking in with yourself before responding to a situation.

Instinct: What is happening? (Notice)

Intuition: What does it mean? (Feel)

Integrity: What matters? (Align)

Intention: What am I trying to achieve? (Decide)

Initiate: What am I going to do? (Act)

Improve: What did I learn? (Learn)

Imagine you're working with your horse and something isn't going to plan.

You notice your horse becoming tense, and you feel frustration building within yourself.

That's instinct.

Rather than immediately increasing the pressure or repeating the exercise, you pause.

You listen to what your body and your horse might be telling you.

That's intuition.

You remind yourself that both your horse's wellbeing and your own safety matter.

That's integrity.

You decide that your goal is to help your horse feel confident and understand what's being asked.

That's intention.

You simplify the task or give your horse a break.

That's initiate.

And afterwards, you reflect on what changed and what you might do differently next time.

That's improve.

That whole process might take less than a minute.

Now imagine applying the same framework to a difficult conversation with someone you love.

You recognise that you're becoming upset.

You pause rather than responding immediately.

You consider both your own feelings and those of the other person.

You decide that your intention is to communicate rather than argue.

You choose to express yourself calmly and clearly.

And afterwards, you consider what you learned about yourself and the relationship.

Different situations.

Same framework.

The more we practise this way of thinking, the more naturally it becomes part of how we approach everyday life.

And while the framework follows a sequence, it doesn't have to become a rigid set of rules.

Sometimes you'll move through all six pillars in moments.

Sometimes you'll recognise that you need to spend longer with one particular question.

The purpose isn't to memorise a formula.

It's to develop a way of thinking that helps you respond with greater awareness and intention.

The Long Form: Working Through Bigger Challenges

Of course, not every problem can be worked through in sixty seconds.

Some situations are complicated.

Some are emotionally charged.

Some require research, professional guidance, difficult decisions or a complete change of direction.

This is where the long form becomes particularly valuable.

Rather than moving quickly through the six questions, we take time to explore each one in greater depth.

You might sit down with a notebook, work through the questions with a mentor or use them to guide a conversation.

The six pillars remain the same, but we begin asking more detailed questions within each one.

Let's look at how this might work in horsemanship first.

The Long Form in Horsemanship

Example: A Horse That Refuses to Load

Imagine you have a horse that consistently refuses to load onto a float.

You've tried different approaches, but nothing seems to be working.

You're becoming frustrated, your horse is becoming increasingly anxious and you're beginning to question what to do next.

Rather than immediately searching for another training technique, you decide to work through the 6 I's.

Instinct: Notice

What is happening?

We begin by recognising what's happening, both physically and behaviourally.

What is the horse actually doing?

When does the behaviour begin?

Is the horse showing signs of fear, tension or discomfort?

What is happening within my own body?

Am I becoming tense, impatient or anxious?

Is either of us becoming overwhelmed?

Before trying to understand or solve the problem, we recognise the survival responses that might be influencing the situation.

We also distinguish what we can observe from what we're assuming.

A horse refusing to step onto a float is something we can observe.

Deciding the horse is stubborn, disrespectful or deliberately difficult is an interpretation.

And that distinction matters.

Intuition: Feel

What does it mean?

Now we pause.

Rather than pushing forward with another attempt, we give ourselves the opportunity to listen.

What does this situation feel like?

Is my horse becoming increasingly distressed?

Am I continuing because I believe it's the right thing to do, or because I'm frustrated and determined to get a result?

Is something telling me that I need to stop?

Perhaps we recognise that neither we nor our horse is in a good position to continue learning.

Perhaps our deeper sense of knowing tells us that something important is being overlooked.

We don't have to solve the problem in this moment.

We can step away, allow everyone to settle and begin exploring what might be contributing to the behaviour.

Could there be pain or physical discomfort?

A previous negative experience?

A lack of understanding?

An issue with the float itself?

Intuition gives us the space to acknowledge what we feel without treating it as a proven explanation.

Sometimes the most valuable thing we can do is recognise that we don't yet know enough to continue safely.

Integrity: Align

What matters?

Now we consider our values.

What matters most in this situation?

The horse's physical and emotional wellbeing?

Our own safety?

Preserving trust?

Developing confidence?

Being patient and fair?

What approaches align with the kind of horseperson I want to be?

And which approaches am I unwilling to use, even if they might produce a quick result?

Integrity helps us establish the boundaries within which we're prepared to work.

Intention: Decide

What am I trying to achieve?

Now we clarify the outcome we're working towards.

