HORSEPLAY
Horses have an incredible capacity to empathise with people. They can tell instantly if we're happy or sad, angry or frustrated. and will respond instantly and appropriately. That feedback gives people the insight they need to realise that some of their behaviour needs to change.
Horses are highly sensitive to the energy transmitted via human body language, which is why they only cooperate with humans that they trust. If a person says one thing and does something completely different it causes the horse to become confused - frightened even - and it will react with mistrust and fear and will no longer interact willingly. This pattern of behaviour can be seen in humans, too. The only difference being that whilst humans may pretend to engage with people they do not trust, a horse will not.
Horses live and respond in the "now", so their reaction to you is based on how you are behaving at any given moment in time. Their reactions though often subtle, can easily be missed, but they will show you exactly which actions, behaviours and attitudes work for you - and against you. The results can be mind-blowing as you learn exactly what you need to learn in every aspect of your life. Patience and observation are vital to the development of a deep and life-long relationship with your horse.
The horse has arrived in the present century after a long and remarkable journey, that has been to a great extent, shared with human beings. It is unfortunate that the horse, which has largely escaped its role as a victim of natural predators, only to become the victim of human exploitation in one form or another.
In our arrogance, we tend to treat the horse as a lesser form of life, to be bullied or neglected as we see fit. If we can pause from making demands upon the horse for long enough to allow ourselves a moment of quiet reflection, we can learn what the horse requires and so improve mutual understanding and respect.
The human obsession with competition is a huge subject, but suffice to say that the worst projection of this addiction is imposed upon the horse. It's grace and speed are qualities coveted by those who would use the horse as a vehicle towards their own glorification and prowess, with little regard for its wellbeing.
The notion that it is "normal" for a horse to be stabled, ridden with a bit and treated as a servant or slave ministering to the whims of its so-called owner is a global standard that only serves to fulfill the desires of human beings whose convenience is paramount.
It is a cruel irony that such an animal as the horse whose natural existence is spent on the wide-open plains of great continents is subjected to a life largely spent in a stable that has proved time and time again to induce virulent boredom and resulting in abnormal behaviour such as box walking, weaving, trashing, kicking, chewing and biting.
Horse need companionship. They can become bored and depressed if left alone for long periods. They are social animals by nature, and living in groups provides numerous benefits for their physical and mental health. While they can form bonds with humans and other animals, the need for companionship with their own species is strong. Horses will mourn the passing of a companion and can suffer emotional trauma when separated.
American Indians have traditionally regarded the animals in their lives as fellow creatures with whom they share a common destiny. That intimate bond between human and animal is nowhere so evident or powerful as in the case of the horse. Native peoples forged spiritual relationships with the Horse Nation. Plains tribes embraced the horse as a brother in spirit and a link to the supernatural realm, and incorporated the horse into ceremonies.
Horses subjected to "sport" do not have a choice. They are trained to compete with a view to a "win". Training methods, which are rarely seen by the public, can be harsh and damaging. The FEI, the governing body that claim to be passionate about, and celebrate the unique bond, between horse and human, are arguably, too lenient in their rulings of questionable training and performance methods such as race horses, started at far too young an age. Brutal courses with jumps such as the Grand National's Beechers Brook, The Canal Turn and The Chair have known many casualties often fatal.
Dressage, meaning "training" in French, originates from Ancient Greece. It was developed as a military training method to prepare cavalry horses for war, focusing on obedience and responsiveness. Dressage can have negative effects on horses if not practiced ethically and with proper training methods. These can include physical injuries, mental stress, and even pain caused by certain techniques. The potential for abuse and misuse of training aids like spurs and whips also raises ethical concerns. There have been cases of serious animal cruelty uncovered in dressage, including instances of bleeding, over-stretching necks, and the use of training aids to cause pain.
The earliest ancestor of the horse is estimated to have lived 55 million years ago. This ancestor was only the size of a Labrador retriever! Horses were domesticated around 6000 years ago, estimated from evidence found at archaeological sites.
Somewhere in time's own space, there must be some sweet pastured place
Where creeks sing on and tall trees grow, some paradise where the horses go;
For, by the love that guides my pen, I know great horses live again. Stanley Harrison
The greatest gift a horse can give is the opportunity for connection, growth, and a unique perspective on life, fostering a sense of belonging and purpose. Beyond physical companionship, horses teach valuable life lessons like patience, responsibility, and understanding, all the while enriching our lives with their beauty and grace.
Holly’s Sunset
We stripped her shoes and led her to the field out from the pen
She seemed bemused when I whispered "go and be a horse again"
She’d run the fence and whinnie to my waves as daylight passed
She seemed to sense, the lope along the hill had been our last.
There’s not a near or far horizon left for us to cross
For nearly fifteen years we roamed the heather moor and border moss
To sit astride the graceful power and beauty of this mare
Filled me with pride and drove away life’s weariness and care.
She could be wilful, horsemen say they have their mareish days
She taught me skilful, calm and quiet patience with her ways
A kindly eye, dark chestnut with a Shire pedigree
She seemed to try to find and bring the brave out in me.
There’s some would say, ‘a horse is just a servant or a slave’
But to this day I’m humbled by the privilege she gave
No more I’ll climb and mount the saddle on her back
To feel sublime, and turn her bonnie head towards the track.
As cruel time unfolds the fates that have to be revealed
The hill I climb and view with saddened eyes the empty field
If there are plains where man and horse may once again unite
I’ll take the reins and ride into the dying of the light.
Thanks to Archie for these wonderful words, modified for Holly.
Original poem here...
