DEEPER BY THE DAY
,By: Samantha Thorpe, U.S.A.
History of the Horse
5,000 years ago, began a love affair like no other
You admired our size, speed, strength, endurance, and intelligence
We admired your passion, commitment, creativity, and desire for connection
Together, we conquered the world
We carried you through the deserts and over the mountains
You carried us across the seas
We relied on one another for every need
Travel & transportation, food & shelter, safety & love
A revolution brought about the dawn of new era
An industrial era
Before long, you no longer needed us
To carry you into battle
To plow your fields
To tow your supplies
You stood on your own two feet and you thrived
Yet, despite all your progress, you did not dispose of us
There was still one thing the machines could not offer
A void they could never fill
You never forgot our contribution to humanity
And we never forgot our connection to you
5,000 years ago, began a love affair like no other
You admired our size, speed, strength, endurance, and intelligence
We admired your passion, commitment, creativity, and desire for connection
Together, we conquered the world
We carried you through the deserts and over the mountains
You carried us across the seas
We relied on one another for every need
Travel & transportation, food & shelter, safety & love
A revolution brought about the dawn of new era
An industrial era
Before long, you no longer needed us
To carry you into battle
To plow your fields
To tow your supplies
You stood on your own two feet and you thrived
Yet, despite all your progress, you did not dispose of us
There was still one thing the machines could not offer
A void they could never fill
You never forgot our contribution to humanity
And we never forgot our connection to you
The connection between humans and horses dates back thousands of years. Once upon a time the paths of these two species crossed in a way that can only be described as a universal phenomenon; a soul connection. While the initial motivation may have been purely selfish on the part of us humans, we quickly saw incredible value in the qualities the horse possessed and grew to respect the willingness and intelligence of our new partners.
Ancient Greek philosopher and historian, Xenophon, offered us one of the first recorded accounts of the study and interpretation of the horse in Peri Hippikes (On Horsemanship). This work is a demonstration of the vast amount of time and commitment humans have dedicated to the understanding of horses throughout the ages.
RELATIONSHIP
As our relationship with these beautiful animals grew, so did the expansion of humanity. Horses carried us into battle. They so willingly performed intricate maneuvers with such passion and devotion it can only be attributed to the mutual affection they held for their human counterparts. We built bonds of trust and compassion that ran so deep a horse would literally run head-first into a battalion of soldiers at the request of his rider. It was horses that carried people and supplies across mountain ranges and through desserts, allowing us to explore the globe in ways we had never done before.
With exploration came new settlements, and as the breadth of humanity increased so did the connection to the horse. Agricultural development was supported, once again, by the strength and willingness of the horse, as we asked him to plow our fields, pull our wagons, and build our communities.
Eventually, the Industrial Revolution began to replace the horse in many of these traditional aspects. Trains, cars, tractors, and tanks relieved him of his heavy workload. Each of these machines with a specific job, each one inspired by a job that the horse had already mastered.
Ancient Greek philosopher and historian, Xenophon, offered us one of the first recorded accounts of the study and interpretation of the horse in Peri Hippikes (On Horsemanship). This work is a demonstration of the vast amount of time and commitment humans have dedicated to the understanding of horses throughout the ages.
RELATIONSHIP
As our relationship with these beautiful animals grew, so did the expansion of humanity. Horses carried us into battle. They so willingly performed intricate maneuvers with such passion and devotion it can only be attributed to the mutual affection they held for their human counterparts. We built bonds of trust and compassion that ran so deep a horse would literally run head-first into a battalion of soldiers at the request of his rider. It was horses that carried people and supplies across mountain ranges and through desserts, allowing us to explore the globe in ways we had never done before.
With exploration came new settlements, and as the breadth of humanity increased so did the connection to the horse. Agricultural development was supported, once again, by the strength and willingness of the horse, as we asked him to plow our fields, pull our wagons, and build our communities.
Eventually, the Industrial Revolution began to replace the horse in many of these traditional aspects. Trains, cars, tractors, and tanks relieved him of his heavy workload. Each of these machines with a specific job, each one inspired by a job that the horse had already mastered.
EMOTIONAL CONNECTION
We could replicate his strength and endurance, but there was something more about the horse that humanity could not capture in our machines. And although the need for horses to perform physical labor waned, the connection was never broken. On the contrary, we began to see new value in the horse that we had never fully recognized before. The value of emotional connection.
