Tuesday 15 April 2014

Through the eyes of a horse: back to basics

I often wonder how it must feel to be a horse?  

How what must feel? 

Everything!

How do our human voices sound to them?  How loud is loud?  Do they hear bird song the same way we do or is it different through their ears?

How hot, prickly and claustrophobic must they feel in leg bandages, wraps, boots and rugs?

How does it feel to wear a head-collar, bridle and be pulled around by your head?

We know how sensitive their bodies are to a fly landing on them, but below that fur do they feel wind as wind like we do, and detect the difference between a warm breeze or cool chill? Or is it just wind?

Does a morning's soggy dew covered grass feel wet to their feet?  Is it a cold horrid damp on their muzzle, or is it refreshing and vitalising, or something else?

Is wearing a saddle and girth similar to how I feel wearing tights and bras - constrained and as if I can't breathe (yes I get claustrophobic feet in tights see earlier post)!

How does it feel to be isolated from your own species?  Left alone for hours in a stable?  Patted and stroked by gnarly human hands without invitation?

How does a slap feel to them?  How deep does the sting resonate? 

What about the grating sound of metal scraping forks, barrows and harrows?

When you stop to think, there must be so much discord for them in the human environment and that's before cars, motorbikes, yapping dogs, booming radios and doors slamming get added in!  Surely it's time to be curious about this quiet quality of our horses and consider what gifts in us it could open up if we just noticed it and got in step!

When I need to work, focus, concentrate or be creative, I seek out a quiet place usually with just the sound of bird song or the oceans waves as background.



When I'm physically unwell or emotionally down its a walk in nature that usually provides the most relief.



Have we stripped away too much of what nature has to offer with modern life?  Have we buried the world's natural healing capability below blankets of machinery, vehicles and technology? Have we gone a step too far?  If we haven't yet - will we know when and if we do?

A friend came to visit the horses last night.  All three of my herd came into the menage for some light exercise.  We watched and discuss their movement and how well they were all moving.  No body looked in pain.  Yet, I explained, the problem with horses is that if they were in pain for example Essy having a head ache right now - they would most likely try to conceal it.  Showing physical weakness if you are a prey animal heightens your risk of being eaten! So they learn to conceal pain well.

This served as yet another reminder for me of just  how quiet, a horse is.  

They don't yelp like a dog does when injured or hit.  They don't bark to sound the alarm or whimper to get attention.  They don't purr like cats or imitate sounds like a budgerigar.  They are truly quiet animals.

Doesn't it make you wonder if we owe them some quiet times back?  To become a better carer/ rider/ owner who recognises this peace loving quality horses have and to do all we can to provide that for them, as much as we can, as often as we can?

Maybe in the process we would quieten ourselves, our minds, our movements as we slow everything down.

Imagine creating a simple new daily routine of a 3 minute ritual of doing and saying nothing with your horse each time you arrive at the yard/field.  No stroking, touching, chitter chatter - just 3 minutes of NOTHING.

Try it at home now - it will no doubt seem like an eternity and may even feel irritating!  Or, for some it will feel calming and wonderful.  For all of us this simple task can bring massive health benefits and lucid thinking.  For all of us it CAN and WILL feel fabulous - but first we have to get past the irritation stage. The only way to do that is to keep practising!

On my website (Jigsawequine.com) there is a free 3 minute meditation to download.  It's a script for you to print, read and either memorise (the gist only) or record into your phone to have on hand.

When I use this meditation at seminars it never fails to dazzle people with the wonderful calming effect it has on them.  It NEVER fails - now how often can we make a claim like that in life!



Last night as my friend and I worked on Solar's Heart Meridian, we talked aloud to each other.  I was conscious of our talking as it was not something I would normally allow myself to do while in a healing treatment with her.  However, there were exceptional circumstances last night.  But, towards the end of the healing, as I stood up to finish the treatment and do the 'close down ritual' with Solar Sue, we both fell silent and stopped talking.

There it was!  In that wonderful space of pure silence, Solar went into a deep healing state.  Her head lowered, her muzzle twitched and as her eyes closed, mine did too, as she relaxed and breathed out so did both humans.

No one moved or spoke it was pure silence and togetherness - you could not have bottled it and sold it to be any better! 

My friend's comments "wow, I feel so privileged to have shared that moment"!  

.....What a wonderful tribute to Solar Sue and to the power of wanting to help heal one another.


What did I hear in her words?  The sound of a spiritual lady who should be around horses as much as possible for her sake and for theirs!

As a contrast  I began to wonder how each of the "3 Human Myth carriers" in my earlier post might have reacted and what their words might have sounded like.  That is,  if they would have even stayed to be part of the experience or would they have dashed off to smooch with another horse, fluff up a bank, or drive home bored?

Just maybe... Silence is Golden and we really are making life too complicated for both ourselves and our horses!  Its certainly giving me some good food for thought about the direction I'm heading towards and quickly!

Another great 'wake up' moment - thanks Claire!





1 comment:

  1. An excellent reminder to meditate with our horses as well as alone - thank you.

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