10/15/2025
When you start talking to horse people and horse trainers, you will see that alot of us are very spiritual people; we learn to understand the world in ways that are bigger than us. This helps us read and understand horses and people better...There is a presence in a horse that begs you to see deeper; to question things beyond the surface and existence of your own self.
The deeper I get into horsemanship, and the older I get as well, I see this alot more clearly than my younger self would have...who only thought the world was about me then. So as I was taking some time for Thanksgiving this weekend, a message seemed to come across to me...it was probably something for only me, but incase it may resonate with others I thought to share:
Mathew 6:25 "If you seek to save your life, you will ultimately lose it." What does that mean? It's no secret that I am a hard worker; I didn't grow up with anything, and I inherited nothing, so I've learned to work very hard for what I want to achieve. I've become accustomed to self-dependence and not asking for anything because of that. I just work for it myself. Then I thought about this message, and how that applied to me and the way I've been choosing to "save myself" through hard work and long hours, we could say over the years. It's not saying to be lazy and do nothing to change your state, because an idle mind is not a good place, but what it means is when you are in constant survival mode trying to save yourself you can become selfish; you only think about what you need to survive and your own surface level immediate requirements, and ultimately this will only get you day to day and at some point because of that burn somewhere. If you don't stop to pause and think about those around you, this survival and selfish way of going ends up burning you down instead of building you up like you think it may...
We can apply this to horsemanship alot when we think about what is best for our equine partner above ourself...on the competition trail it gets easy to get selfish and to keep running our horses beyond their thresholds because we may want to make finals, or make a name for ourselves, or are just simply caught up in the high of winning, etc. I did that once and now one of my best horses is a broodmare...I did this because I wanted to be known, I wanted people to see my training, and I wanted them to know I was good enough. I thought low of myself at the time; that this could be my only chance I'll ever get, and I had to prove myself...how silly to think my training was only good enough to make one horse. Selfish thoughts, and I paid the price for it and injured my best horse. Being caught up in those survival mode thoughts and the "I just need to get to the next win", and the "I just need this season to win and get to finals" Prevented me from hearing and thinking about my partner who was tired, and that's why we succumbed to fate. I was never going to win with those thoughts, and I didn't need to prove anything; I've grown up training my whole life. I always could listen to horses really well, but I ignored it for a long time because I was so worried about my own survival more. I learned instead to listen alot better to my horses from that event, thinking about them first and privileging their care first. I was rewarded on my next horse for it for being more focused on his needs more than my own. I didn't do it so I would win...I did it simply because caring for my partners needs was the right thing to do after all we ask them for. I let go of my selfish fear, trusted my training, and I made two more top level contendors who have gone on to do very well with other hands after this.
Being the best stewards possible for our horses is usually when winning happens-because we thought deeper than surface value or bigger than just ourselves, and because we could relate to another living being over ourself; because it happens from a place of pure intention and not ego.
"If you seek to save your life you will ultimately lose it." This is alot the same in our work with horses as it is in our lives with one another as well...do you privilege those thoughts and desires which only feed your surface and immediate needs, or do you consider things on a deeper level? Things like what may bring your family peace and wellbeing and your community, or other people in your life that you care about peace and wellbeing as well. Do you pitty yourself or have fear-based, poor me, thoughts like I did when I pushed my good horse and lost her ability for it? Or do you understand things bigger than that? It is in these such thoughts and actions that are larger than us that we are rescued and "saved" so to say and taken to a better way of knowing and living-that is what the verse means...only thinking about our surface and immediate needs and being selfish will ultimately lead to futility and demise.
That is what that verse means, and I wanted to break it down and share it incase it may help others.
My challenge to you this week in your Horsemanship is to understand the world from that spiritual place and a place that is bigger than you to build your partnership. This will build your relationships around you too and bring you better meaning.
Happy Riding, and Happy Thanksgiving!