Now, I am not saying this journey has been without struggle by any means. In fact, there is still widespread disagreement today regarding almost every aspect of equine care and training. But overall, we can agree that regardless of the dissipation of reliance on horses for infrastructure development and sustainability, the relationship between horse and human is stronger than ever.
As humanity moved into deeper and stronger technological advancements, we also began to move into an era plagued by trauma, mental health disorders, and exponentially rising suicide rates. The 21st century is experiencing a mental health crisis unlike ever before. In recent years we are finally coming to realize the severity our disconnect from nature is having on our wellness.
NATURAL ROOTS
Luckily, we have not been asleep at the wheel and the demand for transition to our natural roots is ever increasing. In 2000 the show Survivor first aired, and the reality series about survival in the wild was an instant hit. Soon there were dozens of television shows about living off the grid and connecting with our natural world. This desire to move back to the Earth and feel authentic connection sparked life and hope in so many. The demand for emotionally strengthening activities like yoga, meditation, wilderness retreats, and animal-centered experiences exploded as the benefits became more and more apparent. And with this explosion we came to view the partnership with our friend, the horse, in a whole new light.
While the concepts of therapeutic riding and Hippotherapy have gained popularity over the last 50 years, it is the shift into recognizing the value a horse has, not on his back, but in a place of true equality on the ground, that has brought about the depth of connection we hare truly craved. I believe this is something we have always known, deep in our soul, but the concepts have eluded us until now. Within the last decade, the practices of Equine-Facilitated Learning and Psychotherapy, which focus specifically on the power of this enduring relationship, are booming in popularity. Equine-centered mental health and wellness programs are gaining recognition around the globe for their incredible ability to offer healing and hope unlike any other programs that exists.
Thousands of historians, trainers, and scientists have studied and documented the journey man has taken with the horse. One of my favorite works, The Age of the Horse, by Suzanna Forrest, covers this journey from evolutionary beginnings through early domestication and on to the modern relationship we share today. Of course, the greatest lessons come directly from the source. We could spend a lifetime reviewing and studying these works ourselves, but the true learning, the true connection exists right on the farm. A connection that grows deeper by the day. ~*~
We could replicate his strength and endurance, but there was something more about the horse that humanity could not capture in our machines. And although the need for horses to perform physical labor waned, the connection was never broken. On the contrary, we began to see new value in the horse that we had never fully recognized before. The value of emotional connection.
Now, I am not saying this journey has been without struggle by any means. In fact, there is still widespread disagreement today regarding almost every aspect of equine care and training. But overall, we can agree that regardless of the dissipation of reliance on horses for infrastructure development and sustainability, the relationship between horse and human is stronger than ever.
As humanity moved into deeper and stronger technological advancements, we also began to move into an era plagued by trauma, mental health disorders, and exponentially rising suicide rates. The 21st century is experiencing a mental health crisis unlike ever before. In recent years we are finally coming to realize the severity our disconnect from nature is having on our wellness.
NATURAL ROOTS
Luckily, we have not been asleep at the wheel and the demand for transition to our natural roots is ever increasing. In 2000 the show Survivor first aired, and the reality series about survival in the wild was an instant hit. Soon there were dozens of television shows about living off the grid and connecting with our natural world. This desire to move back to the Earth and feel authentic connection sparked life and hope in so many. The demand for emotionally strengthening activities like yoga, meditation, wilderness retreats, and animal-centered experiences exploded as the benefits became more and more apparent. And with this explosion we came to view the partnership with our friend, the horse, in a whole new light.
While the concepts of therapeutic riding and Hippotherapy have gained popularity over the last 50 years, it is the shift into recognizing the value a horse has, not on his back, but in a place of true equality on the ground, that has brought about the depth of connection we hare truly craved. I believe this is something we have always known, deep in our soul, but the concepts have eluded us until now. Within the last decade, the practices of Equine-Facilitated Learning and Psychotherapy, which focus specifically on the power of this enduring relationship, are booming in popularity. Equine-centered mental health and wellness programs are gaining recognition around the globe for their incredible ability to offer healing and hope unlike any other programs that exists.
Thousands of historians, trainers, and scientists have studied and documented the journey man has taken with the horse. One of my favorite works, The Age of the Horse, by Suzanna Forrest, covers this journey from evolutionary beginnings through early domestication and on to the modern relationship we share today. Of course, the greatest lessons come directly from the source. We could spend a lifetime reviewing and studying these works ourselves, but the true learning, the true connection exists right on the farm. A connection that grows deeper by the day. ~*~
