His name is Ravel, a 2.5 year old stallion.
He has spent his whole life in the pasture with his friends.
He feels strong and safe within the group and sits fairly high in the hierarchy.
There is always grass and plenty of space to play.
He doesn’t know it yet, but tomorrow he will be caught.
It will take three hours before he gives up and is captured.
Exhausted and stressed from running for his life, he will stand on the trailer.
Small wounds on his legs, but thankfully “nothing serious.”
Frightened, he stands in a dark stall.
There is strange feed and it smells odd.
He calls out to his friends constantly.
But they are no longer there.
He feels alone and has no desire to eat.
He does it anyway, because he is hungry.
Tomorrow he will be on the trailer again.
After all, he is being sold to a good home.
Something that feels completely normal to us is often a nightmare for a horse.
May this painting serve as a reminder?
Put yourself in his place a little more often.
Approach him with feeling.
Just be with him for a moment, without thoughts, without rushing off to whatever comes next.
Who was he before he came to you?
And who would he want to be today?
