Saffy is without a doubt a Queen Mare. I was going to say Boss Mare but the term appeals to me about as much as MumBoss, GirlBoss or any variation therewith, all of which make me feel slightly nauseous. Queen I much prefer, in the best sense of the word. A queenly essence. One who understands herself as a leader, a caretaker and noticer of all-the-things so that she might keep those in her council safe.
Like all beings who embody a certain self-confidence- those whose surety proceeds them- they can be a little intimidating. It’s not so much the sense of hierarchy, or that you feel in any way less than in their presence. It’s more that they are unsure whether- save for food delivery and paddock cleaning- there’s really much use for you at all.
In the eyes of a horse like Saffy, your humanness is not considered an asset. At best, it’s a novelty chiefly used for entertainment purposes and dinner delivery. Beyond that, it’s a take it or leave it situation.
What’s more Saffy is both brave and whip smart. I remember Elsa Sinclair saying to me with a giggle that had a fortune teller quality to it and a slight glint in her eye, Saffy is not a horse that you lend to your friends or just let anyone ride. She wasn’t referencing safety; she was speaking of intelligence. She picks up things so quickly that there is little room for error as far as what lessons you are imparting, both inadvertently and intentionally. We know this to be true of every horse, but there are those with whom the margins are thinner, porous and more luminous.
Saffy is one of those horses.
With this in mind, I’ve been thinking of the energy that I want to bring to our explorations. What should the climate of our interactions be? I don’t want to have to prove myself to her. That reeks of desperation. And to be honest, her assessments are not entirely wrong.
I keep on digging. I think about the spirit of befriending, and of course that’s absolutely true. But she already has friends- why would she need one more?
And then I landed on it– the spirit I want to bring to our time together is one of play and of adventure. She might be self-contained, but she definitely loves exploring. I can be the one to bring her that. Mountain climbers! Ocean divers! Huntresses of Glimmerings! Cue dramatic music!
It’s fun, this line of contemplation. For me it’s about so much more than fanciful imaginings; it informs how we go about things in a very real way.
Understanding the energy you want to bring, how to embrace yourself as an asset to your horse involves understanding what matters to them. What motivates them. What their (current) opinion of you is so your interactions and experiences can be joyful and fused with a shared purpose.
And at the end of the day, what can be better than that.
