We have many wonderful therapy horses that provide safety, compassion and fun for our riders but one in particular is a shining star in the program. She is Camille. She is an older mare who has seen and done many things, from dressing up as an elephant for her previous owner to trotting down the road and trail. She has the been there done that attitude so does not get worked up about little things that could be potentially spooky. Camille is always safe for her riders, being able to carry those with severe physical disabilities slowly and carefully. When someone comes who is more capable physically she meets the challenge and does just as well for them. This makes her a very well rounded therapy mount to help teach riding skills.
Her one characteristic that sets her apart from other horses- she is what is referred to as a "baldie" in the curly horse world. This means ~not only does she have no mane and tail but also has spots on her body that shed down to skin giving her a patchy body covering of hair. While at first riders and parents/caregivers look at her and express concern and an uncomfortableness about her appearance, once they ride her all is forgotten and it is true love.
Over the years we have had many people ride Camille and they always fall in love with her despite her appearance. It is her gentle, caring nature that endears all. Horses apparently have a heart 20 times larger than a human heart by weight and studies suggest heart size correlates with athletic performance, long believed to be an indicator of talent in racehorses. While this is purely physical data, indeed-- the hearts of the therapy horses are immeasurably large and giving in a more than just physical way. Camille has such a benevolent heart that has the power to heal- as we have witnessed in the program for many of her riders. She uses her large heart to fill the holes in other's hearts with grace and humility.
One of our riders comes with a group of boys from an at-risk youth program for boys. This boy has all the typical bravado you would expect from a young man of his age, multiplied by his particular life experiences. His outward behavior shields and camouflages his more sensitive feelings. 3 years ago when he first met Camille he made the typical smart remarks about her appearance, typical commentary when one meets something out of the norm.
After his first lesson riding Camille all that changed. He realized that "who cares what she looks like, she is a special animal". He truly cares for Camille now and each week he whispers his inner most secrets into her ear. It is difficult to get him to leave at the end of his lesson because he needs to give her one more hug. There are many times that he would like to stand with her, groom her and tell her things meant only for her. "There is no secret so close as that between a rider and his horse" and with this young man and his Camille- that ancient quote rings triply true.
Another of our riders is a young girl with hearing loss caused by years of abuse when she was living with her natural parents. She is now in a loving home. She comes to ride a couple of times a month ever since the center opened. Camille is her mount. Every time she is here, she exclaims- Camille is her buddy and asks if Camille can come live in her bedroom. Again, the initial reaction to Camille’s appearance was one of unease, especially by her parents who held a stereotypical image in their minds of what a horse should look like. After observing how carefully Camille carries around her mount, allows for mistakes without getting worked up, and works her "magic" and opens her heart to her riders- the parents have decided Camille is the most beautiful horse ever in existence.
Due to Camille's "odd" appearance, she has the opportunity to teach in other ways by just being. We have a group from the Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation for teens. The mental health clinician collaborates in running the group lessons. She is a horse person, owning a few of her own. She had never seen a curly before and certainly nothing with the looks of Camille. Camille, naturally, was a first choice candidate for the therapy mounts in this instance~ Calm, loving, open, and safe. The clinician made a few comments about Camille’s lack of hair and funny looks. We ignored her initial judgemental commentary, knowing by the end of the lesson the clinician would see why Camille is so special. Sure enough, after all the riders left and we were discussing how the first lesson went, the clinician took back all she had said about Camille and learned a lesson of her own. Do not judge by appearance. Camille is the 4-legged reminder that underneath there is something special about everyone; not to form opinions based on looks, but instead on personality and ability. Be open to the inner beauty and gifts ~Don't we all need this gentle nudge in life ?
While we can go around proclaiming how not to judge by looks, get to know a person before you make opinions, etc; Camille teaches that just by being. When the lesson is learned visually and experientially, it has a much more lasting effect and more impact than when one merely hears the words. As does a picture take the place of a thousand words- Camille's presence is the living picture that teaches that.
In the end, this is what we want for all people~ to accept all for who and what they are and see the beauty that rests on the inside, waiting to be recognized, validated, accepted, nurtured and treasured. I know that I have and everyday I see riders and their caregivers/parents learn this through Camille and her magical ways.
Many horses are special, those used in the therapeutic program are especially special, and our Camille stands out as
extra-ordinarily special ! She can create smiles like these !
They say that angels come in all disguises-- and Camille is Dream On Curls Riding Center’s own odd little angel.
"And now here is my secret, a very simple secret; it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye. " (Antoine De Saint Exupery)
