Lessons from Horse Play

A horse gallops with his lung,
Perseveres with his heart,
and wins with his character
Tesio

Horses don’t run for “human reasons”, weight loss, or anything else but the love of moving Want to be more fit, fast and performing pain free… physically and mentally? Run. Those who exercise have a mental advantage over those who don’t.“…exercisers showed significant improvements in the higher mental processes of memory and in “executive functions” that involve planning, organization, and the ability to mentally juggle different intellectual tasks at the same time.

The brain-boosting effects of physical exercise have been studied nearly to death (pardon the turn of phrase). Being an ultra runner and rider, I’m plum confused sometimes why so many humans do not exercise. And this is yet again where we can from our animals.

Take a healthy dog and put it in a confined area (house, kennel, etc.). Then take him out to a park or trail, and remove the leash. What happens? Take a horse out of a stall or small paddock and turn him loose in a larger enclosure or pasture. What happens? Could be a rendition of the Kentucky Derby

Take a human out of his workspace or off the couch and turn him loose outside. What happens? Hmmm… for far too many of us, nothing happens.. The one thing that usually does not happen is the kind of physical exuberance–the sheer joy of being able to run and jump–that so many other animals do.

For me, I ‘m blessed with the natural instinct to move, and run. I think that’s why Picken’s my equine soulmate. Her former owners said .. “she has a big engine, she ‘d rather run up a hill than walk”. I can totally relate. She has helped me so much in now riding my Billy -Meister for endurance. Brand new passion and discovery See its never too late to start. I started riding the horses two years ago… granted I come from an ultrarunning background and it’s hard for me to sit still.. if you need a good kick in the butt here are some additional benefits outlined on WebMd. That’ll get you going.

I know I start the day with a morning walk or run with Manker aka the B&B dog, ending at the corral for always waiting horses.
Some days especially with “racehorse” Picken, it’s harder to get myself going since each day is new and one must always assess”what side of the corral she woke up on”. Above, an uncharacteristically quiet Picken. But this is the Picken in her preferred gait.. .sometimes you just have to leg it out… be it on your horse, or in your life. There’s nothing like galloping free as the wind. It’s always an opportunity to let everything else go but it’s also a time of free floating ideas. But I come back invigorated, empowered, with a new sense of courage, and ideas.

Sometimes in life you need a little push to let you know you could do more than ever thought possible And hindsight being 20/20 as it tends to be, I can see(!) the real and new possibilities around me.  In my path, my hose(s) have taught me the limitless progression of life.  Especially as I get those “ahas” that they have been waiting for.  So far I havent found any limits… but my own.

Always waiting for the proverbial “other shoe to drop” I sometimes see danger ahead, even where it does not exist. Even when Picken ’s in “Kentucky Derby mode” and forgetiting about the “human” on her back.

Welcoming the new year, we trot on friends, trot on.