REMEMBERING WHY WE DO IT

After a long day of hustling, coaching, riding (if I’m lucky enough to have enough time), working on projects, driving, meetings, more meetings, ordering, taking phone calls and messages from clients needing assistance / advise, and trying to find a small time frame to exercise, and knowing there is still cooking and cleaning to come, there is no better therapy in the world “of a horse girl” than walking through the stables, horses at ease, with the sound of them chewing at their evening feed, tucked in to their stables safely, with the smell of fresh teff lingering in the stables, gentle stomps from feet and soft nickers as I glance into each stable to ensure they are eating well and content.

This is why I do it. And I am sure why many of my fellow coaches, yard owners and stable managers do what we do. This love for the equine is misunderstood by many, but the ones who do understand it know that it is part of their being, their life’s purpose, to be the care takers for the majestic horse. To give them the care they give us in an internal (and external) way.

As I am sure you’re somehow involved with horses if you are reading this blog, we can all agree that the relationship between humans and horses is one of the most long standing deeply bonded relationships of our world along with dogs, besides livestock for obvious reasons. Horses have been a part of our forefathers and their forefathers lives taking them through perils and pitfalls, victories and celebrations. They have a strong presence in all history books, from the beginning to this very moment in time.

Their presence in our everyday lives is far more complicated than it was hundreds of years ago, but yet their purpose remains, no matter what line of “use” they are in – to be there for us and assist us in some form. From being in the Police mounted unit and fighting to control angry crowds, to being a companion animal or emotional support horse. We see horses doing Pet’s as Therapy work, visiting old age homes and bringing joy and love to the elderly, we see horses in competitions excelling as elite athletes, we see them being used to explore the African wild, used in farms to work the livestock, carry heavy loads for us on expeditions, pull and plow our lands so we can plant crops for food, pull carriages / carts, carry us across vast deserts, and just taking us on leisurely hacks to give us a moment to escape from the busy world we live in.

How often do we stop and think about a horse and really think… think why they have been a strong presence in the lives of human beings… I believe its because of what they do for every human they interact with. Without humans realising it, horses have healed human kind from heartache, depression and sadness from the beginning. Their ability to sense our smallest fear, respond to our movements without touch, help regulate our heart beat, and connect to us on a deeper level is why they have been and will always be a part of the human species journey on this planet. They heal what is broken internally.

So come to this present day, and ask yourself: “what does my horse do for me besides winning rosettes and making me look good in front of my fellow riders… what does my horse do for me internally? Why do we do what we do? Is all the rosettes really the driving force for why I have horses?”

Here is my answer to that, and I’m sure a lot of people will agree:

When I am with my horse, I feel the weight of the world leave my shoulders, I forget for a moment of all the pressure the world is expecting of me, and I feel calmed and happy, from within. My horses wellbeing means my wellbeing, and I am the bravest, happiest version of myself when I am with my horse. No matter how many rosettes we get or don’t get, everyday with my horse is a perfect day.

Whatever the reason is that you are involved in the world of equestrians, it is a wonderful and truly magical, daily gift to be able to experience.
Lets keep remembering why we do it.
Lets keep loving the horse first.

B x