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Many years ago in one of my letters to the late author/trainer John Richard Young, I proclaimed that I was "searching for equestrian truths, wherever they may be." Mr. Young promptly told me to stop bragging. I realize now how pompous that statement must have sounded coming from my young mouth, but it is as true today as it was then.
And I am very sure Mr. Young would be extremely pleased with the truths that I have finally discovered for myself. I believe I came full circle to find what I was searching for. You see, when I first began riding at age 21, I didn't want to just "ride"--I wanted to know the very soul of the horse. That took me on a journey through classical training, studying of the great equestrian authors, and of course horse showing. But I didn't find that elusive thing I was looking for.
Through all this training and showing, my horses were body clipped and blanketed, therapeutically-shod and box-stalled, their hooves smeared with grease, their bellies filled with incredible combinations of super vitamin formulas. In my heart, I knew something was wrong, but what could it be?
It is so very sad that it often takes a tragedy to create change and reform. And so it happened in my case. My beloved horse's founder sent me on a journey into a different place, and there I discovered "the natural horse", the way he was meant to be. This was the horse I fell in love with as a child! I began to truly appreciate the natural horse for what he was, not for what I could make out of him. The pamperings of humankind only degraded his beauty. I realized how very much I had abused him, neglected his welfare and ignored his greatest needs. In my desire to love and care for my horses, I had created their suffering! Such an ironic twist of fate.
Now I feel like I have "seen the light". There is no way anyone can argue against it--horseshoes are damaging to horses feet. Close confinement is damaging to a horse's entire body system. Body-clipping and blanketing destroy their natural thermoregulation. Why do we, as a society, continue
practices that are harmful to our horses? I believe it is mainly because most people do not know these things are harmful!
Our greatest challenge right now is to let these equestrian truths be known. Many will argue against them. The opposition will probably be fierce. But by sharing your story with others, a few may follow. It will take time, but things will change. I think if Mr. Young could see me now, he would be applauding.
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