I spent my day today judging a Hunter/Jumper horse show in the high desert, at the foot of our beautiful mountain with thick clouds filling the sky all day.
It was a kind of respite from the past 7 weeks of care giving after my Mother's fall that landed her in ICU for 3 days. As decisions are made on her behalf, I awoke, dressed in nicer clothes than usual, gathered apples and tea to get me through the day and left early for the isolated ranch where I knew I would see good friends and good horses.
The judging is always an enlightening experience. Horses are profoundly aware of the emotional state of the humans around them. I see such courage in riders from ages 6 to 60 and in horses starting out at their first shows as well as those who have seen it all over a few decades. It's an honor to be a judge.
The most obvious observation is always the way in which rider confidence supports the horse. Horses tend to either
react or
respond to situations - especially to sudden events or unknown occurrences. To respond is to remain present and in control of ones' emotions. To react is to be under the control
of the emotions and to leave present awareness by the curb.
In some of my favorite Buddhist texts the mind is equated to a horse; an energy to befriend and work with rather than against, all the while staying acutely present as the captain of each situation, of each thought.
I love watching horses. Today, I saw SO many riders comfort and support and exercise patience in the arena with their mounts. Situations that could have escalated to panic and injury were tempered with confident clarity (many ATV's and dirt bikes zoomed past at the far end of the arena late day).
I reminded myself to teach these principles more strongly at home and to reach deep in myself for more confidence each day in the world... to stop reflecting on some recent scares with my Mum and to look where I am going instead of back where I've been. To look back at the jump your horse has just cleared will likely cause a rail to be pulled at the next fence!
I will do the very best I can for my family. I'll get the stable back on track. I will concentrate on those I love (including someone new) and think about the girl today on her new palomino who took the time and gathered the confidence needed to show her horse the way; never giving in to fear, she truly stayed the potent example for her trusting equine.
We are all here to support and encourage each other. If we do so, we find our own lives enriched as well.
Katharine,
and the
Dharmahorse Tribe
