One of the principles of permaculture is ‘Obtain a yield’. On seeing the horses the other day, a visitor asked ‘How do you make money from them?’, and seemed surprised when I simply answered ‘We don’t’. It’s an unusual response to meeting horses, and not one I’ve encountered before, but it got me thinking. Certainly, making money from them isn’t an option – they are both rescued, and money tends to flow in entirely the opposite direction, ie, towards them, rather than from them.
However, if you were to ask ‘how do they provide a yield’, then the answer would be very different. Of course, horses have one principle output, and I spend a good deal of my time up to my ankles in it, or carting it in the direction of the vegetable beds.
The other yields aren’t as obvious to those who don’t know horses, but are far more important, in my mind. Horses offer a unique form of companionship, giving of themselves freely, and really asking very little in return. There have been a number of times in my life when time spent with horses has literally been my salvation, and evidence abounds that spending time with them has huge benefits for our mental and emotional wellbeing. If that isn’t a yield, then I don’t know what is.
I think unless you have grown up with horses, or not had a relationship with a horse it’s hard for people to understand, my bond with myhorse was so strong that when he died I stopped riding all together. I have the neighbours horses round so see them all the time but it will never be the same agin. They give so much pleasure I totally agree
Think I know what you mean Steve. There’s a great song on You Tube by Christy Moore: ‘Ride On.” Some people say the song meaning is about a man never being able to live with a certain woman. Others people like myself like to think its the man’s loving and respectful relationship with his horse.
I have never owned a horse (except for ‘Bracken’our little Shetland pony) but I have had a lot of pet pals (dogs, cows..) who have all had their own unique and idiosyncratic personalities. We even give all our animals name. This is not a good idea some times. Great thoughts Steve.