Of Horses and Humanity: February 2011

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Freedom

: the quality or state of being free: as
a : the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action
b : liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another : independence
c : the quality or state of being exempt or released usually from something onerous
d : ease
e : the quality of being frank, open, or outspoken
f : boldness of conception or execution
g : unrestricted

Webster's

More snowfall brought more joyful playing. No one was running because they had to, there was no need to escape pressure either natural or human induced, there were no expectations or even bribes, just jubilant freedom.
Freedom to run or to just watch.

Often I feel the space they have is not large enough and does not allow them the freedom of movement they need. I look at fences and wish they could all go away. Then I am reminded of the freedoms they do have, they are mentally and emotionally free to express themselves, they can snort out to the world “No one owns me”.

Music by Gentle Thunder, Heart of the Eagle and Ripples in the Pond from her album Opening the Gate.

Video 1
The first day, Ladybug was not comfortable with the others playing, Paisley stays out wide giving her space.
Ally Pup was restricted by the deep snow and her short legs, Paisley wondered why she wasn't playing like usual and kept checking on her.

Video 2
The next day, Paisley chose not to play but to stand with me and watch the little people tear it up.
Snow was deeper this day so Ally still couldn't run and they all kept trying to coax her out.
But most amazing was Ladybug let go!
It is not difficult to cause her to run, she is very sensitive, but this was all her. She was expressing her own joy and freedom!
This was the first time Sage has moved this way, with her tail straight up, full of pride and joy.

I have laid down the feeling they were better off here...

Sage and Rosebud in the "wild" where they were considered to be a problem.

Their physical freedom was taken away, that cannot be changed, but living as they do now they will be free to develop intellect above and beyond instinctive survival. Slaves to no one.

There are so many ways we all give away our freedom. We allow important decisions about who we are and what we do be made by other people, the past, and society.

Horses, to me, have always symbolized freedom... but the definition of freedom is expanding!

Friday, February 18, 2011

Who Cares?

When a horse is placed in paid care with another do they really care?

This is a horse that was placed in the care of someone who must not...

For only 3 months this horse was boarded, when she went to the farm she was healthy and in good weight. The pasture was 7 acres and it was agreed that hay and grain would also be fed daily.

In addition to the obvious starvation from the neglect, she was shut out of the barn so now has rain rot and dermatitis with matted down crusted hair with large patches missing. She will recover from this now that she is back home, fed and groomed but it brings up the issue of responsibility...

They do not 'buy' us, it is us who take them into our care, so shouldn't we be responsible and shouldn't that care be appropriate?

There are countless stories just like this one.

Who is responsible for this? Humanity.
Who is humanity? You are.

Responsibility

We are responsible for all that.

Our state of consciousness determines the world we create, the actions we take, and the consequences of our actions. For all of the planet and all of its inhabitants let's take responsibility for our state of consciousness.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Snow!

After 2 weeks of beautiful, sunny weather with temperatures well above normal in the 60's, winter has returned. The horses all love romping in the fresh new snow!

Music Wild Eyes, from Mariee Sioux's album, Faces in the Rocks, Grass Roots Record Co. Featuring Gentle Thunder on Native American flutes & percussion.

Sage approaches like this, she first looks, then slowly walks closer, looks, walks closer, itches a spot on herself, then comes to the fence and situates so the spot she had been pointing out can be reached. This time Rosebud interrupted her routine!

Videos taken when I first arrived, while standing on the fence. After a couple minutes of picture taking I got down to run and play in the snow with them! Sage even joined in the fun, bucking and snorting. Paisley has big beautiful moves and a huge lofty trot that would be fun to see on video but staying focused on her not a camera is more important. Rosebud squeaks and grunts like a little piglet.