After watching the movie, The 80 Dollar Champion, I pondered the notion that horses do not put a value on each other; that seems to be a practice pursued by humans.
The premise of the book and subsequent movie is that a horse, Snowman, is saved from a slaughterhouse by a Dutch farmer and eventually rises to the heights of the show jumping world despite the intense competition and Snowman’s lack of breeding and conformation. The true story results in remarkably feel-good anecdotes and restores a faith that can be found from unconditional love and belief in the abilities of others, at least from a human standpoint.
There is no denying that Harry, the farmer who first found himself a beast of burden for his farming operation then discovered so much more (you really should read the book), made a substantial change to Snowman’s near-death situation. Even though Snowman proved all the naysayers wrong, he and his equine brethren would not be celebrating in these successes and stardom. One might think, well sure, they’re just horses; another perspective might be, well sure, they’re just horses. Let us clear the muddy water here.
Some argue that horses, with their (in)ability to judge others, their honest and direct communication, and willingness to accept others for exactly as they are and where they might be in their lives at this very instant, are as close to a divine being as can be found on earth. These characteristics allow them the freedom from being drug into the human world of seeking fame and fortune simply for the sake of it. Horses put no value on such concepts and therefore have no need to expend energy on such endeavors. This spills into the horse’s world as there again is no point in admiring another horse for an athletic ability or having learned a trick taught to them by a human. Horses have a wonderful opportunity to simply be themselves with no self-loathing due to unfair comparisons or jealousies of the horses around them. Pure acceptance of simply being a horse and putting no expectations on others must lighten the mental load with which we humans torture ourselves daily.
If you have ever had the privilege to develop a relationship with a horse, you can relate to the beauty in this honor. Horses equally relish this sort of tight bond and will always deliver with heart, determination, and commitment if the human offers these qualities in return. During this process, never once will a horse short-change the exchange with snide comments or passive-aggressive interactions. There is a lesson to be learned from the horses if you truly wish to improve the world we all share. As the self-described smarter species, it remains a hope that we humans can figure this out and accept the lesson graciously.
East Point Horspice is always looking for volunteers to help with the riding program in the summer. If you believe the horses could be good instructors for you or a friend, please contact EPH at eph@bbc.net. The life you change might be your own.