“Are you being led by your spirit or your wound?” ~ Our Lady of Lust and Grace
Yes, we hold views other than those of the mainstream horse world. In that sense, yes we're pagans. Why? Basically because years of experiential learning has taught us that horses - as fellow sentient beings - are intelligent enough to take responsibility for themselves and make their own choices. We don't anthropomorphise, but we also agree with Charles Darwin that - in whatever way they sense and feel - horses do experience pain, pleasure, fear, friendship and joy. And a dozen variants of those emotions in between. To that end, we don't train to gain points for ourselves, and we don't ride much anymore.
Do we spend our time justifying our possession of 'paddock ornaments' instead? (I really dislike that term.) Not any longer. No animal should need to be useful to humans to deserve their life. It's humans who are goal driven. The rest of the animal world is survival driven.
Horses never evolved for humans to ride them. That was man's idea and it had a lot to do with control. Control over other humans, particularly during times of conflict, and control over the environment. Horses helped man gain far more control of his environment than was perhaps good for horses, in the end. I sometimes wonder how our world would have expanded without them.
Just because we don't ride much anymore doesn't mean we don't take responsibility for the animals in our care. We haven't given them away or sold them because they don't have a 'job'. They DO have a job. Being horses.
As I noted in a recent post, there's really no such thing as true freedom or liberty for domestic horses these days, even unridden ones. We take our horses on 'liberty walks'. They have more choice and they have room to gallop around, but there are still boundaries. Liberty and freedom are attitudes, like compassion. Just like being positive, kind, proactive and ethical are attitudes. Choices we make every day.
So what can you and your non-ridden horse do together? Just about anything you like - within the comfort zones of the horse, of course. Approach it with no agenda other than to see what your horse might enjoy. Horses can enjoy ground agility, bush walks, liberty walks, tricks, swimming, jumping, jogging, pet therapy, painting, breed shows, soccer, fetch (ball games), dancing, helping heal fellow humans and horses (EFL/EEL/EGALA/EPONA, etc.), mutual grooming, mindful grooming, trekking, just sitting and chilling, yoga, meditation, airs-above-the-ground (haute ecole minus the saddle)...the scope is almost literally endless. Non-riding involves more and healthier exercise for you, plus bonding and brain work for your horse. Win-win. Like most humans and other animals, horses can be taught to reason more. I believe all animals reason, in their own way. By expanding their educational horizons, you can teach them to make more informed and safer decisions. Even if they decide they don't want to do that particular thing anymore. Some horses are gifted in certain areas in the same way some humans are. Our goal can be to help them pinpoint those gifts and enjoy them. (As opposed to 'make the most of them'. Because horses don't really need to be 'the best' at something, do they? That's a human ego trip waiting to go bad.)
You can also leave your horse/s to just be, for periods of time. Check on them yes, but maybe just leave them to get on with doing what they do best - living their lives. Eating, drinking, moving, interacting with the herd, resting. Let's face it, they are rarely doing 'nothing'. Several of our wild rescued horses want no more than a large, safe, comfortable place to 'be'.
We can learn more from our horses than they can learn from us, if we take the time to watch and listen. Our horses have taught us more about human behaviour and our own inner strengths and weaknesses than our fellow humans have. (Even the professional ones!). The herd here have helped us grow, and they continue to remind us to be authentic, compassionate, observant, intuitive, and to try and live lighter. We continue to learn and are ever grateful for the reminders.
So if you don't already do it, maybe once in a while start by taking your horse for a walk, with you beside them. Halter, lead rope, relaxed safe environment to start with. Bush walking with your horse is great fun, we do that a lot. The horse gets to see new places, browse new shrubs, spend time with you (and maybe other horse mates), maybe play a few bush games, etc. Going paddling in a dam with your horse in summer is also great fun. You will learn to know if your horse agrees.
As I said earlier, we don't ride much anymore. None of our horses are shod. When we do ride, if it isn't ceremonial (Australian Light Horse WWI re-enactment/educational visits), we ride in bitless bridles and treeless saddles. And it's hopefully by mutual consent. I do believe some horses enjoy being ridden. We have one particular older gelding who gets the greatest pleasure in the world out of heading out with my husband (his best mate), to herd cattle or go bush. That gelding gallops down to the gate whenever the float comes out. He knows.
The point is that a horse can be so much more - a companion animal and friend, not just a sports accessory or an ego boost. Humans like to control things. I think it's healthier for all of us if we try to let go of that need as much as possible, with our horses, ourselves and each other. Namaste.
“We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through.
Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love... and then we return home.”
- Australian Aboriginal Proverb
