A Learning Way

Julia:

"Your horse is a mirror to your soul. Sometimes you might not like what you see...Sometimes you will." -Buck Brannaman

 Do you agree? Is Sharlie a reflection of my soul? Who does Finale reflect? Is it possible it is the other way around and we reflect our horses as well?

My answer:

For the last one, it's complicated and simple. It is and isn't true. It's not that I think that the horse can't be, and it's not that I think that it is. The horse can be a reflection to your soul, but is not always. Finale and Cherish, although reflections, are different. The horse will show you who you are in their own way simply because they are each different individuals. They are all different and cannot be expected to show you and every aspect of you. They each do it differently. (Added: I have known, on occasion when the horse thinks it absolutely necessary, to show a person EXACTLY who they are, because they know that the person needs it) And yes, Sharlie is. The horse reflects you not as a whole, and not all the time - they do it while you are with them. they will show you what they do and do not like about you. (Added: If the person is extremely nervous and teaches the horse to mirror you or trains the horse their self, they can make the horse a very nervous horse. The horse will mirror people, but not always in the positive way. If the person is extremely angry, the horse will, in turn, become more aggressive in the pasture. You will see the horse beginning to mirror the more extremes even when a person isn't there. But also, if the person is an aggressive person, the horse could become an extremely nervous horse. It all really depends upon how the horse reflects the person, and who they are as an individual.) They do not always show it so accurately - but they will show you when they think that something is not quite as it should be - when it is distracted, distorted, and scattered, etc. Example, Cherish does not like Orie, but she doesn't quite mind Greg. (Our farriers) Finale doesn't like Greg, but she doesn't mind Orie. I think it really just depends upon what each horse sees in each person, and the traits that they like or don't like. (Yes! Horses have opinions!) EAch horse can teach you something different about yourself. They all have something to offer.