Of Equines, Horses and Man: Fascinations & Reflections

By: Hazem Metwally

With #EidAlAdha approaching, I have taken some time to reflect on our relationship with animals and the majesty of horses.

My son and I have been spending time with Claudia, our 23 years old mare that greets us with a nose-to-nose welcome, eager for her treat and always kind enough to let him lead despite of their vastly different proportions.

A Primal Fascination...

Speaking from a place of bias and love for these beautiful creatures, my earliest memory of equines goes back to the time when I was a few years old.?I tagged along with my sister's older class on a school trip to the feet of the Pyramids of Giza. Back on those days this area would be bustling with locals offering different rides.

Hassan our very kind bus driver had me venture onto taking a donkey ride. It seemed like quite an adventure by the standards of a five year old. Oblivious to the sub optimal working animals condition at that place, I could only dream of going on a horse like the older visitors.

Years later, I experienced my first horse ride, on my cousin’s horse, Maddah ElKammar "Moon Admirer"; an usual but dreamy like name. The working conditions of Maddah were much better than those of his peers at the Pyramids... I was still scared from the saddle height and far from being in-synch with the workings of these wonderful creatures, yet I was mesmerized despite my ambivalent fear.

I was hooked.

Borrowing from my wise friend’s analogy:

a plant is aware of the bees but they can't comprehend the full dimension of a bee’s life.

Realms of Existence...

Horses, as all animals, are also aware of us, but they cannot connect to our full consciousness and the complexity of human life.

Similarly, I also believe that we as humans are unaware of the full existence of horses and equines. While we tangent with horses in various sports and other utilities, I believe our fascination with them transcends beyond the admiration of their majestic looks.

* This photo is one that I've captured of Sief, a super fiesty Arabian Horse.

It may very well be that we are sensing their connection to other dimensions that we are not consciously aware of and that translates to our attraction to them.

Real evidences of horse mysticism exist

According to Carl Jung, human beings are all connected to the whole repository of human psychic experiences. He referred to it as the human unconscious. It is the accumulation of collective human experiences to which, according to Jung translates to that we are all connected. This sometimes surfaces to reality in different forms of unexplainable behaviors or emotions, as if we had unaccounted-for prior experiences. Horses on the other-hand are prey creatures who have learned to be very much in tune to the nature around them and to the present moment, yet they allow us to lead them and cooperate with us.?

Such presence of horses, and equines in general, has lead to a whole branch of therapy where equines are brought in to help people who are struggling with connections and other conditions.

Do it any way you like, but convince your silent partner...

Several things can be learned from being and working with horses. For example in working with training of and with a horse, one can take a whole day working something through, if we acted like it can take only take a few minutes.

Conversely if we acted like we have all day to get it right, it can very well take only a few minutes.

That "slower is faster" lesson applies so much in everyday learnings and endeavours. To get it right, it's often the case that you need to mentally slow down and attend with full presence to the task at hand.

I have been finding ways to get close to horses for as many years as I could practically achieve, and I am yet to learn more about them the more I spend time with them, either directly and consciously, or even more importantly sub consciously.

For anyone who has had the privilege of being close to horses will concur that feeling they give that one can't accurately explain and I believe it is only a reflection of you and addressing your full potential.

“Something about the outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man” Winston Churchill.

Reflections for the week ahead...

During this vacation, I invite us all to explore the subtle and profound learnings from equines; a creature that doesn’t speak our language yet bears so many secrets with healing effects on various levels, physical, mental and emotional, that sooth us and rejuvenates our life.

Eid Al Adha, is a reminder that even in sacrifice, there is thoughtfulness and mercifulness. Respecting all animals, horses included, not only is an act of kindness but it has a profound effect on the experiences and relationships that we share with others.

Let us all celebrate by spending more time practicing thoughtfulness and mercifulness with all our animal friends. They are such a blessing in our life.

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