Two things can be true at once, often are. Holding space for both is where the challenge lies. Also the reward.
What do I mean?
This:
We want to be around horses so they can meet some of our needs. And their needs matter too, even when they’re different from our own.
Horses are sentient beings with highly developed nervous systems. They’re also prey animals that may outweigh us 10 to 1 and have no clue how to function in our world without guidance.
Horses deserve to be treated with kindness and respect. And they require boundaries so humans can safely care for and interact with them.
Softness has is place. So does pressure – as little as possible, as much as necessary.
We can build wonderful partnerships with horses. And horses aren’t funny shaped humans or giant dogs. Or furniture we can ignore indefinitely.
Fun, contentment and joy are important in our journey with horses. So are learning, consistency and growth.
You’re allowed to have your opinions and methods. That also means others get to have theirs.
It’s great to have a very trainable horse. And the word train in this context is a verb.
Never before in history has most horses’ workload been this low. Never before in history has most people’s need for a quiet, unshakable mount been so high.
We’ve never wanted so badly to feel connected to our horses. And never been more disconnected from how nature actually works.
The duality of realities in the horse world is wild. We can bridge those gaps and make the bridges something beautiful when we become aware.
Batteries need plus and minus poles for our devices to work and your car to start. Many less tangible things in life do too.
Picture of me having some fun while gentling Little Colorado WY Mustang gelding Huckleberry at Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy . He’s very smart, expressive, playful and just learning how to “people”.
Shortly after this I got to explain to him that some play behaviors are only ok around other horses, not humans. It’s all part of it.
