Horses that have suffered
Why does the memory of Pilgrim and what he had with me still live so strongly in me? When I went to meet him for the first time, I could not believe how gorgeous he was, there was something in his aura that spoke to me, I cannot explain this, it is beyond words. I was told that he had been abused, I felt so sick hearing this, how could anyone do such a thing? When he came to the livery I explained this and that he did not cope with force, he needed gentle encouragement. As I knew the rescue centre had used the methods of Kelly Marks I had bought a Dually (said Dooly) halter, become a member of her Intelligent Horsemanship and joined Monty Roberts on line university. I watched join up video so many times I could recite every step in my head. I made sure that when an issue cropped up I had one of the Approved Associates of Kelly Marks numbers to contact, rather than take the risk of confusing Pilgrim by not getting things right for him. His level of trust showed from day one, that made me cry with pure joy. Dreamed about him all the time from the first sight of him, he occupied every breathing moment. When he achieved something new, he visibly swelled, his head would proudly look around, just like a child saying 'I DID IT', wow he was not slow at picking anything up, this demonstrated to me just what an intelligent horse he was, if he was shown correctly, he just did it. He made me feel like shooting out of bed and going straight down to be with him at any stupid hour I woke up. I hate shopping but if Pilgrim needed or didn't need but I wanted to treat him, shopping in a horsey store was pure bliss. I took so many photos, walked around with a huge smile on my face, I was also so proud that this boy had not just been abused, he had been so badly beaten he had been labelled as dangerous.
Gentle encouragement and learning how horses interact with other horses is key to healing them. It gives them freedom of choice, trust, affection and herd naturality that they need, just the horse that is providing the comfort is two legged. Remember as a child pretending to be someone or something? Who says you cannot do that as an adult? When I am told to grow up, my answer is NO WAY, WHY SHOULD I? who is anyone to tell me to do that?
Have you ever got so involved in a book you feel you are there living every part of it? Well it is this kind of involvement that can put you in the scenario of being a horse, imagining yourself surviving without verbal communications, fleeing danger, feeding, drinking, protecting the herd and so on. What it would be like being captured, two legged creatures putting ropes, reins, saddles on you, using whips, force, it would not be nice at all. How would you like to be treated if you were a horse? captive bre or wild? with respect, understanding, dignity? I would and anyone in their right thinking would too. Putting yourself in any shoes is empathy not sympathy, sympathy can patronise, empathy understands and is part of healing. Let us heal all animals, horses are not machines, they are thinking, loving, trusting and dignified, teat as you would want to be treated. For all Pilgrim had been through he gave me a chance, what a forgiving lad, with respect for who he was paid me in love and smiles enormously.
I hated taking him back, this was the love of my life I was parting with and broke my heart, but I could not in all concience leave him in the livery any longer for his sake, it would have been totally selfish, as I have found out since his companion is back with the same rescue, away from the same livery, for which am very glad to hear. I can honestly say that I feel if Pilgrim went back having learned a bit more of the things he may be asked to do and he does it willingly it will work in his favour. Also I hope he never forgets that he was loved wholly and unconditionally by at least one of us humans. If I could go and have him out again I would like a shot, but I could not take the patronising behaviour of humans who do not realise I worked with his best interests at heart, I will never believe I was ever that selfish. .
Now I have Tango and there is another sad story from her past. My friend saw Tango who had damaged tendons at some stage, but she was in foal, as she was not showing or the fact she had no milk at the stage she was at, my friend could not believe the dates given to her. Tango was not being fed anywhere near what she should have been, so my friend rescued her. When the foal was born, at some stage of weaning I suppose the original owner took the foal. Tango was fed properly with my friend, happily for Tango she had a gaurdian angel in my freind and now she is looking more like the thoroughbred she should look like. I have purchased this girl and keep her with my friend (who rescued me too). I suppose this sad tale is more one of cruelty through ignorance than downright cruelty, it is why when taking an animal on, knowing what is needed for their health and well being is so vitally important, and cannot be stressed on enough. Do you know how much and what feed is required? Do you know what equipment you should have? Do you know how to relate to the animal? Making requests without bullying and demanding and losing your temper? I watch Tango trying her best to stuff everything in her mouth at once and it may amuze me from the aspect of a chipmonk aspect but it belies the very sad fact that maybe she remembers being hungry and needing sustenance, thinking about that is just as sad as the violence suffered by Pilgrim.
