The Horses… The Teachers
Do you give the horse its strength or clothe its neck with a flowing mane? Do you make it leap like a locust, striking terror with its proud snorting? It paws fiercely, rejoicing in its strength, and charges into the fray. It laughs at fear, afraid of nothing; it does not shy away from the sword.” Job 39:19-22
Horses are sentient creatures admired for their strength, beauty and courage. They have the spirit of warriors! It is because of those qualities that we are drawn to horses yet it is their gentle spirits and honest willingness that enables us to learn about ourselves. In a tranquil atmosphere, our visitors are given the opportunity to spend time with our equine teachers, providing a fun and engaging way to learn.
What makes horses different from people is their inability to lie. Horses are truly authentic in mind, body and spirit. Humans on the other hand have the unique ability to say one thing with their mouth and something completely different with their body while feeling something else in their hearts. With horses, what they are feeling is shown directly in how they act. There is no discrepancy. Not only are they authentic, but in order to gain their respect, horses ask that we show up in an authentic way too. They respond with complete honesty to our actions. Our herd of horses are the experts on relational living, since their very existence depends on their ability to co-exist in harmony. As we watch a herd of horses grazing in a far off field, we are drawn to the peaceful existence they portray, and it becomes a tangible desire for our own lives.
In order to effectively handle a horse you must be the “better horse”, and that can only be done when you’ve developed leadership skills such as awareness, communication, empathy, compassion and assertiveness. Horses encourage you to develop problem solving skills and a greater sense of responsibility for your non-verbal actions. Horses are prey animals and as such are hyper vigilant toward their environment and their safety. This hyper vigilance translates into their ability to sense and tune into non-verbal communication. They are able to sense the emotions and intentions that are hidden in non-verbal communication and the energy these emotions carry. Even though horses have been domesticated for centuries, this characteristic remains finely tuned in their DNA.
Because horses have distinct personalities, attitudes and moods, what works with one horse may not work with another. As a result, the opportunity for personal growth and learning through time spent with the herd are limitless. Horses are large and powerful and learning to communicate with them provides children and adults the chance to overcome fear and intimidation, giving each person the courage to face other challenges in their lives.
Horses are masters at reading body language, even when we try to hide our emotions. Instinctively, horses are able to see past what we are showing the world and read the thoughts of our heart.
Each horse here on the farm has its own story to tell. We invite you to meet the horses.
