Nothing quite compares to the feeling you get riding a horse.
That sense of freedom hits you like the wind in your face as the majestic animal gallops across the prairie. There are no panels of sheet metal, glass windows or floorboards separating you from that feeling, from the sight of the landscape around you flying by under the power of thundering hooves — just your feet in the stirrups and your hands on the reins.
It’s an exhilarating, incomparable feeling. And while it’s been close to a decade since I last saddled up, it’s a feeling firmly rooted in my soul.
But life in the saddle is about more than just a spiritual destination. It’s about a journey to a different perspective.
It’s about the bond between man and horse.
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In the days before industrialization transformed the world, a horse was a necessity. The fastest way to get from Point A to Point B was on saddleback.
But the connection between a mounted rider and his noble steed was made of more than just necessity. It was about trust — a mutual understanding built between man and domesticated beast through care and compassion.
This bond brought out the softer and more nurturing side of men, at a time when such aspects were otherwise frowned upon — especially in the American West. Men were expected to be as tough as iron in that era, but such behavior in the saddle would literally drive a horse into the ground. As such, men put a great deal of personal devotion into their primary mode of transport.
(Of course, the bond between woman and horse has always been equally strong — if you don’t believe me, head to the rodeo and check out the barrel racing competition.)
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With the advent of the railroad, everything changed. Transportation was quickly depersonalized and commoditized, transformed into “churn and burn.” Many innovations that came after the “Iron Horse” followed the same pattern. Gradually, our softer side went from being a need-to-have to a nice-to-have.
Now, these technological changes have improved our lives, for sure. But it is a bit disconcerting to see how effortlessly they took compassion and chivalry out of our everyday routines. It’s a missing element that is evident each time we see a video of someone callously pushing people out of the way to catch a train or recklessly screaming at a flight attendant.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
It’s about time we care about the journey as much as the destination. Good manners and a caring heart should be more common and reliable than the technology we use to make our lives effortless — unlike our cars, these traits won’t break down after years of continual use.
We are all on a journey through life together. The more compassion we show towards those around us, the more trust will be built. And the better we’ll be for it.
It’s time to start living unbridled.