Think about this, could you work on an empty stomach? (one hour after feeding at least before trying) If someone demands you do something without explaining or showing you properly, how would you react if they then beat the living daylights out of you? I know if someone demanded I do something, just like a horse I would very likely tell them where to go in short order. Ask me if I would do it and ask nicely I would try my heart out to do it. It is all a question of language use the right language and show them, you will more likely get the right response, emphasise this with animals, observation, empathy and already it makes a difference, heal horses not bully and subdue.
Gentle encouragement and learning how horses interact with other horses is key to healing them. It gives them freedom of choice, trust, affection and herd naturality that they need, just the horse that is providing the comfort is two legged. Remember as a child pretending to be someone or something? Who says you cannot do that as an adult? When I am told to grow up, my answer is NO WAY, WHY SHOULD I? who is anyone to tell me to do that?
Have you ever got so involved in a book you feel you are there living every part of it? Well it is this kind of involvement that can put you in the scenario of being a horse, imagining yourself surviving without verbal communications, fleeing danger, feeding, drinking, protecting the herd and so on. What it would be like being captured, two legged creatures putting ropes, reins, saddles on you, using whips, force, it would not be nice at all. How would you like to be treated if you were a horse? captive bre or wild? with respect, understanding, dignity? I would and anyone in their right thinking would too. Putting yourself in any shoes is empathy not sympathy, sympathy can patronise, empathy understands and is part of healing. Let us heal all animals, horses are not machines, they are thinking, loving, trusting and dignified, teat as you would want to be treated. For all Pilgrim had been through he gave me a chance, what a forgiving lad, with respect for who he was paid me in love and smiles enormously.
I hated taking him back, this was the love of my life I was parting with and broke my heart, but I could not in all concience leave him in the livery any longer for his sake, it would have been totally selfish, as I have found out since his companion is back with the same rescue, away from the same livery, for which am very glad to hear. I can honestly say that I feel if Pilgrim went back having learned a bit more of the things he may be asked to do and he does it willingly it will work in his favour. Also I hope he never forgets that he was loved wholly and unconditionally by at least one of us humans. If I could go and have him out again I would like a shot, but I could not take the patronising behaviour of humans who do not realise I worked with his best interests at heart, I will never believe I was ever that selfish. .
Now I have Tango and there is another sad story from her past. My friend saw Tango who had damaged tendons at some stage, but she was in foal, as she was not showing or the fact she had no milk at the stage she was at, my friend could not believe the dates given to her. Tango was not being fed anywhere near what she should have been, so my friend rescued her. When the foal was born, at some stage of weaning I suppose the original owner took the foal. Tango was fed properly with my friend, happily for Tango she had a gaurdian angel in my freind and now she is looking more like the thoroughbred she should look like. I have purchased this girl and keep her with my friend (who rescued me too). I suppose this sad tale is more one of cruelty through ignorance than downright cruelty, it is why when taking an animal on, knowing what is needed for their health and well being is so vitally important, and cannot be stressed on enough. Do you know how much and what feed is required? Do you know what equipment you should have? Do you know how to relate to the animal? Making requests without bullying and demanding and losing your temper? I watch Tango trying her best to stuff everything in her mouth at once and it may amuze me from the aspect of a chipmonk aspect but it belies the very sad fact that maybe she remembers being hungry and needing sustenance, thinking about that is just as sad as the violence suffered by Pilgrim.
Think about this, could you work on an empty stomach? (one hour after feeding at least before trying) If someone demands you do something without explaining or showing you properly, how would you react if they then beat the living daylights out of you? I know if someone demanded I do something, just like a horse I would very likely tell them where to go in short order. Ask me if I would do it and ask nicely I would try my heart out to do it. It is all a question of language use the right language and show them, you will more likely get the right response, emphasise this with animals, observation, empathy and already it makes a difference, heal horses not bully and subdue.