- Content Type: Book Chapter
- J3 Source Category: KJRSOS ~Transformational Classes » ♔ The Next Evolution of Us » What Lives in our Heart
Do You Love Your Horse?
And if you don't - you don't belong here.
And when we say love your horse, we mean do you love... him or her... and not what they can do for you. If your love is dependent on what they can do, we maybe need to work on your definition of love.
If your horse will only stay with you as long as he helps you fulfill your ambition, to win the next trophy or win the next class, then please don't profess to all of social media how much you love your horse.
But I found him a good home, doesn't necessarily cut it. Doesn't say that you love him. It gives the responsibility of him or her to another. Theirs to decide how long he gets to live or if he gets passed on again... and again and again.
And this is not to say that we don't have the awareness that things happen, and for whatever reason you just can't keep this horse that you love so much. I have been there, placed in that position. And it broke me in some ways, to have to do that.
And sometimes the horse says to you, I've enjoyed my time with you, but I am meant for another. And we need to support them when they tell us that and do everything in our power to make that happen. Even more importantly, we need to make sure that we don't miss it when they tell us that.
We pick our horses for what they can do, what colour they are, what breed appeals to us.
Why?
Why is this the way we chose our horses?
Maybe because no one ever told us there is a different way to do this. Maybe because we are shallow and we pick horses based on what we love, which is often how they look.
And maybe think on this for a moment: if we pick them for the colour that we love, do we truly love this horse or just love this horse because he is a horse of the right colour? A discussion we all need to have.
When running the riding school, many of my riders would ask, wondering, "Which horse is your favourite?" Of course, I knew they hoped I would pick the school horse assigned to them, the horse that they had fallen in love with.
I always answered truthfully, "The horse I am with." I was in love with the roan palomino who was part Quarter Horse. I adored the Canadian, who was sweet, powerful and careful. I was challenged and bonded with the Warmblood black stallion and had more than one Thoroughbred chestnut mare who are still a part of me.
I loved the one I was with. That was always my one true answer.
Knowing that the bond was the first thing that was of importance. Before I climbed on, we need to have some kind of relationship.
Besides, how could I not?
I've always loved them. In many ways, they were my first love. I loved them all. All shapes, all sizes, the quiet, the bossy, the ones that challenged me I think the most.
And they know that difference. I could see it with my students, how that love and caring was reciprocated by the horses as they took care of those that were learning how to brush, saddle and ride them.
And why should we be surprised by the thought that love is where a lot of the answers begin? Should we be surprised when an empath cares more about how we feel than what we know or how smart we are?
Should we be surprised that we are judged by our character and by what lies in our heart, not by how old we are, what knowledge we have accumulated through the years, or how important others think we are?
They don't judge us by the colour of our skin, by how short or tall, how skinny or fat, or what religion we follow. Male or female, from Earth or Mars. The only thing they judge us by is what is in our hearts. Which is amazing if you think about it. Maybe one day we can learn that from them.
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The lesson that comes from that is that this is not us.
And having heard that message, should you wait to start working on that?
I found that truth in me as silly as it sounds watching music reaction videos. I am ashamed to say I would pick whose channel to follow by the image that I saw on the thumbnail. I judged their intelligence, their social standing, their vocabulary by what I thought I saw. And then was proven wrong when I clicked and watched when I was following a particular artist so was enticed to hear maybe what they thought. I was so wrong. Again and again, in my judgement. So, so wrong. And sadly I didn't make that mistake once, or twice, but over and over again. Even when I finally became aware of how blind I was.
It turns out they were the wise ones. I saw metalheads, classical singers, divas, all turn in to listen to this singer with amazement at how special she was. It turns out their hearts were more open than mine.
The funny thing is that I have beaten that out of me for the most part when I meet someone new, yet when there was no live physical presence, when I didn't have to consider what they thought, or how they felt, there still was this little ugly corner of me, that needed work.
