Author’s note: the following contains realizations of self-perception and unbridled (pun intended) eureka moments. Read on at your own risk.
When you interact with a horse you no longer need a soul-revealing mirror. Whatever mindset you bring to the horses is immediately understood and accepted for what it is. Forget about hiding emotions with horses; they are astute at feeling the true level of your current status and react accordingly. What makes a horse such a unique character pertaining to your personal well being path is their unmistakable clarity in reflecting the thoughts, energies, emotions and intent you project. Knowing that horses remain in the present serves us well as this ability helps them to read our mental or emotional state in conjunction with what can be described as their incapacity to lie intertwined with their forgiving nature. Horses do not lie, not because they are altruistic but they are incapable of creating alternative realities resulting in a delightfully refreshing inability to deceive. Horses remain present due to not identifying with an ego which may be attached to the past or worrying about the future. Horses are perceived as being forgiving because they do not harbor grievances toward us even in light of what could be defined as abuse. These exceptional creatures have no need to forgive simply because they do not pass judgments which might require offering forgiveness. I wonder if humans are capable of this gift.
The combination of being present, being brutally honest and being perceived as forgiving of our shortfalls allows a horse to offer an opportunity to accept their lesson and become better people through the reflection of ourselves. World-renowned horse trainer Buck Brannaman commented, “The horse is a mirror to your soul and sometimes you might not like what you see in the mirror.” Ask anyone who has genuinely endured a recovery program and the concept of a willingness to accept what is necessary to make a change will be a common thread. In other words, sometimes you need a severe dose of reality. We are not all blessed to have a raucous uncle that always tells it like it is, to the point of believing they enjoy this honest discourse to a point of maniacal enjoyment; but, through East Point Horspice we all have access to equine non-judgmental sounding boards with no agenda and an enduring commitment to assist us in making sense of our world.
Being around horses fosters a culture of emotional honesty. The horses have learned to use their super powers for good and, lucky for us, take this responsibility very seriously. Letting ego fall to the side and allowing the openness to learn about your true-self flourish may be a difficult path, but the horses are confident the journey will be its own reward. Another life lesson from the horses is to embrace a life filled with learning and respect the glory revealed from its offering. Learning about one’s self and how to use this knowledge to improve contentment and peace from within to be shared with others should be a top goal in our lives; or at least in the top five. One of Buck Brannaman’s mentors, Tom Dorrance, imparted the following wisdom, “It’s what you learn after you know it all that really counts.”