Horses’ gifts to humans
November 23, 2011
I am still amazed that I was choosen by a horse. 17 years ago I was a brand new rider taking lessons, and a beautiful dapple gray gelding claimed me as his own. My life changed in dozens of ways as I stretched to learn how to care for a horse, how to ride a horse, how to be with a horse. One of the most lasting changes was in my perspective. Spending time around my horse and horses gave me a glimpse into the world from the equine point of view: the view of the herd, of run before you find out what the danger might be, the view of a prey animal who survives by constantly monitoring its environment for danger. It’s a really different world, and yet we share this world when we interact with horses. I found it deeply enriching.
Although there isn’t a particular horse who occupies my heart these days, I spend time with them whenever I can. Thanks to my friends, I can drink in their beauty, their velvet noses and dark eyes, and the sounds and smells of chewing hay. With gratitude for the experiences I have had and continue to have with horses, I’ve gathered a few stories that tell of some remarkable ways horses have given their gifts to humans. Read the rest of this entry
How horses teach us about communication & leadership
September 27, 2011
I’m standing in the arena with three horses and a lunge whip in my hand. My job is to move them around the perimeter as a group, then change their direction to move in the other direction. Lunge whips aren’t actually used to whip the horses. As an extension of my arm, it helped me communicate with three 1,000 pound horses.
I was comfortable doing this with one horse, but keeping three animals moving together was quite different. Each animal was different; one was a donkey half the size of the other two, Each moved at a different pace; their relationships with each other influenced how close they wanted to be to each other.
How do I let them know what I want? What would give them enough motivation to do it? How do I keep them moving together? Read the rest of this entry
What Jetexas taught me about patience & persistence
June 28, 2011
We have an elderly visitor at our house this week. His name is Jetexas. He is an elegant, sweet-tempered black Labrador retriever. He is bright-eyed and glad to be alive, even though his body doesn’t work as well as it used to, especially his hindquarters.
He spends most of his time sleeping, but when it’s time to get up for a meal or a trip outside, he needs help, and getting his balance those first few steps takes time.
Today as I helped him get up and guided him gently towards the outdoors, I had to wait several times for him to come along with me. Yes, I can carry the 65-pound dog, but forcing him doesn’t help him or me. So I wait, guide, wait, call him, wait, help him balance, and wait some more. Patience with persistent guidance gets him safely and happily down the steps to the lawn and back up again. Read the rest of this entry
Horses as engineers
April 1, 2011
The English language is littered with figures of speech reflecting a time when horsepower was central to civilization. I was delighted to find this connection between horses and engineers — a history lesson, perhaps.
For the sake of the story, I left it as it appeared. (No political commentary intended by me.) Thanks to Juergen from Ontario, Canada, via Mark Mottershead’s Horse Conscious Newsletter. Whether or not this is true, it seems plausible to me, and either way, I enjoyed it. I hope you do too.
“The US standard railroad gauge (distance between the rails) is 4 feet, 8.5 inches. That’s an exceedingly odd number. Read the rest of this entry
Horses, emotions & marketing
December 31, 2010
The economy has been tough on many of us. It has been especially harsh for horses who have been abandoned or sent to be sold at auction. The lucky ones found new (responsible) homes through the tireless work of horse rescue organizations.
I was inspired to write this post after reading a beautifully crafted story about horse auctions. This is not a happy subject: most horses at auction end up on a truck to Canada or Mexico where they are slaughtered for meat under less than humane conditions. You can read the article here. Read the rest of this entry
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As a 25-year veteran of marketing professional services, Barbara Breckenfeld is a strategist and a storyteller. She helps helps businesses grow as a consultant, marketing coach, and seminar leader.
