Horses are incredible animals. For some they talk, for others they run, and for others they simply work and eat. Those who talk to horses become subject in a good way. Please, let me explain.
Horses have been around for 40 million years. They were a much smaller version back then. They were the size of a big squirrel and were always looking for shelter.
Forty-five thousand year ago they began to evolved into a much larger, faster, stronger and smarter version. Yet, there need for shelter and security has continued into today.
Left alone a group of horses will organically form a herd, a community. A heard of wild horses has a structure, a hierarchy. Different responsibilities in the herd attract different horses. A social order rules.
Horses recognize 17 different facial expressions in humans, three more than dogs and one more than monkeys. That’s a scientific fact. They know the emotions and character of humans. When separated from the herd, horses are smart enough to choose a human as their surrogate leader and security blanket. This relationship requires trust.
Recently, I saw a cowboy horse handler from out west named Jim Anderson on TV. He displayed the kind of life you’d imagine seeing in a movie; roping, herding, grooming, you name it, Jim was doing the cowboy thing in real life. Like Dr. Doolittle, he is known to "talk to horses." There are countless reasons to hold horses in high esteem. Jim explained it well.
He described the procedure of reconstructing a horse by building the horse’s spirit, not breaking it. I don’t like using the word ‘breaking’ because that’s not what Jim does, he reconstructs the spirit and habits through trust. Jim took the viewer through a step-by-step process of guiding a horse he was reconstructing into trustful confidence. It turns out that horses are better students than many humans.
Jim stated that horses just want to please their leader. When they trust, they can be trained to do almost anything, even things against their nature. They’re the perfect student.
Their bodies have evolved to work in unique and fascinating ways. Their eyes are larger than those of any other land animal, allowing them to see 360 degrees around. Their teeth never stop growing because their diet of grasses wears them down constantly. Through evolution, they’ve lost all their toes except one on each foot which have turned into hooves that act as shock absorbers against the pounding of running. They can generate energy without oxygen, enabling them to run tirelessly, effortlessly, and elevatingly. Their structure allows them to run exceedingly fast, as they glide through the air. They are built for speed, power, cooperation, endurance, and intelligence. This is why they are called the royal animals. Oh, and they are also exquisitely beautiful God-made creatures.
Humans have a special relationship with horses. As I said before, horses have a great innate ability to understand us. When Jim is reconstructing a horse, they must truly trusts him, and thus, he can also understand what the horse is experiencing. It’s communication on an intuitive level. It’s a love made in heaven for both the horse and its leader. Jim explained that when a horse trusts him, he will never betray that trust. He will never let anything happen to his trustful companion. Jim is a really good leader, a horse whisper.
The leader of a herd is not necessarily the strongest, the fastest, the biggest, or male. The leader could be, and often is, a female. This means that horses have the caliber to understand character not just size. Horses are not normal animals; they are exceptional. And there’s more.
The ultimate purpose of a horse herds is for security. To survive, horses have a mode of conduct, a standard, and a dutiful nature. All are commanded to follow this code to maintain their security. Horses are smarter than most of us. They’ve learned to keep their eye on the ball, the mission, and not get distracted. They follow their leader’s command, always looking for a facial cue.
Horses have figured out how to analyze character and select a leader who possesses the highest character. The selected leader of a herd always keeps the herd’s security in mind. They require this of a surrogate leader as well. When a surrogate, human leader takes over and matches up, he become their muse, inquisitor, reminder, teacher, friend and lover. Horses become whatever their new leader directs them to be. No wonder humans love horses so much.
Not all horse leaders reach the point of becoming teachers, lovers and friends. Many view them as mere vehicles, like motorcycles, to ride and use. Jim explained that horses and humans can have a unique relationship. A horse can become a leader’s best friend and spiritual love; a true love based on trust. A spiritual love because a human’s trust in God mirrors a horse’s trust in its leader.
When a human leader and a horse become bonded, love is experienced at a different level, a different dimension. It’s the experience of a horse who has surrendered trust to its cowboy. For the cowboy, it’s the gratitude for the love of a horse that treats him with such trustful esteem.
Horses can and do promote healing as well. They only want the best for their leaders and they mean it! That support is perpetual, priceless and healing. As stated above, horses understand our facial expressions. When we reciprocate by recognizing a horse’s facial expressions, true communication results.
When I was a kid, we boarded a horse at a stable just a half mile or so from my home. Scarlet was a beautiful mare, a brownish red-colored thoroughbred. The stable encouraged me to brush and groom Scarlet after riding her. Back then, I didn't know why? Now I understand why. In the wild, horses world they groom each other all the time. It’s another way of building trust. Scarlet loved it when I groomed her and so did I.
Jim never forced himself on the horse he was retraining. He treated his horses with respect and compassion. He claims that he can train a horse to do anything, and I believe him. He never blamed the horse for any stumble; he just focused on moving on, letting the horse have space to vent.
Horses are well-designed for running, their number one activity. They run faster, farther, stronger and longer than any other animal. They are made to run beyond their capacity, beyond their limits. If humans experienced the total exhaustion and pain associated with those running performances, we would have passed out long before. Horses are grazers, not predators. They’re made for outrunning predators. This is how horses elevate, get high. In fact, how they experience an intoxicating piece of God’s grace, an elevating experience like when we do yoga.
Horses can’t wait to run. They don’t experience pain as we do. They’re made to endure, not surrender to pain. This creates an experience beyond the physical and into the realm of elevation. In yogic terms, it’s called Samadhi.
Here’s the real kicker: horses want to see character in humans, especially in their leaders. Jim hears his horse speak to him through true trust. Horses need true trust, and trust is built through character. Character is what has kept horse herds surviving. This is what horses innately need. It’s a community effort. They take care of each other. Good character is the herd standard. Who knew horses could discern the differences? Horses are so regal and so subtle that it takes a conscious person to hear their voice. It’s good training for experiencing God’s love. It’s just God in different clothing.
Life is fascinating. If we look at it symbolically; character builds trust, trust builds compassion, and compassion builds unity, merger. This is the way of Infinity. It’s also the way of the horse herd.
There’s a lot more to be said about horses. The bridge between humans and horses has been traversed too many times to be denied now, although many still do. Just knowing that horses expect more from us than we expect from ourselves qualifies them as good teachers, friends and lovers. And they keep us straight as great protective leaders. Who knew? Stay tuned.
In Perfect Harmony,
Your Partner and Friend in this Fantastic Journey,
Hari Jiwan
