Remembering to Breathe
written by Kiran S.
As I drive towards the barn, away from the busy streets and busy thoughts, towards the lush rolling pastures with breathtaking mountain backdrops, I can feel the tension begin to release with the promise of comfort and belonging amongst the herd. As someone who is constantly battling anxiety and depression, I find that my mind fixates on cycling between ruminating on past events or worrying about the future. The therapeutic effects of simply observing the herd, horse husbandry, or horseback riding has had a positive trickle down effect in my day to day life.
Observing Herd Dynamics
The herd casually gazes over at the approaching vehicle as it crunches over the gravel road.
A friendly gelding recognizes me as I approach the paddocks and rewards me with a friendly knicker, approaches respectfully, and lowers his head as if to say “hello!” I am immersed in experience: the rhythmic sound of horses contentedly munching away, the warmth of the herd as they release gusts of hot breath into the cold crisp country air, and even the birds chirp harmoniously. I feel as though I am a part of something greater as I watch the horses displaying their natural instincts and establishing themselves among the herd.
It is amazing to watch new friendships emerge between the members of the herd! Pairs or more, oftentimes even the entire herd can be seen galloping across the pasture together until they tire themselves out. Then, they gently nuzzle each other as they calm down and sleepily gaze off into the distance. Some members of the herd lay down for their REM sleep as the others stand guard, the comradery warms my heart as they look out for one another. Standing there, observing, and not interfering—I feel that there is no expectation of the horses from me and I know that I have no expectation from them either—we exist comfortably together.
Horse Husbandry
I take comfort in doing familiar tasks including mucking paddocks, grooming, preparing and distributing feed and haynets. Mucking paddocks, though not the most glamorous job, can be a contemplative time as muscle memory takes over in the familiar repetitive motion allowing your mind to relax. As I groom the horses, I feel them relax under the gentle pressure of the brush over their muscles and I take the opportunity to gauge any sore spots. There is a level of mutual trust between equine and human when it comes to grooming as there can be injuries and vulnerable areas like the eyes. It is satisfying to see the horses all clean in their fresh paddocks, until they decide to have a nice roll in the mud of course!
Horseback Riding
The mutual feeling of trust, connection, and partnership is formed and solidified as we communicate and understand the horse. As I prompt the horse forward, I start to feel the movement and begin to concentrate on my breathing. I feel a sense of calm and focus my energy on balancing and watching for queues from the horse. All my senses are activated without overwhelming my system, it feels as though I am checking in with my body and mind—assessing my physical and mental wellbeing.
Let’s all remember to take a moment out of our busy lives to breathe in the fresh country air.
Kiran S. is from Surrey, BC and loves all animals, big and small. She is a long-term volunteer and foster in our community. She is passionate about animal care ranging from fostering pregnant cats along with their kittens to volunteering with and learning from horses. Her aspirations are to raise awareness about mental health and ultimately hopes to facilitate others' connection with animals.
