News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

By Holli Smith

It’s said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

After having one of ‘those’ days - awful where nothing went right, I went to visit with my good friends, the Horses, planning to get in at least one good ride on my paint mare, Cupid. She, along with the rest of my little herd, were excited when I pulled up, and came to the fence to greet me. As I trudged over, they nickered eagerly. What a relief. I needed someone to be happy to see me.

The closer I came, the less happy they looked. I passed the hay stack without stopping; their interest waned. I grabbed a halter and opened the gate. Star, the baby of the bunch, nudged my hand, curious if I had any food hiding there. I made my way steadily toward Cupid. Cupid made her way steadily away from me. My teeth clenched and I pursued her faster. Cupid’s face took on a pinched, grouchy look as she swished her tail and evaded faster.

Finally I cut her off and put her halter on. We headed toward the arena and about a quarter of the way there, she stopped walking. I stubbornly pulled forward on the lead rope. She stubbornly pulled back. I twirled the rope at her flank and got her moving. A few steps and she stopped again. My frustration mounted. I pulled forward; she pulled back. I had her going, she had me stopping. And so it continued. Needless to say, I did not get in a good ride.

Should I be flattered? Well, maybe not, but I couldn’t have asked for a better reflection of the vibes I was giving off. Cupid didn’t imitate the things I would have chosen- walking when I walked and stopping when I stopped. Instead she gave me back exactly what I gave her- frustration, impatience and stubbornness. It would be nice to approach our horses calm and ready to play every time but we all have ‘those’ days.

The lessons we learn from horses go far deeper than how to sit astride without falling, how to steer and how to stop. They give us opportunities to discover truths about ourselves, our abilities and our emotions that are hidden beneath the surface, taking us down paths of self discovery that, while not always flattering, are thoroughly enchanting