For us Horse People, we seem to have no choice. We must have a horse. Even when it is financially brutal, physically demanding, and requires volumes of time and mental, emotional and spiritual energy. I still need them. Why?
When non horse people ask me why I sacrifice and risk so much to have them, I am often vague in my reply, trying to sort it out myself as well. I’ve long believed it to be a Soul Connection, but not sure why I say that. So tonight I decided to get at the bottom of why I have this Horse Life. I know I need them; but why? Is it emotional or Spiritual? Just what is the truth of this connection with Horses?
They pull me into the Mystery.
They show me my weakness, my fears… burdens that my Soul asks me to release. I cannot lie to my Horse, the Horse knows that while the fear may be buried or denied, it is still alive. Through the Horse I have an open invitation to heal the cause of fear that cries out; desperate to be comforted and transformed to courage thereby gifting me a life more complete and audacious. It is up to me to accept.
When even the smallest fear is released, I find a new freedom. And I again taste the Wild Romance that my Soul has betrothed for my Horse and I. This is not a frivolous affair, it is Soulful, Healing, Complex, Pure, Sensuous, Inspiring and Primordial. Attributes that make up the Soul itself.
And, for this journey into the Mystic I am rewarded with the smell of hay, and grain and grass and body heat. I gaze into eyes that hold ancient wisdom, potential, dreams and perpetual questions about trust and commitment. Eyes that search for the truth of who I am, asking me to show up in full glory as the consort worthy of my Beloved Equus. I feel the summons to lead and to follow, to hone my intuition so that I will know the difference; to know which one is needed. To know when to challenge and when to be soft and still. All of this is a Language from my Soul, and my Horse, its ambassador.
Horses ask for our whole self. When I am divided, I am incomplete; when I am whole, I am Being. Horses are my Souls invitation to Being Complete. I cannot separate my Horse from my Soul, they speak a common tongue that I need for my existence, to power me on in a world not familiar with my Soul home and the language it speaks, I must rely on my Horse to keep me connected and complete.
There is no answer simple or trite about why I have a Horse. I only know that when I am with my Horse I am free from the obligatory and the mundane.. I am a woman in the Mystery. Here, my Soul is restored.
The Invitation
Perhaps your reason for having a Horse is different from mine. This week I encourage you to explore the real reason(s) as to why you have a Horse. Is it emotional or spiritual, does it keep you connected to nature, is it so that you will know yourself better?
Keeping a journal is a helpful tool to track for consistency in this Horse Life, to see progress, digression, changes in direction or perspective. It is also a good way to notice changes in your Horse, where you are in relationship with your Horse. Ask yourself, ‘Are you fully alive and participating in your reason for having a Horse?’ Life is busy and sometimes we must make conscious effort to stay connected to things that matter, for these are what keeps us with value and balance in our life.
Delaya Diana © 2020
I think I can apply this to why I own a giant breed dog. Smaller dogs are easier to manage, but I love the giant breeds. Thanks for the suggestion.
Why i have a horse. This is a deep and very personal journey for me. There was a time in my life I loved two mares deeply and I lost them. Circumstances were life changing and through a course of horrific events I ended up on a breeding farm as the barn manager for 28 horses. Days would go by and I wouldn’t see another human. My boss would text me what she wanted done. I lived, breathed, and became a herd member there. My life at the time was in turmoil and I had lost my sense of self. However these horses restored me. It’s very hard to explain the profound impact they had on me. But through their power, and gentleness, their acceptance, and boundaries I regained my sense of self. They took me in, but before they did they made me prove myself and to do that I had to heal. Horses literally saved my life. It was at that time I decided to completely sever myself from the hustle and bustle of life. I gave up my professional career, and made the undisputed personal decision to devote myself to making life better for horses through education of the human. It’s a deep and committed promise i made all those years ago, a way to “pay it forward” to the memory of the herd that God inserted me into. If it hadn’t been for them I surely would not be the person I am today. Horses are a neccessary part of me. I need them. I need their strength and ability to tell it like it is and be ok. Live in the moment and be at peace. They connect me to reality. Ground me. Reassure me. I simply would not be me if I didn’t have them. And I feel that every horse that I encounter is meant to teach me something in a dimension I am not fully invited to, yet they give me what I need from it. I don’t discuss this much because people, including my family (who literally did an Intervention on me) just can’t comprehend what I mean.
My website is under construction at present but my fb is Confidence Connection Horsemanship
Ty for listening
Suellen, I am sorry for the late reply on this, my website has had a glitch and I dont get notifications. I love your story, this is a huge witness of how Horses bring us back to our True North, our sense of stability and our place of belonging. Thanks for sharing this.