Such a Sad State

I got to meet a horse yesterday. He was shy, a bit skeptical and very quiet. He was described as a horse anyone can ride. His overall demeanor was of resignation even though he was shod and in pretty good physical condition. He had been cared for. At least on the outside.

As I worked with him, peeling back the layers of indifference from him that obviously he was treated with. I met a horse who was treated like a tool. He received everything I did, at least at first, without a response. I waited from time to time to give him some space to process as I was working with him in an interactive way. I wanted to hear what he had to say. Slowly, his expression changed from resignation to mild interest and I thought, “There you are. Now I see you.” That’s where I love to be; seeing the horse, the being he is, his ideas from his past, and how he’s perceiving things now. At one point, I walked away to get something and he spontaneously followed me. “I like this better,” he seemed to be saying. I smiled deep, deep inside. “You’re worth seeing. You’re worth caring for. You’re worth listening to. You’re worth beneficial exercises to keep you healthy, flexible, and strong.”

I saddled him and he seemed to drift away again. When I saw this, I stepped back. “Don’t leave me,” I thought to myself and sent as my intent. After his breathing normalized and his face began to show expression again, I quietly cinched him up. I walked to the mounting block and stepped up which startled him. I’m sure he had been mounted from the ground almost exclusively so I took some time to give him scratches from the mounting block. He wasn’t comfortable with me drawing him to the mounting block so I walked him around a bit and brought the mounting block beside him. “It’s okay, I don’t mind doing things your way.”

I gave him his head and let him walk off as he has been a general riding horse with some gymkhana experience. I felt him return to the state of resignation. That made me sad. It is a noble thing to have the privilege to ride a horse but many don’t seem to see it that way. And the horse can tell. I know many, many people don’t think so but horses are very in tune with intent. If I intend to honor a horse and educate him in a way that benefits him, he knows. Even if something is confusing or frustrating they seem to understand when I’m trying my best to explain something to them; a concept or movement that will ultimately benefit them. They try just like I try and the mutual effort toward understanding is a magical interaction.

“Do you understand a neck rein or a direct rein?” I asked him. We walked about trying things both ways. He reacted defensively to my requests through the rein aids even though he was obedient. It was a similar case with the leg aids. If I moved my legs quickly to imitate a kick (I didn’t kick him) he would startle and become noticeably upset. The old phrase, “There’s been some cowboys up in here,” came to mind. Again I was saddened. He was obedient but in a state of withdrawal, far away somewhere instead of present and interactive.

People can be entirely unaware that this is how he tolerates his existence.

This is a profoundly sad state of affairs for horses and horsemanship. Cruelty is fairly easy to spot but indifference? Lack of consideration? He has food and water so does it matter? I mean really…does it matter? I suppose it depends on the individual interacting with the horse. Why is that person there? What are they seeking from their time spent with a horse?

Something easy? “Don’t want a horse I have to lunge before I get on.”

Something inanimate? “Horse won’t put a foot wrong. Anyone can ride him.”

Something you can walk away and forget about until the nice weather returns? “Oh, I want to be able to leave him for months and he rides just the same.”

Something convenient? “I don’t have time for a horse that needs groundwork. I just want to ride.”

Something to use for what you want to do? “I want to barrel race.” “I want to rein.” “I want to do dressage.” “I want to jump.”

There’s nothing wrong with selecting a naturally gifted horse for the activity you would like to do. But do you want to interact (act in such a way as to have an effect on one another; act reciprocally) with your horse while you “go and do” or is the horse the conduit for you to “do the thing?” There is a huge difference between the two. One puts the horse, his existence as a sentient being, his likes and dislikes, his learning curve, and his physical and emotional well-being ahead of the activity. The other uses the horse for his abilities and gives him pats and praise for doing instead of being.

All I know is that I don’t want to meet another horse like the one I met yesterday…unfortunately, I know I will.