Yin/Yang Theory and Horsemanship Part 2: All Things Yin and Yang

In which I discuss the universal applicability of Yin/Yang Theory.

Note: this is part two of the Yin/Yang Theory and Horsemanship Series. Click here for part 1: complimentary opposites.

The first of the five principles of Yin/Yang theory is that everything has a Yin aspect and a Yang aspect. Temperature is hot(Yang) and cold(Yin). A day is day (Yang) and night(Yin). Exercise is activity(Yang) and rest(Yin). Motion is acceleration(Yang) and momentum(Yin). All of these pairings are opposites that are both necessary to fully describe the phenomena.

Notice too that we are not just talking about physical things, but about abstract concepts as well. Yin/Yang terminology can be used to describe any thing or concept that exists in relation to something else - which is to say it can describe everything.

Examples

Let's look at some examples from the horse world:

• Movement is forward(Yang) and backward(Yin).
• A rider is physically Yang(higher) in relation to the horse he is riding.
• A stick is Yang(stiff, straight) while a rope is Yin(soft, looping).
• Trotting is Yang to walking and Yin to cantering.
• Jumping is Yang to dressage's Yin.
• In a stride, a foot steps under(Yin) and reaches out (Yang).
• Movement on a circle is Yin while a straight line is Yang.
• The arena is Yang compared to the pasture, or perhaps Yin compared to the trail.

Eva's Pairings

While I was working on this post I had an email from Eva Alexander in which she beautifully described her horses in terms of Yin/Yang Theory:

In regards to metabolism, there are two nervous systems. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the stress response or flight or fight response. The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for rest and recuperation. Obviously the ideal is a nice balance between the two, but most people and horses, experience having one system dominant.

My American Saddlebred mare Jubee, for instance, has a dominant sympathetic nervous system. She is always on guard and her excitable nervous energy makes her a hard keeper. In Parelli terms she's a right brain extrovert. Or in terms of Yin/Yang, she's Yang dominant.

My Andalusian/Percheron gelding has a dominant parasympathetic nervous system. He's an easy keeper and hardly ever gets ruffled. In Parelli terms he's a left brain introvert. He's Yin dominant.

I believe this is a great example of the Yin/Yang of our metabolic systems. Two opposites that complete each other and bring balance to the whole system.

And in fact, my two horses bring balance to each other as a herd.

Yin/Yang on all Levels

What I love about Eva's breakdown is that she flows the Yin/Yang pairings though everything from metabolisms through horsenalities and herd compositions. I couldn't have more beautifully illustrated the fractal nature of Yin/Yang Theory; it not only applies just as easily at the micro level as the macro, it also helps us to draw connections between disparate layers. By understanding the Yin/Yang nature of the nervous system, we get a context to understand the Yin/Yang nature of the whole herd.

Yin/Yang in Your Barn

As Yin/Yang labeling can be applied to anything any any lever, we could generate an infinite number of examples. Right now, you are Yin(the reader) to my Yang(the writer). I'd love to turn that relationship around. Be a little Yang, and share your understanding in the comments or via email!

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