APRIL 2006 • VOLUME 8 • ©HORSES For LIFE™ Magazine

Horses Never Lie, Cant Lie, Don't Lie but never sit in judgment. They give you a mirror to what you are, who you are, and are waiting for you to come back. They give you answers that you didn't know were questions.

What does it say about us as human beings that when we are presented with those answers that we become hurt, that our feelings get hurt, that we get mad, or that we close our ears and won't listen to those truths.

I think sometimes I am more horse then human. That when I see someone ride, see a picture or a video, I simply tell them truth, honest truth, non-judgmental truth. This is what I see. This is what you are doing to your horse, this is the effect on your horse. This does not mean I think you are a bad person. This is not to insinuate that this means you are not a good mother, capable father, good care giver, loving wife, or...even a bad rider. This just means this is what you are doing now. This is something, you can change and become yet a better rider. Your choice. This is a truth of what I see. A simple truth.

The same way the horses tell me each and every time I am with them. Hey you, did you see this? Ah...sorry I didn't realize that, let me change that, or try to anyways.

Their truths are presented to me with stunning simplicity. No sugar coating, no meanness, just simple unvarnished and complete truth. Which has been presented to me at times, over and over again, with them quietly, and without judgment waiting for me to answer or perhaps to even see the truth that they are presenting, patiently over and over again through the years.

This is one lesson the horses have taught me. The most important perhaps. The simplicity, the truth, is not a judgment, it just simply is. The same way that gravity exists, or that the earth does or the same way that my mother's love for me exists. It simply is. It is never a judgment. It is simply an existence, a moment in time, it is not who I am. It doesn't define me.

What does define me, is what I do with this knowledge.

Do I ignore it?

Do I share it?

Do I change?

Not to share the truths, would be to ignore truth.

Truth is often ignored.  We change our realities to see ourselves in a softer, kinder light. But changing realities, to not live in truth, is to be living a lie.

Would you rather have someone see you, exactly for who and what you are, and knowing "you", love "you" or would you rather they see the picture of who, you want them to see, because you do not want to share those things that you are not comfortable with, those things that you are perhaps ashamed of, or things that you think are unlovable.

The animals around us live in a higher truth. One where they see what you do, as what you do, not a judgment on who you are. The two are separate in more ways then perhaps we realize.

There is nothing in you that you need to be ashamed of, each of you are beautiful and deserving of love, as each baby that is born is deserving of love of their mother, as each puppy and kitten, and horse, and dog and cat are deserving of love. If those around you, show you that what you are doing is wrong, that is a truth that you can then change. It is a joyous opportunity of growth, and becoming what you are meant to be.

We are all on this journey together.

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