Last Friday I went with a new friend to visit her horse. I had met six horses in Oregon and was arrested by their size, beauty and willingness to cooperate so I eagerly accepted an invitation to meet a horse here in Philadelphia.
**I made sculptures in 2010 for an installation about connecting (Con-nect @ Grizzly Grizzly April 2010). I am interested in the word’s meaning and especially fascinated by how the act occurs between members of different species. **
I was amazed at the collaboration between giant animal and human while watching my friend. To skillfully ride implies a fluid connection between animal and rider, communication contingent upon both participants giving and receiving. AND! Without spoken language! The fact that a human can mount and direct an animal approximately 10 times its own weight is evidence of connection. Implicit in this is the mutual respect and trust necessary to ride smoothly and flawlessly.
It can be difficult to communicate effectively with people; misinterpretations, assumptions and ego obstructing those deeper channels of knowing. Perhaps this is what is so exciting about connecting to other creatures. They meet you each time, in the moment, and if you’re receptive and paying attention, it feels like you’ve entered a whole other world.