Is the goal simply to get the horse onto the float today?

Or is it to develop a horse that can load confidently, calmly and safely in different situations?

Those are two very different intentions.

And they may lead to very different training decisions.

By focusing on the long-term outcome, we can avoid sacrificing tomorrow's progress for today's result.

Initiate: Act

What am I going to do?

Now we develop a plan.

Perhaps we seek professional guidance.

Perhaps we investigate possible physical discomfort.

Perhaps we change the environment or equipment.

Perhaps we break the loading process into smaller steps, allowing the horse to develop confidence gradually.

Whatever we decide, we now have a reason for our approach.

We're not simply following a method because someone told us to.

We're making an informed decision based on the individual horse, the situation and our values.

Improve: Learn

What did I learn?

After putting our plan into practice, we reflect.

Did the horse become more confident?

What improved?

What remained difficult?

Did our understanding of the problem change?

What might we adjust?

And if the answer isn't clear, we return to the beginning and observe again.

The Long Form in Life

Example: Feeling Overwhelmed and Unsure What Needs to Change

Now let's take the horses out of the equation.

Imagine you're feeling increasingly overwhelmed by your responsibilities.

You're exhausted, irritable and struggling to find enjoyment in things you once loved.

You know something isn't right, but you're not sure where to begin.

The same six pillars can help us explore what's happening.

Instinct: Notice

What is happening?

We begin with our bodies.

Perhaps we're constantly tense.

We're not sleeping well.

We're becoming emotional over things that wouldn't ordinarily upset us.

We're feeling anxious before commitments that used to excite us.

Our nervous system may be responding to prolonged stress, uncertainty or exhaustion.

Rather than dismissing those sensations or forcing ourselves to keep going, we acknowledge them.

What am I physically experiencing?

When do these feelings arise?

What situations seem to intensify them?

What happens when I feel safe and relaxed?

We don't need to diagnose the problem immediately.

We simply recognise what we're experiencing and begin paying attention.

Intuition: Feel

What does it mean?

Now we pause.

We stop trying to immediately fix everything and give ourselves permission to listen.

What am I feeling beneath the stress?

Is there something I've been avoiding?

Have I been continuing down a path that no longer feels right?

Am I making decisions because I genuinely want to, or because I'm afraid of disappointing others?

Sometimes we already have a sense of what needs to change, but we're reluctant to acknowledge it.

Perhaps we're afraid of the consequences.

Perhaps we don't want to let people down.

Perhaps we're so accustomed to pushing through discomfort that we've forgotten we have a choice.

Intuition invites us to listen to that quieter part of ourselves.

Not necessarily to make a decision immediately, but to recognise what we might already know.

And sometimes, the most important realisation is that we don't need to make any decisions until we're feeling more settled and clear.

Integrity: Align

What matters?

Now we return to our values.

What matters most in my life?

My health?

My relationships?

My sense of peace?

My responsibilities?

My honesty with myself and others?

Are the choices I'm currently making aligned with those values?

Sometimes we discover that we've been giving so much attention to what we think we should be doing that we've lost sight of what genuinely matters.

Integrity helps us recognise the difference.

And it reminds us that our own wellbeing deserves consideration alongside our responsibilities to others.

Intention: Decide

What am I trying to achieve?

Once we understand what matters, we can consider what we actually want.

Perhaps our goal isn't to become more productive.

Perhaps it's to create a life that feels more sustainable.

Maybe we want to have more time with the people we love.

Maybe we want to enjoy our work again.

Maybe we simply want to feel more present in our own lives.

Instead of focusing entirely on escaping the discomfort we're experiencing, we begin thinking about the life we're trying to create.

What would meaningful improvement actually look like?

What are we working towards?

And is that intention truly ours, or something we've inherited from the expectations of others?

Initiate: Act

What am I going to do?

Now we can begin making thoughtful changes.

Perhaps we reduce some commitments.

Perhaps we have a difficult but necessary conversation.

Perhaps we ask for help.

Perhaps we create more space for rest.

Perhaps we seek guidance from someone with the knowledge or experience to help us.

We don't have to completely transform our lives overnight.

We simply need to identify the next step that aligns with what we've learned.

And sometimes that step is choosing not to make a major decision until we're in a better position to do so.

Improve: Learn

What did I learn?

As we begin making changes, we reflect.

What has improved?

What still feels difficult?

Have my priorities changed?

What have I learned about my needs, my boundaries and my patterns?

Perhaps we discover that saying no doesn't automatically mean we're letting people down.

