Touched by A Horse

The exchange between horse and human is not an equal one. To my way of thinking, the human gets a lot more than it gives. When being ridden, that horse has to put up with this creature on its back, trying to balance it like I would a child on my shoulders. It must learn to tolerate a big chunk of metal in its mouth, and try to anticipate that silly human's desires. Where does she want me to go? Does she know she's telling me to stop and go at the same time? Why does she sit so crooked? All this for a carrot? Jeepers...just leave me alone and we'll do fine!!



The horse is a very generous being. That generosity is often mistaken for stupidity, while I think it is just the nature of this four-legged to give. As I've said before, it's heart is huge. That huge heart is good for endurance and stamina and speed, but it's also great for opening up to those poor unfortunates, humans.



Horses seem to know the difference between a child that needs taking care of, and an idiot. Put a child on a horse and the horse takes care of the child. It will often (not always) sedately walk around, being very mindful of its responsibility. Put an idiot on a horse's back and the horse knows right away there's an idiot up there. Forgiving beings that they are, idiocy alone doesn't demand sharp lessons. Idiocy, combined with arrogance, cruelty, aggressiveness and/or recklessness, can get that human taught a very quick lesson. Being an idiot, however, those lessons are often not learned -- not even recognized.



Every horse has its story.

Unlike dogs and cats, who might have 1, 2 or 3 owners in a lifetime, horses seem to be the most peripatetic of 4-leggeds...their lives are often a journey that takes them hither and thither. Many times an owner has no idea of the history of their horse. They might know where he/she came from last, and maybe the time before. When you are able to trace their history, you might find that your horse is more well-traveled than you. Born in Kentucky, sold to a first owner in Ohio, then off to South Dakota, back to Illinois. Those are the lucky ones -- they've escaped the "kill lot" which leads to a can of dog food.

Such is the life of a horse, sometimes. They can also be born and raised on a family farm and know only one or two owners. Horses may have many jobs in a lifetime. They need jobs, just as we do. And they need jobs for which their body type and temperament and age suit them.

Too often horses are asked to do the wrong job. Owners get the notion that a horse should be able to do what they want them to do. This is just not always true. The horse tells them, loudly and clearly, sometimes, that this ain't gonna work! Sometimes they quietly endure, and try their best to give what is asked of them.

For example, the owner who buys this horse she falls in love with and thinks "Oh! Here is the horse that I will take to shows and win blue ribbons with, in...fill in the blank." It could be Dressage, or Jumping, or Reining, or Barrel Racing, or any of a great variety of disciplines. Many horses are versatile enough, and athletic enough, that they'll give it a shot. Maybe they'll perform well; maybe they won't.

Owners who are rich enough just sell the one that doesn't get that blue ribbon and buy another one. Owners who are stuck, and may be astute enough to let the horse have the job they are designed to do, say "Well, he'll never be a winner at cutting cows, but I love him and he'll be a great 4-H horse for my daughter." Or, something along those lines.

So, the body of a horse, just as in humans, will carry with them the effects of use, abuse and ill-use. Asked to hold their head in a way their body is not designed to accommodate for too long, will lead to big muscle knots and pain. Their entire body's carriage is affected. What might appear to be stiffness and soreness in one area, may in fact be initiated in an entirely different area.

I've certainly learned this from the body work I've had done on myself. I've discovered that hip pain came from a knee injury, which then resulted in ankle pain, and so on. All our parts make up a whole. What affects one part, affects that whole. You must treat the whole, as well as the specific area.

Which brings me back to horse massage, or properly called Equine Sports Massage Therapy. Massages don't replace going to the doctor for humans. Massages don't replace the need for proper veterinarian care in horses. It is part of a package of wellness, that works in conjunction with farriers, veterinarians, acupuncture, acupressure, chiropractic -- mostly anything that is done to a human can be done to a horse. And is.

Safety and comfort are two top priorities for a horse. Massage addresses the comfort -- maybe even sometimes the safety. When anyone puts their hand on a horse, they are getting an opportunity to hear their story. What is causing them discomfort? How can that be addressed to relieve that discomfort?

Most of the time, horse owners and riders are doing things to their horse: leading them, feeding them, grooming them, riding them, training them. How often do they take time to quietly be with their horse?

Giving a horse a massage is a lovely way to be with your horse -- and you don't have to be a trained equine sports massage therapist to do it. A few simple techniques can be a great source of bringing comfort to both of you.

And, if you're still and quiet, maybe you will hear the horse's story. They all have one, just as we do. In touching, you will be touched. You will feel, and you will hear. You will be touched by the divinity that is a horse.