How like a horse am I

One of my journal writing friends asked us to:

Using the technique of metaphor, "How are you like a garden, a flower, the sea, a favorite animal, a book...you name it." Below is my response. I'd love to hear what your personal 'metaphor' is.

How Like A Horse Am I –

Once upon a time several decades ago in a high school forum class I was likened to a wild horse. Perhaps at that time the metaphor was given for my unashamed wildness, my noncompliance with conformity and my penchant for moving fast.

Now as I consider myself I would say that I’m a horse at Liberté. Free of bridles, saddles or (often) shoes I choose whether to behave or not, to be a cooperative team player or an uncooperative rebel as the mood takes me.

Like the horse I am often associated with the word ‘power.’ It sizzles off my persona like ions, making the less free nervous. These shivering humans will not work with me for long, if ever, for they continuiously compare themselves with me and find themselves lacking even if I do not. To those with whom I feel aligned my empathetic feelings respond with exquisite sensitivity. For them I will perform to my utmost, work in tandem and step in unison, focused upon harmoniously striving towards our goal. It is in this fashion I like to work in the world.

Of course, this trust doesn’t come easy. Liberté is a patient acquisition. First the relationship must be established, the trust build from repetitious instances of positive interaction. Little by little the partnership is formed, shaped, encouraged. When I worked for Cavalia as their horse masseuse I was privileged to watch Frederic Pignon, the trainer of beautiful Lusitanos work with his stallions. Day after day he would enter the ring and work to strengthen his bond with his horses, asking them to learn intricate steps that wove and spiraled to the rhythm of music.

Sometimes the flow between human horse was incomplete, the signals crossed. Then manes shook, hooves stomped and tails slapped in snippy agitation. A lesser trainer would resort to punishing the horse, but not Frederic. He would simply, patiently begin again, asking something better from his four-footed protégé’s. This technique to build relationship over domination created results that most trainers can only marvel at. For when horses performed with Frederic, their obvious celebration and love of their work was apparent to all who viewed them.

In my work, I too build relationship with horses. It is easier for me because I am the only person who enters the horses’ stall that wants nothing from them. I am simply there to serve. I wait until the horse approaches me and then I explain what I am there to do. I begin by working on the tense spots along the horses’ neck. As the horse responds to the healing touch I can proceed to work my hands over its body to check alignment, find sore spots. By the end of the visit a small trust has developed that grows with each succeeding visit.

Oddly enough the smarter the horse, the longer the time to build trust, and breeches are not easily remedied. I rely upon flower essences to help speed the process and create harmony between myself and equine, between the horse and the rider.

Horses are creatures of the NOW. They do not tolerate those whose mind’s are elsewhere with much grace. For those who should know better, a quick nip or a swift kick are often offered. For those with less familiarity, some mischievous action geared to instruct towards better manners is given. I find my own personality reflects this as well – as I – an adoptee with neither a known past or a predictable future can only inhabit the NOW as well. Those who know me appreciate this quality. It is an odd habitation, for so many seekers; their goal. For me the future is harder, and hardest to imagine as I have no past to guide my way.

So I have found solace in my herd, those of like-minded passion and preferring the wide-open spaces of mind and spirit to those of a more conservative life. I resist fencing and routine performance but will rise to excellence in times of harmonious need. I’m high-strung and will often assert my alpha mare status, but with the common weal of the needs of the herd I will unite for cause. I strive for Liberté in my heart, in my actions and in my country. I hold the wild white Mare of the Night as my Goddess and Guide.