Perhaps we learn that rest is necessary, not something we have to earn.

Perhaps we realise that the life we thought we wanted no longer reflects the person we're becoming.

And perhaps that understanding brings us back to the beginning of the framework, ready to observe our lives from a different perspective.

The process doesn't promise that every decision will be easy or that every problem will have a simple solution.

But it gives us a way to approach uncertainty with greater awareness, understanding and intention.

The Connection Between Horses and Humans

One of the most fascinating things about horsemanship is how much it can teach us about ourselves.

Horses have an incredible way of bringing our patterns to the surface.

Our impatience.

Our expectations.

Our assumptions.

Our need for control.

Our ability, or sometimes inability, to remain present when things don't go according to plan.

And those patterns don't necessarily disappear when we leave the paddock.

They can show up in our relationships, our work and the way we treat ourselves.

Both humans and horses have nervous systems shaped by experience.

Both respond to perceived safety and danger.

Both can become overwhelmed.

And both can benefit from environments where they feel safe enough to learn.

Of course, we're different species, and we don't experience or interpret the world in exactly the same way.

But recognising the role of the nervous system in both horse and human behaviour can fundamentally change how we approach challenges.

Instead of immediately asking how to control a behaviour, we can become curious about what might be driving it.

Instead of assuming resistance is defiance, we can consider whether fear, confusion or discomfort might be involved.

And instead of judging ourselves for becoming frustrated, we can recognise what's happening within our own bodies and choose how to respond.

This doesn't mean abandoning boundaries, responsibility or effective training.

It means approaching them with greater awareness.

Because when we begin understanding ourselves, we become better equipped to understand the horses standing in front of us.

And when we learn to listen to our horses, we often discover how much more we need to listen to ourselves.

The Flow of the Framework: Beginning Again

The 6 I's isn't a straight line with a finish line at the end.

It's a continuous cycle of awareness, understanding, decision-making, action and learning.

Instinct: Listen to your horse. (Notice)

Intuition: Listen to yourself. (Feel)

Integrity: Honour both. (Align)

Intention: Choose your direction. (Decide)

Initiate: Take the next step. (Act)

Improve: Become better than you were yesterday. (Learn)

And then we begin again.

Because every experience gives us something new to work with.

What we learn through Improve becomes part of the knowledge and experience we bring into our next situation.

We begin to recognise things we might previously have missed.

We become more aware of our own responses and those of our horses.

Our intuition develops through experience.

Our understanding of our values becomes clearer.

And our decisions become more informed.

Each time we move through the framework, we're not starting from exactly the same place.

We're starting with everything we've learned along the way.

Clarity First. Confidence Follows.

Perhaps the most important thing I want people to understand about the 6 I's is that it isn't designed to tell you what to do.

It's designed to help you decide what to do next.

There's a big difference.

When we're faced with a challenge, particularly one that feels overwhelming, it's easy to lose confidence in our ability to handle it.

We start looking for answers outside ourselves.

We search for the perfect technique, the right advice or someone who can tell us exactly what to do.

And while learning from others is incredibly valuable, constantly relying on someone else to make our decisions can leave us feeling increasingly uncertain of our own abilities.

The 6 I's offers another way.

Rather than trying to solve everything at once, we break the situation down into smaller, safer and more manageable steps.

We notice what's happening.

We pause and feel.

We align with what matters.

We decide on our direction.

We take the next step.

And we learn from the outcome.

We don't need to know every step before we begin.

We just need enough clarity to make the next thoughtful decision.

And if that decision doesn't produce the outcome we hoped for?

We haven't failed.

We've learned something.

We take that information back through the framework and begin again.

This is how we develop trust in our own judgement.

Not by always getting things right, but by discovering that we can navigate challenges, make adjustments and find our way forward.

Confidence isn't something we have to possess before we begin. It's something we develop through successfully navigating challenges.

And success doesn't always mean achieving the result we originally wanted.

Sometimes success is recognising when to stop.

Sometimes it's asking for help.

Sometimes it's changing our minds.

And sometimes it's simply responding to a situation better than we would have yesterday.

The more we practise making thoughtful decisions, the more capable we become of making them.

And the more capable we become, the less we need to rely on someone else to tell us what to do.

That's the freedom I hope this framework gives people.

Not a set of rules to follow.

Not another method to master.

But a way to develop their own understanding, judgement and confidence, in horsemanship and in life.

Clarity first. Confidence follows.

And when we learn something new?

We begin again.

Because it all starts with you.