Life Lessons Taught by Horses

I look around the farm, and I am amazed at the beauty that I get to see each day. Here in North Carolina, the summer solstice has officially arrived, and the days will get a bit shorter until winter. It’s hot here in the Tar Heel State, and our temperatures are in the high 80s, with humidity holding steady.

Still, I love the summer season and all it brings, as I prefer to be outside and enjoying Mother Nature. There’s a lot of chaos in the world right now, but it’s easy to escape some of that noise on the farm. The horses and other animals don’t know about the drama that lives around them, as they are blinded to the real world.

Their realm is calm and content here, and their every need is taken care of, which gives me great pleasure. While I do a lot for these animals every day, I am often reminded that they also do a lot for me. They teach me life lessons that help me be a better person.

The Importance of Blinders

A few years ago, I traveled to Union Grove with some friends to eat all the delicious offerings from the Amish community. We were waiting for the light to turn at a traffic light, and a horse and buggy pulled up beside us. Of course, as a horse enthusiast, I had to admire the strong stallion pulling the wagon.

I couldn’t help but notice the blinders on the horse’s eyes, and a little life lesson hit me like a ton of bricks. Since I’ve been around equines most of my life, I know the importance of these patches. They keep the horses from being spooked by traffic and other things around them.

There’s a great deal of traffic in this area of our state, as many people come to see the sites, eat, shop, and get away from the cares of life. While in the region, I also wanted to escape for a bit, as I was experiencing a time of upheaval in my life.

The black horse stood proud and didn’t miss a beat as he carried his family to do their shopping. He had one purpose that day, and his goal was to safely get his family to and from their journey. If he didn’t have those blinders on his eyes, then things might be very different for everyone on that wagon.

Horses are known to be frightened by the traffic noise, and the horse could quickly flip that wagon and hurt the people inside. However, these little safety precautions ensured that he stayed his course and that everyone made the journey safe.

We all go through seasons in life where we are distracted. It’s easy to look around you and become so caught up in the noise and chaos that you get distracted from your true purpose. My views changed at that very minute when I saw the blinders on the horse. It reminded me that I needed these figurative blinders to keep me grounded.

I was so caught up with things around me that I let them have a dramatic impact on me. While we usually write about horse care tips and life with equines, today, I wanted to speak to my dedicated followers who might be going through a challenging time.

Sometimes for the sake of your sanity, you must turn off the TV, put down social media, and just go outside and take a walk in nature. While you can’t walk around with blinders on like the horse, you can choose actions that shield you from some of the chaos around you.

Just a Hug Will Do

Another life lesson I learned from an equine was taught to me by an old American quarter horse. He had some health issues, and the farm transition proved difficult for this equine. Different staff members tried to help him, but it seemed that he would not settle down in his new home.

You develop an intuitive approach toward their needs when you work with horses. Since they can’t speak with you the way humans can, you must learn other ways to communicate. I could tell that this horse was scared, and he was an equine set in his ways and resistant to change.

I grabbed a brush and started combing his hair, and I talked to him while calming his nerves. I spoke to him as I would my best friend going through a crisis, as he just wanted someone to let him know everything was going to be okay. The more I talked to this horse the more I could feel him settle.

I told him how happy we were to have him and let him know he was loved. After our session, I put my hands around him and held onto him for a few minutes. Hugging a horse might seem crazy or over the top to some people, but I wanted this horse to feel comfortable and know that he wasn’t in any danger.

A hug was all it took to let him know that it would be okay in his world. A sad, aged quarter horse taught me that sometimes a hug is all you need to keep going. Even as human beings, being hugged can provide great comfort. Sometimes, feeling the embrace of a kind and loving person is all you need to go another mile.

We’re More Than a Retirement Home

I’ve worked with horses since I was seven years old. I had a vision even at an early age of what a significant role these animals would play in my life. When you pull up to our entrance gate, you will notice that we take pride in our grounds and the animals.

When your horse is with us, they live out their golden years in total comfort. I strive to build a relationship with each of our residents, as they are important to me. If you or anyone you know needs boarding for your aging equines, please don’t hesitate to give us a call.