| How is it that we can ride horses? | | | | chubby but strong little horse came bolting |
| This is not a mechanical question. Nor can it | | | | through. He was a strawberry roan, with a mass |
| cannot be answered in simple terms. | | | | of mane that flowed as one long, twisted rope |
| The horse is one of the largest animals that we, | | | | along his crested neck. He had a coat that was so |
| as humans, have daily contact with. They are also | | | | highly polished you simply wanted to know what |
| one of the oldest surviving mammals, dating back | | | | he did to achieve that. In all my show years I had |
| millions of years. Their ability to evolve and flow | | | | never seen anything like it. |
| should be something (you would think) most | | | | He challenged me, letting me know under no |
| humans would WANT to study, yet, through our | | | | uncertain terms that if I had any thought of |
| relationship with the horse, we have simply taken | | | | predator activity, he would squash me like a bug. I |
| their physical attributes and for the most part, | | | | quietly retreated, but that night I was awake for |
| exploited them in our history. | | | | hours, pondering the 'chance' meeting. |
| The very size, temperament and longevity of the | | | | The next day, and for the rest of the month, in |
| horse suggest this animal is not one to work and | | | | typical 18 year old fashion, my job took a back |
| train easily. Yet just the opposite is true, even to | | | | seat to this group of new friends. I did not dare |
| the point where the horse allows us to brutalize | | | | get close, but strangely enough I wasn't looking |
| and mistreat him upon minimal initial contact. | | | | for contact. I was happy to be the observer, but |
| What other animal can be ridden within hours of | | | | observing a band of wild horses was much |
| meeting? | | | | tougher than staking claims. Although my friends |
| We as humans have always considered ourselves | | | | visited the meadow occasionally, they moved |
| the most evolved life form on the planet. This | | | | continually, and there were days that I had to |
| being a truth, it would seem that we would have | | | | walk for miles just to find them. Their ability to |
| the tools and abilities necessary to be able to | | | | run over hard terrain and move at a second's |
| connect with all other life forms at their level. Yet, | | | | notice with such grace inspired me and changed |
| for the most part, this is not true. | | | | my thinking forever. I rarely shod my horses |
| Did you ever just look your horse in the face and | | | | again after that encounter. |
| feel him ask "Are you ready yet? When will we | | | | Are there moments in your life you will always |
| have a dialogue that I can understand?" | | | | remember, and when your final hour is upon you, |
| No living or non-living thing on this planet has been | | | | these will be the defining moments you revisit |
| created without plan; without purpose. If you | | | | just before you leave this planet? This wild horse |
| believe this, then perhaps the real question is | | | | experience will be at the top of my list when it's |
| "What role does the horse have with us? What | | | | my time. I only keep those memories that |
| are we to learn here?" | | | | empower. |
| There are no teachers on this planet. Every | | | | The Journey To Connection |
| human in a teaching role is the mirror for learning. | | | | How can we get there? How can we begin the |
| Giving and teaching is a higher form of learning | | | | journey of connection while having gone through a |
| and receiving. Therefore, as we work with | | | | traditional learning experience? Can years of being |
| horses, who is taking on the higher task of giving? | | | | drilled under rigorous training and methodology |
| The horse or us? | | | | hurt or enlighten us? |
| Horses help get us to the place where we want | | | | I believe that you will have a difficult time |
| to be. How can we, as humans, recognize this? | | | | understanding black if you've never seen white. |
| If we are a predator, why can we join with the | | | | We live in the world of duality. It's all around us. |
| horse so quickly? Our egos tell us that we have | | | | But can we achieve the higher connection with |
| these great skills that allow us to train better, | | | | the horse just by being with him? Is it simply |
| quicker. Yet isn't it the horse who decides this | | | | mankind's refusal to change that keeps man from |
| relationship? In any initial meeting, it is not the | | | | learning the truths about horses, and opening up |
| contactor who makes the decision of whether or | | | | to the higher relationship we humans were meant |
| not a relationship will go further. Isn't it then, the | | | | to experience on this planet. |
| horse that has the ability to see through being | | | | To begin the battle of working and accepting |
| today's dinner, and allowing contact with us? | | | | change easily, we can only start with small steps. |
| Perhaps horsemanship is about the way we | | | | By watching the teachings of people whose spirits |
| connect with the horse, as opposed to the | | | | connect with horses, it may give us the chance |
| mechanical motions we go through. | | | | to ask questions (within ourselves). Not everyone |
| Horses without humans | | | | is going to resonate with this style quickly or even |
| I took a summer job at 18 for 4 weeks, | | | | at all. But by being around the horse and just |
| surveying and staking claims for a mining | | | | 'being'; not expecting specific outcomes, not |
| company in the BC interior. I was completely | | | | training for tomorrow, but just living in the |
| alone in the bush for the entire time. At week | | | | moment and taking in what that has to offer, can |
| two, I was walking through thick underbrush, and | | | | 'plant a seed' within us that, once initiated, has no |
| came across the most beautiful natural clearing I | | | | alternative but to grow. |
| had ever seen. The grass was incredibly green, | | | | Beyond our physical realm lie the answers to our |
| and the entire meadow was surrounded by old | | | | questions. Is the horse on this planet for the |
| growth forest that felt 'enchanted'. I received this | | | | purpose of us to ride or for us to learn from and |
| energy for about two seconds, when I began to | | | | gain insight? Or both? I am simply putting this out |
| focus on a group of large animals standing dead | | | | there for you to experience at your own time, at |
| still. | | | | your own speed. It is all a solo journey. |
| I had walked into a band of wild horses. Not a | | | | Perhaps we need to ask these questions first, |
| single one fled the scene, but every head was up | | | | before the question of which bit to use, when |
| and every eye was on me. Neither party felt | | | | first beginning a relationship with the horse. |
| fear. Through the middle of the herd, a rather | | | | |