Art of Equine Advocacy

Equine advocacy is an important yet challenging arena to step into.

What does it mean to be an advocate for equine welfare? What does it mean to truly encompass an ethical approach to horsemanship? How can I step into the role of equine educator and hope to inspire others to seek the most harmonious and kind dynamics with their horses while making sure that I myself am practicing what I preach? Am I qualified to speak on these topics? Will anyone hear me, and if so will they actually be inspired? Does it matter how many people hear me, or is it ok if I only reach one person? Is it ok if that person is myself?

These are all questions I have been pondering lately. I have been thinking quite a lot about what role I intend to play within what I see as an evolving ethical horsemanship movement. Because I do intend to play a role and I do intend to make a difference. When I ask myself how I can do this, the vision that comes to me is to create art largely inspired by horses and mysticism and use said art to attract attention towards equine welfare awareness. I will continue to pursue this calling and paint this vision into reality. However, in order to follow through on this claim it means that I need to truly step into the role of equine advocate and educator. Taking on such titles has been empowering, but has also brought up some feelings such as imposter syndrome and concerns on how to best present myself and the messages I wish to share, while also doing the work to walk the walk and not just talk the talk.

This conscious horsemanship movement is growing though, in little pockets of horse lovers and equestrians, ranging from first time horse owners to lifelong equine professionals. People are feeling the call to improve upon the standards provided for the equines of this world. To reevaluate what is needed for horses to not simply exist and serve humans, but to thrive in symbiotic and harmonious dynamic with us. And my journey has lead me to want to contribute to this cause in any way I can. I am a pretty small fish within this movement and among animal activists at large. My voice in this arena is not loud at all, which just means that as with everything else I do, I need to present it with a bit of artistic flare. Most artists find their personal style as they go along their art journey and I believe this is true for all life’s endeavors. Advocacy can easily take on a style that can be interpreted as harsh and judgmental, and understandably so in many cases. However, no matter how righteous one believes their cause is, what is more important is that the message is heard well enough to evoke change. And so, I considered my style as an artist and as a horsewoman and considered how my advocacy style could emerge. 

Seeing as I myself am very much so still on the journey and learning as I go, it is important to me that I do not come across as judgmental, or like I know it all, because I certainly do not. I do think there is a time and a place for people to be angry about certain injustices, especially those inflicted upon horses, but I also think that it is very important to create a space for people to feel comfortable to admit that there may be a better way. Or to admit that they were unaware entirely of certain injustices and to be supported in seeking ways to shed light on them and find more beneficial alternatives.

Not too long ago, I did a stint working for a ranch that offered some educational opportunities for the employees interested in expanding their skillset. The one main criticism that I got relatively consistently was that I was too “soft” in my approach with the horses. There was a common saying used at this facility that goes, “soft as you can be, firm as you need to be,” which was inspired by a Buck Brannaman anecdote. I fully believe in this saying and think it can be applied to all areas of life. But looking back, I do not feel that I was too soft in my approach at all, and I actually feel that it is important for me to hold onto this softness while speaking up for equine welfare. When it comes to educating horses, and to advocating and bringing about awareness of injustices of the world, I find that often times aggression is used in place of firmness. I do not see the two as interchangeable though. And on top of that, people tend to move too quickly towards the firmness and/or aggression end of the spectrum than is actually necessary.

This is partly because horses aren’t the only ones with pressure put on them. People advocating for the wellbeing of horses feel the immense pressure of the lives of animals being lost or tormented in every passing moment. And people training and preparing horses to do jobs feel the pressures of bosses, clients, deadlines, etc. But there is another common saying in this area of work, and it goes, “slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.”

I have seen the power and strength of softness create far more profound and long-lasting progress than I have ever seen with the use of aggression. And yes, firmness has its time and place, but it must come from a place of compassion and a willingness and readiness to persevere in patience. Patience is a softness that holds strong, on and on. Patience is a virtue, and strength comes from holding firm in one’s virtues and values.

And so, I choose to journey along the path of softness, compassion, and perseverance. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, and I will continue to move forward. There are many obstacles to navigate along the way, but I will keep seeking the way. Instead of aggressively pushing my opinions on people, I want to lovingly invite people to see things in a new light, from a new angle. I know that love is all encompassing. It is soft and strong and powerful and fierce and firm. And I really do believe that we all have love in our hearts and that most people who do harmful things do it because something along their journey caused these patterns in their behavior. And of the negative directions that the equine industry has gone, many of the practices that have come of that comes largely from a lack of knowledge and understanding. I know that I myself have handled horses in ways that now make me cringe looking back on them. But I never did it because I wanted to cause harm. I simply didn’t know what I was doing wasn’t the best approach because it was seen as standard practice. And I believe this is the case more often than not. And so, I am here to educate myself and others. To shine the light. And to inspire others to look at things with a new perspective.