Horse Beauty

Beauty, it is said, is in the eye of the beholder.  And yet the study of art and mathematics show there is a universal form to beauty – an asymmetrical balance that creates an ever evolving movement, forever seeking to bring the whole into balance and forever recreating it’s asymmetry in a harmony that carries the eye into a mystery of searching.  It is called the Golden Ratio, universal “sacred geometry” that shows itself in the spiral of galaxies, in the crest of an ocean wave, in the curves of a conch shell and in the complex spiral of DNA.

“The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man,” a quote famously said by Teddy Roosevelt.  The horse embodies the golden ratio many times over in its form.  We can’t help but admire the shape, the combination of curves and angles, the flare of nostrils, the flag of tail, the curtain of mane – beauty expressed in every part and every movement – universal, primordial beauty.

Beauty also comes in relationship, searching for that melding of horse/human understanding.  As a teacher of foundational horsemanship I ask my young students at their first lesson, “why do you want to learn to ride a horse?”  The most common answer is “I love horses.”  Can’t go wrong with that.  Starting from a place of love can only lead to success.  For me, watching these young horse people struggle trying to grasp the physical, mental and emotional intricacies of learning to handle and ride a 1000 pound horse and suddenly pushing past the barrier of  not being able to suddenly being able, is absolute beauty.   I am passionate in sharing with these young people the experiences and practices that my 56 years of teaching has taught me.  Yes, teaching teaches.  My mentors teach me, the horses teach me, and students teach me.  Learning reaches out through an entire lifetime.

BEAUTY     by Lynnea Honn

Six months past

 was her lesson last.

A nine year old

 seeking the elusive gold

a treasure so bold,

 a shared story retold.

The joining of beings,

 the vistas of seeing’s

from the back of a horse,

 a bridge to the source

of nine year old glory,

 an adventure story.

She sits astride a gentle ride,

the fat round mare

of snow white hair.

She listens and cares

words her teacher shares.

Her body tries so hard to do

what her teacher says is true.

Try as hard as she may

 her seat just won’t stay

in the saddle so wide

 and the bouncy stride

jars her seat from the saddle.

 to stay on is a battle.

“Sure can’t chase cattle

 if you can’t stay astraddle,”

Teacher says from the center

 the words of her mentor.

Clasping hard on the reins,

 child’s hand jerks and strains.

back rubber band bending,

 mixed messages she’s sending.

The teacher does muse

what words can she choose?

so child’s seat she won’t lose,

 this young psyche won’t bruise.

Teacher calls on her knowing

 to lead to the flowing

of harmony felt

when two bodies melt

into exquisite rhythm

and shared body wisdom.

“Imagine head lifting high,

 a string attached to sky,

your breathe a soft sigh,

  your legs a draped “Y”

across horse’s back,

 over horse tack,

legs stretching down,

 heels reaching for ground,

hands push against bounce,

 weighing only an ounce,

seat pumps like a swing

 so that you won’t fling

off from the spring

when the horse is trotting.”

And then it is there,

 as though from thin air.

Little body is straight

and in rhythm with gait,

Hands float above wither

 like the play of a zither.

Fingers fold ‘round rein

 so as not to cause pain.

soft, without strain.

It has not been in vain

This effort of love – A gift from above

This moment of Beauty, A Rider, A Cutie.