No matter how much we try to breed the freedom seeking, edgy, strong willed wild animal out of them it is still there.  We can separate them from all social connections with the herd, lock them in a stall, drug them until they are calm, lunge them into the ground, show them until they are so tired and bored that they eventually just give in and submit quietly to the chaos of it all; but all that granted ‘softly’ infringed submission doesn’t change the essence of what a horse is. 

I love the sport of show jumping because in my mind at the highest level it works within the parameters of what a top equine athlete naturally wants to be … though maybe hasn’t quiet evolved to yet.  Done well, we patiently works toward helping the horse to become more courageous, fast, aware, intelligent, kind and nurturing, and yet still respect their sometimes brutal need to be respected.  Some can pole them and shock them in to hopefully leaving the jumps up, but in the end it’s all about the relationship with us and working for what they know we in fact need to succeed with them in this world.  

I believe first and foremost in keeping my horses happy.  For this they need turn out, a social life and play.  And so my horses may be banged up sometimes, have a few bumps here and there most people would prefer not to see in a top potential horse, and may not always have a perfectly manicured coat.  I also believe my horses are happiest when they have a job and partnership with me. 

So they must be trained and domesticated to the level they need to be for us to succeed within our chosen world.  I have to be in charge, the lead mare so to speak, to keep all of us safe, and so whatever is required to maintain that authority is what is worked towards.  Equines are hard on each other in the field, because it is their nature.  And sometimes we have to be physically strong with them as a result.  But I believe this should always be carried out to the minimum level necessary to keep moving forward, and ultimately be a path to a better partnership and understanding.  While anger may sometimes give you the extra punch needed to get a point across, a temper has no place in horsemanship, on the back or from the ground. 

I believe in giving each horse what it seems to need.  Though there are parameters I follow there are no hard fast rules; no Gods and no bibles in this work.  The tendency to idolize or undermine and demonize top horseman is childish … and has nothing to do with the animal we should be focusing on … the horse.

There have been horses I’ve only ever loved and given treats to from the ground, but that I would never ride with anything less than a large spur (because that is what it took to have the focus of that particular strong willed animal).  And I’ve had horses that I regularly had to be strong with from the ground just to stay in one piece, but would never so much as raise my voice to under saddle.    

But in the end for me, though making a good living is nice and most certainly an important goal, it’s all about the horse.  Because I believe in this co-creative path towards enlightenment not always, but more often than not, the horse is spiritually the healing guru a few steps ahead; and kind enough to hang out with us and give us a shot at catching up.