The
more I journey into greater awareness of our Horse's needs the more I realise how asleep I've been, until now!
A horse has 3 vital needs:
Human history is peppered with bold and creative stories of individuals or groups striving to achieve freedom for self, or others. Our liberty extends beyond being a principle or need, it is a basic human right that appauls us if absent.
How would you feel if you lost your freedom? Facing the potential loss of a driving license for many of us throws us into despair at the sense of imposed confinement and loss of choice. We hear on the TV of young girls forced into unhappy even abusive marriages, and we read of hostage taking or incarcerations in the name of Anti Terrorism.
In such circumstances how long would you want to keep 'giving your best'? Would life seem rich in quality? Would you trust those around you? Would you fulfill your potential or have the resilience to carry on trying?
A horse has 3 vital needs:
- freedom to roam,
- free access to forage (i.e. unlimited not inexpensive)!
- friends (horses) to connect and contact with
Looking first at "freedom", history offers many inspirational people and events to show us its importance...
Emancipation of the Serfs
Martin Luther King
Emily Pankhurst
Nelson Mandella
Gay rights activists
Human history is peppered with bold and creative stories of individuals or groups striving to achieve freedom for self, or others. Our liberty extends beyond being a principle or need, it is a basic human right that appauls us if absent.
" Exemption from external control"
Freedom in the dictionary is defined as 'exemption from external control'. In our daily lives this shows up in many ways - we have the freedom to roam and set up home where we
chose, and with whom we chose; we are free to chose if we work, have freedom in how we dress, what we eat, how we exercise (if at all), what medical help we seek or accept; freedom of expression, and the freedom to 'find oneself'.
How would you feel if you lost your freedom? Facing the potential loss of a driving license for many of us throws us into despair at the sense of imposed confinement and loss of choice. We hear on the TV of young girls forced into unhappy even abusive marriages, and we read of hostage taking or incarcerations in the name of Anti Terrorism.
In such circumstances how long would you want to keep 'giving your best'? Would life seem rich in quality? Would you trust those around you? Would you fulfill your potential or have the resilience to carry on trying?
The
consequence to our human soul and spirit if we lose our freedom can be devastating. Some of
us wouldn't survive; giving up; our spirit broken. Perhaps this sounds familiar when horses spirits were deliberately broken in order that we could ride them. In remembering the Horse's 3 needs we realise that they often don't have their first need: freedom. Sometimes they don't have it for the duration of their life! So, why wouldn't the loss of such a fundamental need have an equally destructive effect on them, as it has upon us?
Consider the lifestyle of many horses today...
Are horses exempt from external control? Are they free to be happy? Can they freely express who they are and be themselves? If not, how reasonable are we being species to species to expect them to trust us, reward us, partner with us, perform for us, obey us and succeed for us?
If the above list sounds exaggerated - that would be a good thing for our horses. It's only when we take a moment to look at the life of our cherished friends using a self made list like the one above, that we can step back and address our horses' first need: that of freedom! Taking stock has got to be a good thing in the long run, its when we fail to stop and observe - that things can go from bad to worse in our own lives and perhaps for our horses too.
Ironically, many humans are drawn to horses because they represent freedom - images of the wind running through their manes and our hair. Their freedom is an especially enticing one; being full of power, elegance, kindness and nobility. Surely its time we returned back to them some of those characteristics and let them find more freedom in their daily lives with us. Helping our horses experience their heritage might allow us to seek more ways to feel free in our lives. Free from pressure, opression, duty, obligation, and the need to fulfill the expectations of others.
Essy expressed his desire to be free from ridden work and the saddle. I've honoured that. Instead we are forming a new partnership in hand and with walks around the Estate. The benefits for me have been a sense of slowing down, relaxation and more time spent in nature with nature.
So far so good!
Consider the lifestyle of many horses today...
- They are moved about the country, or world, with no say on where or when
- They are bought and sold with no say in by whom
- They have no control over a lifestyle spent indoors or outdoors
- Are often kept isolated from contact with other horses
- Told when they can or can't run!
- Have a limited chance to self medicate and select natural remedies
- Exist without permission to self express; kick, leap, buck, rear, twist and turn whenever they want
- Have no choice of 'mate'
- No say in their quantity of offspring
- No enforced 'retirement' age
- Don't know that their schooling and education will one day be over
Are horses exempt from external control? Are they free to be happy? Can they freely express who they are and be themselves? If not, how reasonable are we being species to species to expect them to trust us, reward us, partner with us, perform for us, obey us and succeed for us?
If the above list sounds exaggerated - that would be a good thing for our horses. It's only when we take a moment to look at the life of our cherished friends using a self made list like the one above, that we can step back and address our horses' first need: that of freedom! Taking stock has got to be a good thing in the long run, its when we fail to stop and observe - that things can go from bad to worse in our own lives and perhaps for our horses too.
Ironically, many humans are drawn to horses because they represent freedom - images of the wind running through their manes and our hair. Their freedom is an especially enticing one; being full of power, elegance, kindness and nobility. Surely its time we returned back to them some of those characteristics and let them find more freedom in their daily lives with us. Helping our horses experience their heritage might allow us to seek more ways to feel free in our lives. Free from pressure, opression, duty, obligation, and the need to fulfill the expectations of others.
Essy expressed his desire to be free from ridden work and the saddle. I've honoured that. Instead we are forming a new partnership in hand and with walks around the Estate. The benefits for me have been a sense of slowing down, relaxation and more time spent in nature with nature.
So far so good!
No comments:
Post a Comment