VET DIARY FOR FEBRUARY

As I write this piece, it’s the beginning of February, officially the first day of Spring. In Ireland we celebrate it as St Brigid’s day. She is the Celtic goddess who has magical powers of protection and abundance, fecundity and grace. My recollection of her legend has it that she asked the High King for a piece of land and he consented but with a smirk and a caveat... She could own what land the shawl on her back could cover. He thought she'd have a tiny patch in front of her... So she took off the shawl swung it over her shoulder and it magically expanded and covered as far as the eye could see!!!

In nature, many of the wild herds such as wild horses are ruled by the lead mare not by the stallion. It’s a matriarchal system and interestingly enough the old Brehon laws of Ireland were based on a matriarchal system too, in keeping with the natural laws, in tune with mother nature. Our modern society has been built on a patriarchal system from the church and government and many business models.

A lady called Linda Kohanov, who studied the intricate nature of how horses work in the wild, learned that if one of the young colts starts acting up and throwing his weight around it was the lead mare that would pull him up on it and if he continued she would extricate him from the herd so he would have to go it alone completely outside the protection of the main herd. He is now very vulnerable to predators such as mountain lions, bobcats, wolves, coyotes, etc. These outcast young horses soon realised that life was much better in the herd than going it alone and would attempt to

Joe Kavanagh of the Moyne Veterinary Hospital

rejoin the herd. The term 'Join Up' was coined for this where the young colt attempts to rejoin but in a very submissive fashion by dropping his head to the lead mare basically saying, ‘I’m happy to go with your rules’, re-enters the herd and they move on together.

Linda has written several books on the wisdom of these wonderful animals such as The Tao of Equus and The Power of The Herd and interestingly is now working with big corporations in the US teaching them the power of the matriarchal system in business where people work together to a common goal... in contrast to the patriarchal system where we step on someone else's head to move up the ladder to success. In the matriarchal system, the idea that a rising tide raises all boats is the essence of how it can be utilised. People working to a common goal achieve it much easier than solo runs. Geese flying in a 'V’ formation can fly 70% further than they can on their own and when they honk from the back it’s words of encouragement. They interchange the lead role so everyone does their bit... synergy at its best.

The wisdom of our fellow creatures, their simple rules and way of living, can lead us back to living a life of harmony, bringing the spark back into our lives and, like Brigid, creating and enjoying the magic all around us.

Enjoy the beauty that's unfolding this Spring with eyes of wonder, like the quotes: ‘Through the eyes of a child we enter the kingdom of Heaven’ and ‘All that is supposed to be in Heaven is already here on earth.’ n

If you have a topic you’d like Joe Kavanagh to address please email Slaney News at: slaneynews@gmail.com

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