Horses and Girls
Excerpt from Horses for Writers
Thanks to Freud and other men it is popularly assumed that there are sexual connotations in the relationship between women, girls and their horses. While I will not say there aren't, I will say there are other aspects to this combo. I stumbled across one some years ago when my daughter was a toddler.
Every week she went to mother's day out and I went to take a dressage lesson. One day I dropped her off and, as usual, spent some time talking with the other mothers. Our conversation mostly centered on our children.
I arrived at the barn early and sat down to watch the lesson in progress. Others came in and naturally we began talking about our horses.
During the conversation I realized the topics were the same as those I'd covered earlier that morning except we were discussing horses not children. I was surprised the click in my mind didn't resound loudly enough to startle every one in the big indoor arena. It didn't though.
My epiphany? The connection between girls, women and horses is maternal. Being a caregiver is bred into our very fiber and a horse needs the very best a caregiver can provide for all its life. Take this idea and do what you will with it.
Beyond the care giving mode though riding a horse makes a woman taller, faster and stronger. All good reasons girls and women are attracted to horses in general.
I also find it interesting that when studying myths about how people came to have horses frequently a female goddess is credited with the first partnership. Epona is a horse goddess and it is believed that the Greeks used her as their basis for Athena, who is credited with teaching men how to use horses. In other cultures there are also tales of the first horses being tamed by women.
Published by Elizabeth J. Baldwin
I trained people to handle horses and other animals for several decades. My book Horses is for ages 9-12. The ISBN is 978-0778737759. Other books are available at http://shop.hollylisle.com/jamaffiliates/... View profile
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5 Comments
Post a CommentI am free and strong when I am riding. I think you nailed the fact also that women are caregivers and horses respond to that. Great article.
You DO have a point! I have always felt that women and girls who love to care for others, find an ideal companion in horses. We are delighted to give them everything they need, and it's a good thing we are. (Men can be included here as well, of course. I love to see men caring for/about horses and doing a good job of it). Who hasn't read the Mary O'Hara triligy (My Friend Flicka, Thunderhead, Green grass of Wyoming)? In at least one of these 3 books, Rob, the husband, father & ranch owner, says that when we pen horses up, take them off their wide-open ranges, we take something away from them. They no longer have the ability to go out and get what they need for survival, so we, who have made ourselves responsible for their welfare by putting them in a limited environment, must provide all of their needs. He said it more briefly, but I don't want to be quoting other peoples' work here. The association between horse and human is reciprocal; we give what they need, they in turn share their
You have a point. I have been a horse lover, owner, admirer, since my early youth. The fervor has not left me over the years; in fact, I am total involved. It's their power, beauty, neediness, boldness, trust, and companionship that is the pull for me. To this day, I find it refreshing to head to the barn and have my horses acknowledge Me - even when it is not feeding time. Oh sure, my dogs also adore me. But my horses - they are not looking at me as a pack leader to be respected and obeyed. I think My horses seek out my company, enjoy being with me - I have one who is never ridden, only cared for, groomed, hand walked, let go at liberty - this one is the closed bond of all.
I have another theory about why women love horses and why there are more women horse owners than men. I am believer in reincarnation and maybe most of the women today that own horses (I am one of them) were the men of years past that were horse riders/owners. Just a thought.
I love looking at horses, they're beautiful - but riding and me don't go together. My experiences trying to ride have all been disasters! but of course, I'm terrible at all other sports, too!