Kathy scheduled a communication with me for her horse Ruti a few months ago. She had bought him a couple of years ago, and shortly after she got him, whenever she rode Ruti, he acted uncomfortable and even bucked her off a few times. The vet’s exam showed nothing was wrong, and the trainer’s suggestions weren’t working.
Kathy really wanted to help Ruti but was concerned for her own health and safety, and his too. Maybe he didn’t like being her horse? Maybe there was something wrong that she and the vet and trainer had missed? Kathy thought she had a strong bond with her new horse, but now she was second-guessing everything. She wanted to hear Ruti’s perspective on it all.
Right away Ruti came forward in the communication (his energy felt much like he is in the photo above!). Though Kathy has two other horses, Ruti knew that he was the reason for the communication session and insisted on sharing first.
“Oh I like this. I like all the attention on me.” Then Ruti shared a bit about who he really is as a being. “I am a rowdy guy. I like to keep things interesting,” sending an image of him kicking up his back legs, having a good time.
Then he got straight to the point: “I like being here. I am a misfit everywhere I go. But I feel like this is my home. I am grateful to be here. I know I am difficult but I want to make this work.”
It was clear that Ruti had already sensed Kathy was thinking this may not work out, and Ruti might be happier somewhere else. But Ruti was letting her know straight away that he felt otherwise.
“I get wiggly. I get fidgety. You are still, Kathy. You are very present and still. I need this. This is hard for me, I am not used to this. I am used to a man with edgy, agitated consciousness. I took some of it on. I don’t like it, it is in me.
I had the feeling that the man he was referring to was someone from many years ago in his past, before Ruti came to Kathy.
“I will become calmer, but I am not there yet. Oh I like when you ride me but I feel that agitation moving through me, clearing out of me. It is your stillness, and calmness. It heals me and makes the pain and memories of this other man move through me.”
He showed us that it felt like this big uncomfortable static that this man had in his energy and when he rode Ruti, all Ruti could do was absorb it. Ruti continued, “Because of the stress when that man rode me, I sometimes didn’t do things right. This man thought I was stupid. No! I was just doing my best! He was agitated.”
Then Ruti shared, “He was an angry man and he didn’t know it; he didn’t feel his own anger. You, Kathy, are not like this. You are calm. I care about you. I understand, I am not easy, but I am working things out.”
Next Ruti threw in the comment, “I am a really good-looking horse, by the way. Everyone says so.” Kathy burst out laughing, “Yes! That is so true, everyone says that!”
As the conversation deepened Ruti shared even more of his story and more details of what is happening for him. He also shared that he needed just a few months’ time, some ground work and continued love and devotion from Kathy. He said that more time, and her awareness of the problem, would help him move all this old energy through his system.
With tears, Kathy shared that this all made sense, and she told me to reassure Ruti that she understood and would continue to work with him.
Now, several months later, Ruti is very successful and very calm when they go riding. Kathy said that she understands more what he is experiencing. She is now more tuned into cues from Ruti when he is feeling uncomfortable, and works with him accordingly.
Ruti said later in the conversation that he has an important purpose in Kathy’s life: to show her this calm, still side of herself, this healing nature. In this way, she can be in this part of herself more of the time. What a gift.
In the photo above you can see how Ruti and Kathy are very attuned to each other as they are riding together. I love how tangible Kathy’s calmness is in this photo!
Look how proud Ruti looks in this image as Kathy beams with joy of their success.
Animals are so empathic and often sense things that we human beings would never even imagine! There is a whole world of understanding waiting for us human beings, when we open our hearts and minds to hear our animal friends share.
