Through the Eyes of the Horse: Horse Rescue

In the last few days I have found my attention being brought to a variety of horse rescue situations.   Horse rescues and sanctuary’s are something that as a horse lover is very near to my heart, as I am sure it is with many other horse lovers as well.

Often times in the past when faced with knowledge of these situations I would get very upset, my emotions would range from grief, to anger, to rage, to sadness and despair feeling as if I was powerless to do anything to help.  Seeing a horse in pain or that has been abused or neglected in any way can be a very distressing thing to witness and be involved in. As someone who has been volunteering at various horse rescues around canada for the last few years I have had a first hand experience of being involved in something that although  I felt passionate about hurt me in the deepest way.  What I wanted to share with you is a story of how I have overcome distressing emotions about the horses in these situations and can now stand in a place of love and compassion and non judgement so ultimately I can hold the space for these amazing animals to experience the life they choose to experience.

Before I tell my story I just want to say that this is the messages and wisdom that I have received through my experience and in know way am I saying that this is the way it is.  I am offering another perspective that I have been given through the eyes of the horse in hopes that we as humans can come to a place of peace and of understanding and be able to stand in a place of love so that all of us can heal.

This is an interaction with the horses that changed my life and changed my perspective on them their lives and how incredibly wise and powerful they really are.  I had been living in Calgary Alberta at the time and had been missing the horses so I decided I would look into volunteering at a horse rescue to be able to spend some time with the horses and also see what I could do to help.  I had contacted the woman who ran the rescue who told me to come on down to see the horses and get acquainted with the rescue.  So I got in my car and drove down looking forward to connecting with her and the horses.  When I got out of the car she greeted me and began on giving me the tour and introducing me to the horses they had there.  They had a really beautiful set up for the horses and had neighbors of their who had donated a bunch of land for the rescue in which a big herd of 48 rescue horses were able to roam free.  The herd was diverse ranging from elders, to weanling, yearlings, mares, geldings, all breeds, colors in one big herd.  What I was overcome by was the state of some of these horses as well as how they had ended up going to be shipped for slaughter where a lot of the horses at this rescue were destined to.  I remember at the end of the tour the woman who ran it told me I could spend some time with the herd while she went off and did some chores.  As soon as she left I sat down and cried.  I was overcome with so much despair and anger at people and how unfair life was for these horses.  I was pretty certain I was not going to be able to come here again because it was too painful for me for be there.  As I was crying a young filly came right up to me stuck her face right in my face as I heard the words”stop crying.” I looked up at her and was in shock and awe at what I was receiving from her and her presence.  She was strong she was sure of herself and did she ever have a thing or two to say to me.  The message I received from her continued on as she told me I was not to cry for her or for the others as it was not my place to judge what their life was.  She shared with me that just like us humans horses choose what their path in life is and that they are not victims of their circumstances.  She told me it is not for me to judge or put any judgments on their path and that there is always a higher calling. She shared with me that day that they choose what they wish to experience and as painful as it is for me I have to let go of feeling pain for them and be able to honor instead that path that they have chosen.  As I left the rescue that day my pain and overwhelm dissipated and what I was left with was a peace, an understanding and a different way of seeing things.  Who am I to judge the path of another?  I was curious and I was open more than ever to learn more about seeing things in the eyes of the horses and other beasts.  I did go back to that rescue many more times after that.  The very next time I went I was overcome again by emotion this time it was love and awe and how special and amazing these animals were.  I have never in my life been around horses that were so forgiving and loving.  I spent many days there just sitting in the fields with them enjoying their presence and opening to what more they had to share with me.  I believe by shifting my perspective into honoring their path I was welcomed and able to truly witness and hold space to just connect in a way that was beyond the physical.  To this day each time I am faced with a situation in which any animals is abused or in need of rescue or on their way to the slaughter I remember what those horses have taught me.  It is not to say that I stand by and do nothing, I believe it is still important to advocate and donate and volunteer however you are able.  What I learned is that I have to put my judgments aside of what I think is right and be open to hearing what their message is.  I have learned to honor each and every path of not only the horses but other beasts and humans of the planet as well.  I know not everyone will share my perspective and find it impossible that a horse was able to share this information with me, but that is ok.  What is most important is the ability to share and offer up another way of seeing things that may perhaps bring peace and comfort to others or open up the possibilities of exploring other ways to help these wonderful animals.

horses from the herd at Bear Valley Rescue in Sundre Alberta

What I do continue to do is send light and healing and peace.  For when you stand in the place of love you are able to hold that space for the other to do the same.  In truth there is only love or fear.  To choose love is to choose peace and it allows that animal, person or situation to do the same.