Today was a special day—the full moon hung out to greet the rising sun at the start. I realize now as the day winds down that so many points of pain and distress would be eliminated if everyone can feel heard and seen with compassion. When we can take a few minutes to slow down and listen we can change someone’s day for the better. We don’t all need to be the same. The sun and moon can share the same sky. A horse and a canine hunter can be at peace in the same pasture.
We find this peace when we can listen, not just with our ears, but with all of our senses. Talking with “fellow human”, Cheryl L. Ericksen who pursues healing with horses, we shared our discomfort of forcing horses into any process and the importance of listening to our equine partners. She’s written a book about this I am looking forward to reading, an interactive journal called Horse Listening. She’s also written several other books about her healing work with horses, including Follow Me, Friend, which is about her journey of healing from undiagnosed PTSD with the help of her horse. It was the horse that helped lead her on her journey of self-discovery; and many other horses who showed up in innovative ways to help the humans in the healing programs she worked with. A mutual friend introduced us—and I’m so glad she did!
It was the process of learning to listen to my horses that helped me change the way I work with them. In the late 1990’s I was introduced to the concept of Liberty Training when my parents suggested I check out those training methods to help me with a difficult horse. Suddenly at Liberty, I had to radically change how I worked with the horse. And I began to see how my mental and emotional state influenced my horse. I began the journey of developing a better awareness of my relationship with my horses.
I marvel at the evolution of my relationship with horses. From my earliest memories, there they are, but I have changed so much. The “make them do it”, and “show no fear and get back on no matter what” has evolved to a curious nature:
Why don’t you want to do this? Why do I feel this way at this moment? How can I be better as a steward and student of my horses? How can I ensure they can live and be happy in this human-oriented world if I’m not here?
Some things they must learn to accept to do—to be civil on a lead and under saddle, to let the vet do their job, to tolerate hoof trimming and wound tending with patience. I do what I can to ensure that they can land with a caring human. Some might say it’s morbid but life is fragile and precious. Tomorrow is not promised.
The more I learn, the more questions I have:
How did I have horses for so long and not know the basics of their locomotion—that unlike a dog that pulls with its front legs in a sprint a horse vaults over the locked forelimb?
How important their self-carriage is? That an extended fast of 12 hours during the daylight hours is extremely damaging to their stomach but that same period of not eating during dark time does not? Knowledge should be humbling—when we know everything, we lose the ability to learn.
And so my mind wanders…
Be kind to one another. Be curious in a nice way.
If you are struggling with feeling at peace in your body and who you are, we are here: To listen, to share in the journey of knowing yourself and finding peace.
My horses and donkeys proved yet again today their willingness to help people find healing. I am thankful to be a part of that.