| Horses inspire awe and fear in many people, given | | | | (or "spook") at the rustling of leaves or the presence |
| their massive girth and noted unpredictability. They are, | | | | of a bee. If I weighed 1200 pounds I don't suppose I'd |
| therefore, one of the best teachers we have available | | | | be afraid of anything but this is one of nature's great |
| to us. Any time we fear something it has power over | | | | ironies: horses are scaredy-cats. It is incumbent upon |
| us. Horses are bred to serve and in fact this service | | | | the rider, therefore, to convey calm and confidence. |
| gives them pleasure. Learning to ride a horse, | | | | When I first moved from the East coast to Colorado I |
| therefore, is less about domination than servitude. If we | | | | was full of East-coast energy. Everything I did, I did in a |
| can appreciate the horse's mission and work with him, | | | | big hurry. Needless to say, this didn't bode well for my |
| riding becomes a shared pleasure. | | | | equine friends. If I came careening into the corral to |
| Surprisingly, men are often more afraid of riding than | | | | catch and ride a horse, the herd just moved away |
| women. The vast majority of riders under the age of | | | | from me. It was enormously frustrating for awhile, until I |
| 18 are girls, and much has been written about the | | | | learned to change my inner energy. Now, I can simply |
| psychology of horses and adolescent girls. It is | | | | stand still and the horses come to me. |
| surprising indeed to see a tiny, bony 12 year old | | | | This is typical of the lessons we can be taught by |
| standing with confidence next to a 1200 pound mare, | | | | horses, lessons unavailable to us in our office, homes, |
| both of them swishing their pony tails. Typically, grown | | | | and busy lives. Working with a horse, you learn to |
| men have more muscle mass than women yet they | | | | change your inner awareness even before you come |
| show more fear in approaching a horse, being bred | | | | to the barn. Riding a horse is all about changing your |
| themselves to believe that physical strength means | | | | Self and there is nothing more amazing than the |
| domination and, perhaps, pain. This is why learning to | | | | synchronicity of moving in rhythm with such a strong |
| ride a horse is enormously beneficial, and not just for | | | | and willing animal. Every step of the way, in riding a |
| men. Horses challenge us to reevaluate our traditional | | | | horse you are developing yourself. There is no need to |
| notions of strength and power. | | | | fear these awesome animals although, like the ocean, |
| Like most animals and humans as well, horses respond | | | | the mountains or any other force of nature they are to |
| to love and work best in an atmosphere of | | | | be respected for their strength. However, unlike other |
| acceptance and peace. When approaching a horse, | | | | forms of natural strength the horse is there to serve |
| experienced riders and tough old cowboys alike are | | | | us. |
| likely to speak softly, make their presence known | | | | If you decide to challenge yourself with this lesson, |
| early, and convey their desire to be with the horse. | | | | start slowly and calm down from there. You will find |
| There is nothing threatening about the approach of a | | | | peace and sweetness in the act of grooming. You will |
| human unless the human makes it so. Horses are prey | | | | learn to saddle slowly and with care, watching out for |
| animals, not predators, and therefore they are pretty | | | | the horse's well being the whole time. She will respond |
| scared of the smallest and silliest things, particularly | | | | to this peace and caring, and try to ride well for you. |
| those things that sneak up on them. This is why | | | | Take your fear to the barn, friends, and let another |
| horses have a reputation for unpredictability; they shy | | | | species teach you the truth about power. |