Goodness

Boone gives me wings!

Goodness

By Elisha Bradburn

Goodness is a quality possessed by good horsemen, but it is actually a quality we can learn a lot about from horses.

Have a bad day? Someone you love disappoint you? Frustrations at work?

You know it will all fall away once you get out to the barn and breathe deeply the smells of horses and fresh air. You know you will feel understood and soothed by the compassion of a silent listener when you see those big brown eyes looking back at you. There is something so healing about the goodness horses show us, and that we can extend in return, that it is worth discussion.

I think that the soothing affect that horses have on us stems from their goodness in the form of purity. It is something that has always comforted me about animals, their pure hearts. They are pure, in the way that they are generally a reflection of their environment. You must have heard some great horseman say, “the horse is a mirror.” If we are kind, generous, and a half decent hand, horses are generally kind, generous, and good to us in return. A lot can be learned about a person when an experienced horseman looks at their horse.

I know at some of my most challenging times in life, my horses seemed to pick up on my struggles. I could see myself in them. I could feel their compassion as they were seeking to understand me, but they could only be as good as I was. They can’t help but be pure.

The goodness of animals and nature has a profoundly calming, healing and head clearing effect on us. This is unmistakably by design I believe, and no coincidence. They are an unadulterated reflection of love, and are a perfect gift to us in so many ways. The way horses are so compatible, so joy invoking, so awe inspiring, just can’t be by accident! Just the fact that we can so perfectly ride a horse, the proportions all make sense, tells me it was all part of a grand plan. May I propose that the way their beauty captures our hearts, with flowing manes and tails, and coming in a multitude of colours and markings to catch anyone’s fancy, is not just serendipitously delightful? Not to mention the fact that over the centuries they have made all sorts of jobs possible by being our sturdy mounts and hard-working companions. Their adaptability, power, and majestic presence is truly awe inspiring!

There is also something very grounding about being around horses. Just the work involved in owning such a large animal is enough to help us get back to what is real, if we will let it. It helps keep us fit, and getting dirt under our nails can be good therapy. The mindless sifting through a stall or paddock while we contemplate the cares of life is good medicine for a person. It gives one the time and space required to sort through some of life’s biggest questions and issues. It is this time required to care for, and be good with horses, that can mold us into a better human.

I was struck by legendary horseman Tom Dorrance’s words on the benefits of looking for goodness: “The last 89 years have been good to me, and good for me. In looking back through all these many years, I have experienced a great life. Looking for the good in people and animals has helped me get a better understanding of life in general.” This wise reflection reminded me that we could choose to look for the goodness, in both horses and humans, and choose to focus on it. This simple choice to focus on goodness can make life much more enjoyable.

Yet another quality pointing to the goodness of horses is their willingness. If we can truly go about horses, seeking first to understand, then to be understood, as is one of Steven Covey’s amazing 7 Principles (Covey, S.R. (2017). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. New York, N.Y.: Simon & Schuster Inc.) then horses are pretty willing to do almost whatever tickles our fancy. They will jump jumps, herd cattle, fight wars, dance and spin. To seek to understand a horse means we must first learn to think like a horse, and then teach them what we want, from their perspective. When you think about a horse’s size and power, they are very good to allow us the many pleasures they afford us.

If we were half as willing to do for each other and our animals what horses are willing to do for us, the world would be a better place.

Best of all horses’ goodness is consistent, something we can count on in this world full of uncertainty. Yet another quality associated with horses’ basic goodness we can add to our own arsenal. We can learn to be consistently trustworthy, patient, and empathetic, the kind of leader worth following. God definitely knew what he was doing making animals, and it is no coincidence the comfort and joy they bring us. So, next time you feel a little down, like you could use a listening ear and a warm friend, head on out to the barn and wonder at the goodness you’ll find. Enjoy being and soaking up the goodness friends.

Elisha Bradburn and her husband, Clay, own Faithful Farm, an equestrian center in the Fraser Valley. Elisha’s passion with horses lies in psychology based horsemanship, with a strong consideration for the horse’s point of view. Elisha is available for clinics and speaking engagements and can be followed on her Legacy Horsemanship pages on Facebook and Instagram or e-mailed at legacyhorsemanship@shaw.ca