01/09/2025
“Horses need a job.”
“A horse that can do a job will be better cared for.”
“The most responsible thing is to prepare a horse to ride so that it finds a good home.”
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I have read or heard a variation of each of these this week. And while I have a lot to say about them individually, what I’ll share here is the common thread amongst all of them.
What do these have in common?
They have nothing to do with the horse and what is good or true for them.
Behind each of these statements is the underlying assumption that horses must serve human interest to be worthy of a good life, good care. To be safe from harm.
I realize that may be true for some horses in some places.
But from my little corner of the world, I see it quite differently.
I see horses that are “easy” and “useful” being used up, passed around, and completely taken advantage of to serve human interest and ego. Little consideration for how they experience the world or what they actually need to thrive as, well, a horse. And when every drop has been extracted from them, they are discarded, left suffering, forgotten. Either ostensibly, or bit by bit.
Alternatively, I see horses who can’t perform or don’t have “jobs” being tremendously loved and living wonderful, vibrant lives.
The key factor here is not the training and capacity of the horse.
It’s the heart and knowledge and capacity of the human.
Let’s really question the narrative that we are somehow doing a service to the horse by shaping them into something desirable and amenable to human ego.
Let’s START seeing horses for the beautiful animals that they are, simply in their existence, and celebrate that we get to walk beside them in life. Care for them well. Honor their true nature. Hold people accountable to that.
In doing so, we might find that the need to do something with them, make them “useful” in some way, drifts away like a summer breeze.
Alternatively, we might find ourselves at the starting point of the magical experience that is a horse going all-in on our (ethical) version of the Equestrian Things.
Either way, we can rest well knowing that our lives - both the horses AND the humans - were enhanced, not compromised, by being in relationship with one another.
Everyone that participates in the equine industry - professional, owner, trainer, rider, parent to horse crazy kid, barn manager, etc - contributes to how horses are seen, valued, and treated. Imagine if we all did our part to support a better life for horses and the people who love them.
Pictures of my beloved horses being horses this morning.