Archetype upon the hill

Today yielded this year's first after-work evening ride - and even before the clocks changed. Brena was keen to go out, loaded smartly, then at the far end stepped out well. So, she wanted to go fast. Well, we'd started on the hilltop so we'd better get to the bottom. Down the gentle hill Brena jogged, keen to get a move on. Then looping around to return I asked her to speed up. In reality I think that we were asking one-another: whether she could and whether she would. Well, she did. After the first excited hop (which, I think, is a simple explosion of energy rather than intentional bucking) it was a gallop up the gently rising turf. Once Brena has got through that little bit of excitement at the beginning, she is a solid reliable horse at speed.

I enjoyed that burst of speed, and clearly so did she. In a way Brena needed it more than I did. But it was fun to go fast, and a pleasant reminder of what a good horse I have. A further two fast canters left Brena satisfied, and me too. I was curious how she needed to get this out of her system, and how good it was to do so rather than keeping all that energy and desire bottled up. And it occurred to me that a nervous rider, afraid and pulling, would have left Brena confused, frustrated and possibly with a sore mouth too.

That takes me back to a big draught-cross mare back in Transylvania, Lee, daughter of the herd alpha and a strong character. Once day I put an experienced area rider on Lee, but a rider who proved nervous in open spaces. After being held back firmly on a couple of canters, Lee neatly dumped that rider.

I had been thinking about equine archetypes, prompted by Becky at Horse Ideology. Whilst riding I was trying to characterise Brena:
- Enjoys human attention;
- Happy to go out without other horses;
- Food-focused;
- Emotional, wants her needs fulfilled (such as a gallop);
- Sensitive physically, wants to be handled gently;
- Will warn before retaliating, then will buck (typically) if the irritation continues;
- Curious about her surroundings, even things far away;
- Trusting (such as dealing with hazards, trailering, new places, etc); and
- Calm, sensible, not easily frightened.

What I am perceiving is that I have a mare with a firm awareness of who she is and what she needs or wants. Brena is a kind, trusting mare, but will become assertive if she wants something to happen - or wants something (such as pressure) to stop. For her the world is not a fearful place, but still something to be curious about. Brena is a bit of a loner, not relating particularly closely to other horses, but has formed a close bond to me. A little like a human relationship there are squabbles, views have to be asserted, and there needs to be compromise. She is sensitive and needs a wise guiding hand, gentle mostly but occasionally firm when necessary. Through her responses, whether joyful or in opposition, Brena teaches me.

I wonder what sort of Archetype is dominating here?

The curious thing is that back in Transylvania I owned a mare very like Brena, the unforgettable Olga. She too was a draught-cross, strong yet sensitive, opinionated yet loyal, and more interested in people than in other horses. Like Brena, as a foal she was brought up almost as a pet (based on what I have learned from the respective former owners). I knew less when I owned Olga, and so she frustrated me terribly. Then, when I grasped more of her character, I began to enjoy riding Olga, even led a week-long trail ride from her. Better understood, she became far more co-operative, though still demanding that her needs be respected. In Olga's case that included a preference for a fast ground-covering trot to a canter. (And she could trot quite comfortably when the other horses were in a mid-paced canter. I used to stand for that trot.)

Olga seemed happiest with men working her, and I do wonder whether Brena is similar there too. Projecting solely from the Anima side of my personality does not make my relationship with the mare any better. Perhaps the truth is that she prefers me complete: a mixture of decisiveness, skill, fairness, sensitivity and intuition. There again she is helping me to grow. Maybe she is a zen horse?

Comments

[Horseideology]

Some things that help me in working out archetypes is to imagine if she was a person - what type of friend would she be? When would you go to her for help? And what type of help/support would she give? Does she have a sense of humor and mischevious, or is she a dedicated, serious worker?

I know you have a vibrant imagination :)

I can see that she is a steady helpmate. Because of her previous riding school experience I guess she tolerated a lot without exploding, so has wisdom there.

Do you have a post where you have a side view of Brena? And one of her face?

[White Horse Pilgrim]

As a person I think that she'd be a loyal friend, the sort who would take quite a lot before snapping back when she'd taken all that she could. She'd be forgiving. She would encourage me to go out into the open air and exercise. She would be a person that I could turn to when others would not listen. At the same time she'd have clear needs, such as being treated gently and with respect, therefore the demand would be made that I obey her rules few as they are. I think that she'd be the sort of friend one could go out and have a blast with sometime, when it suited both of us. Overall I think that she is fairly serious and a worker but likes to let her hair down. She is growing still as she gets to know me, and I am growing with her. She is straightforward rather than mischievous. As a woman she'd be a long term friend, potentially even a lover, and not the subject of a fling. We'd find ways to make one-another happy.

I'll look for side and head shots.