Natural Horse Care - Not For the Weak of Heart
Heliocentrism (also known as the
Copernican system) is the theory that the sun is the center of the
universe. Defending it got Galileo sentenced to house arrest
until the end of his life by the Catholic Church's Inquisition; the
theory was viewed as heresy. It was accepted knowledge of the time
that the earth was the center of the universe (geocentrism), and
that it was also supported by scripture. Galileo died completely
blind but not without great vision. Today you do not have to fear
house arrest for believing in holistic and natural horse care, but
it is not an easy path either.
While it is gaining in popularity and acceptance, following the principles of holistic or natural horse care is still a journey not for the weak of heart. You may not be called a heretic if you do not subscribe to all the ways of conventional medicine, but even so, your sanity may be questioned. It might be easier if you keep your horse in your backyard, but you will still have to face questions and even accusations from fellow riders, veterinarians, your farrier, and others who are not so convinced you are doing the best for your horse. It is important, then, to make and keep some connections with people who will be supportive of your efforts - even if they are simply online buddies - so that you do not succumb to “peer pressure". Stay true to yourself and your instincts and hold out for the better health of your horse.
I have found also that, being quite
passionate about natural health care, it is sometimes difficult to
hold back in suggesting to someone alternative methods, more natural
ways of feeding, and other things that I have learned to be of great
value and benefit. However, unless that person is really seeking out
a new truth or a better way, then they will usually not be open to
what you have to say. If you get caught up in your own passionate
inquisition of
their methods, then you may end
up turning them off to natural methods for a longer time or even
forever as they dig in their heels against it. Everyone has to find
their own way. There is still a group of people today that believe
the earth is flat, and nobody has yet been able to change their
minds. Telling some folks to take the shoes off of their horses
might seem like telling the Flat Earth followers to row to the edge
of the world. Most of us have grown up indoctrinated into the
conventional medical system and viewing doctors and veterinarians as
experts and demi-gods and people not to be questioned. Thus, many
people do not come to alternative and holistic medicine until they
are in dire straights with a chronic health issue for which
conventional medicine has not provided them an answer. That was me,
both personally and with my animals. So by the time I found my first
natural pet care book, I was fairly ready to take the leap - even
though it has still taken years to accumulate a fair amount of
knowledge, change old ways and habits, and truly surrender to a lot
of natural health principles.
It gets easier to make changes and for holistic
medicine to gain converts with
results;
what better argument or proof do you need than the facts that your
horse is no longer lame, for example. So don't give in to the
pressure and the primal call to defensiveness, but instead stay
calmly true to yourself for what you believe. Know that you are
changing the lives for the better of each horse, animal or person
that you have the power to influence - even if it is only your one
personal horse.