Above: Tyler and Mike, both trying to figure out what's going on in the other's head.
Yesterday was another successful training day, and I feel inspired to talk about it. Within this blog, I do have the intention of keeping focused on the UMass Draft Horse Program, and I only wish to add in some other exciting happenings from the Blue Star Farm. There are some things I feel need to be discussed and I promise I'll have plenty of pictures to go with it (That's right. I know that you are all in it for the pictures!).
Recently, I have been deeply inspired through my work with a few Blue Star horses, particularly Mike and Billy. I'm feeling called to share a bit about Mike and our experience today, and maybe we'll talk about Billy some other day. If you were to work with Mike, or to see either Tyler or myself working with him, you would see that he has great training in ground manners. Don't get me wrong, he is still only 5 years old and still needs to find some sense, but he is quite the gentleman. What really strikes me about Mike, is how he loves hanging out with his 2-leggers. Mike is so comfortable and at ease, just as long and he is hanging with his "bros". And that truly is what is going on out in the field. Mike, Tyler, and myself are hanging out and Mike diggs it! The pictures you see below will show that we are out in the back field working with Mike put to some heavier weight for the first time. This is his second time being put to this stone boat and his third time pulling any kind of drag. Normally I would never do this type of work out in an open field (a large round ring or arena would usually be best), but because Mike was so comfortable hanging with his boyz out in the field, I felt that it would be best if we did this work out there. And it was.
Observing how receptive Mike is to this environment, routine, and new 2- and 4-legged friends, only confirms some things for me that I already know. Mike the Shire, has in his genetic code the need for a social life with both humans and other equines, work, a routine, and a number of other basic needs (just like us, they are super simple but also super complex at the same time). Most importantly, I'd like to review the need for work and the desire to be with us 2-leggers. I couldn't think of any other explanation for it. Mike is showing us that he has a deep, innate desire for human connection and partnership. As the "creators" of the modern horse, we have to take responsibility for what we have done to the horse. We have been together for the past 5,000 years, and we are obligated to see that their needs (which we engineered), are met. In fact, we are depriving them if we do not provide them if we do not meet these needs! I believe this is what Mike's previous owner, Jackie, came to realize. Mike was bored, and missing something. Perhaps missing some purpose he was meant to fulfill (just like we all either find our purpose, or not). Jackie realized that Mike may be better off with a family that could work with him in a way that better fit how he is designed physically and biologically. That work is pulling work.
As I explore this idea, I think about the journey that Mike is on, and how it is much like our life journey. One of my spiritual teachers in Philadelphia would remark from time to time that we are spiritual beings having a human experience, and we are not human beings we are human-becomings, because we are on this epic journey trying to figure out how to be human. We are essentially always in the process of becoming human. As he repeated these words again and again, I began to think that it would only make sense that horses are spiritual beings having an equine experience. In the same way we are trying to figure out how to be human, Mike is also trying to figure out where he comes from and where he is going as an equine.
Perhaps I am just trying to express that we need to have an understanding, and if we don't have an understanding, we have no business working with horses. I understand that Mike is on this same epic, painful, beautiful journey that we are all also on, and I always remember that when we work together.
Please enjoy the photos from our time with Iron Mike. If I figure out how to do the video, I'l get that up too.
