The other day my daughter wants to go for her newly discovered favorite extra curricular activity. Horseback riding. Yawn. just another thing I have to do and this of course is the least important activity in my book. I have or rather had zero interest in horses, let alone add one more chore to my already quite packed list. I was not only jet lagged from the most recent trip, but exhausted from the Gi upset viral bug. So on one hand horseback riding, and on the other hand rest and sleep, the choice was obvious. Yet a few dashes of my daughter’s eyelashes and sad looking face, I knew the choice had been made for me already. Horseback riding it was.

 

I took her for her class and left her in the hands of her teacher. It was a beautiful day with no clouds and a gently breeze massaging my balding head. I walked about and suddenly I met an old friend who I had not seen for almost a decade. She is an equestrian aficionado to say the least. She showed me about this large horse farm, stable and eventually after a good catch up, she left, leaving me in the company of all the horses who stared at me with the eyes of curiosity. I stared back.

 

I found a bench near a fence and sat there as all good Uber-parents do these days. I have learned how to wait, just like the British learned how to queue. Yet something magical happened. It is hard to describe.

 

As I just observed these majestic animals graze, clean themselves, graze more. Their beautiful manes waving in the wind. Their eyes piercing my heart with their simple look. Even the alphas had a reserved power. Suddenly time seemed to slow down, and halt. I could hear my heart beat. I could feel the heart beat of the horse in front of me. This muscular male who built his powerful frame by eating hay. He appeared to be smiling at me, as if to acknowledge his own magnificence, as he revealed his teeth. With his ears pulled back he continued his edification, knowing full well that he had me now. I was in his heart field.

 

There is something very magnanimous that occurs when in the presence of a relaxed horse. Human hearts give off an electromagnetic field that can travel several feet. Horse hearts are up to 50 times more powerful. I was totally inside his heart field. It felt embracing, all encompassing. Non judgement ally he accepted me into his field. My own breathing softened, my thoughts became quiet and I felt coherence. I had never felt this way before. Is this what horse therapy is all about? Sheer magic.

 

I did not feel like leaving this bubble, but I was being dragged back into reality’s unforgiving pull. With internal tears, I placed my hand on my own heart and thanked this creature for allowing to share a unique experience, a quiet that is rarely found in this busy world of digital chaos. I had books to read, my journal, my ipad to write all in my ever ready travel bag that are the necessities of the Uber parent. I did not do anything. Just watched, lay still and breathed. I did Nothing.

 

I have found a new form of meditation, sitting with horses. I wonder if this is the reason why my little one seems to love horses. To be in the surrendering field of heart space of non judgment and simpler what can be best described as love. I asked her if this was the reason as I tried to explain to her what I felt. Her response was simple and poignant.

 

“ Well duh?”

 

Ha !

 

Took me a while to figure it out, but here I am now listening to my heart once again. The universe is constantly asking me to do that. Listen. If I can get out of my head space and into my heart space, I may just discover what it means to be alive and learn to love. Faith is a gift I have yet to receive, I am trying.

 

…………..

 

I love you

 

Ps pictures by permission of Laura LaValley Morris thank you for your friendship and that of your horse