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AUGUST 2006 • VOLUME 12 • © Copyright HORSES For LIFE™ Publications
HUMAN NATURE – working with horses
‘Horses, a gift from God, will mirror our own personalities and become our best teachers.’ (Jenny Rolfe)
Can you remember listening to the initial chords of a piece of music on the radio? How many notes did you hear before you recognized the melody? Was your mind transported from everyday thoughts to a tune which you love, or a moment in time? What were your thoughts before the music began? The sound of music has momentarily changed your way of thinking and stimulated a totally different feeling. This ability to redirect our thoughts and feelings will be invaluable to us when working with our horses. Western civilization demands a very structured, self motivated and, at times, technical mind to cope with the changes and pressures of our way of life. People are in danger of losing basic spirituality and feelings, which keep us in tune with our own natural rhythms and individuality. The work place can demand a façade of mechanical smiles and responses which do not truly reflect the true feelings of the individual. This all takes us away from our true self and I believe causes many physical and emotional health problems. Time is precious and also time is money, therefore many of us can fall into the trap of never having enough time for our own calmness and contemplation.
They understood the nature of the horse as their lives were so mutually dependant and connected. This enabled both man and horse to be in total harmony with nature. The horse is more than worthy of this special place in the life of mankind, but we may not have the time to understand how much more the horse can offer. Nations continue to seek the materialistic wealth of the Western World, but these are not necessarily the ingredients for happiness. These goals can be short lived, if we cannot feel in tune with our true nature or be in touch with personal, loving and caring relationships. When we introduce horses into our lives, what do we have to offer them?
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I have been reading about the life of the Native American tribes and how their land and lifestyle has been eroded leaving them to face many psychological problems. They cannot adapt to our ‘civilized’ way of life. Their spiritual nature was nomadic and restless whilst they lived side by side with their horses. Their horses were not just fed twice a day, but were an integral part of the tribe. The people understood their horses as their survival became interwoven with the sharing of their freedom and their struggle for existence.
