The Wild Stallion

POWER, BEAUTY, AND GRACE.

Only humans would see something wild and free and want to dominate it. Only humans would break the spirit of an animal to claim it as their own. Only humans would enslave a living thing to impress his peers. The irony is that mustangs lose their desirable traits when they are captured; “Only the spirited are beautiful.”[1] This still didn’t stop horse-riders from capturing and “breaking” horses. Perhaps, like Austyn mentions, it is because “they’re free, independent, and excitable.”[2] Whatever the reason, the fact remains: horses are mastered by man.

There is something unquestionably beautiful about a pack of wild horses roaming raw, untamed country. The prairie itself, a habitat that has almost disappeared, has its own unique quality of beauty; the endless, smooth fields of grass are a tribute to the simplicity and power of nature. It seems only natural that horses would inhabit this land. Their grace and power radiates from their form as they gallop and play in the fields. I can’t say that a wild horse isn’t desirable; seeing one would certainly cause me to muse about strategies for capturing it. Still, this doesn’t mean I would try to execute these plans seriously. There are two reasons for this. First, I would be scared out of my mind. Anyone who has stood near a horse will never question who is more powerful. No one doubts that horses are dangerous. Even while petting the painted horses at Bump’s ranch, there were moments when a playful head rearing would nearly knock me off my feet. I almost had an adrenaline rush from feeling their hard muscles—a feeling that seemed humorous once I realized that the horse was thoroughly enjoying the attention. The second reason is that capturing it wouldn’t make it more beautiful. Wild horses are beautiful because they are wild. “The sight of wild horses streaming across the prairies made even the most hardened of professional mustangers regret putting an end to their liberty.”[3] In fact, humans almost have a knack for unintentionally removing beauty from the world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoRjz8iTVoo See clip at 11:12 for a unique view of trees.

IS THIS WHAT THE TAMER WANTED?

A prime example of this can be seen in our treatment of our planet. Nature, like mustangs, is beautiful because it is wild. Today, we have lost touch with this “wildness.”[4] Perhaps it is because we feel that we are above it. Maybe it is because we think we own it. Still, every day we take away the things we love most. Raw, untamed land has universal beauty, meaning that every living thing appreciates its existence. Why else would artists, musicians, poets, writers, photographers, and countless other people immerse themselves in it to free their minds? Yet instead of preserving this power (when beauty achieves a certain height, it has a real power. It is felt in the chest, and is what makes gasping seem more appropriate than talking), we extort it. There are movements today to rekindle our appreciation for it, but our actions resemble the last ditch efforts of a gazelle that is engulfed by a lion pride. Although it may not be too late, it is certainly late. The signs are everywhere.

One sign is the fact that wild horses are almost extinct, restricted to the last uninhabited regions of the northern states. Their freedom is gradually being taken away by one of the few animals that has the capacity to appreciate it. We are players in a tragic comedy akin to A Winter’s Tale, and like Leontes we are pushing away the things that we love—no, the things that we need. Perhaps this is why I am moved to explore green architecture, but one can’t help but to have a sense of hopelessness. How much have we already lost? How much more will we lose before we realize what we’re doing? There is still great value in trying to change our ways, but I will be salvaging, not protecting. The worst part is that I am part of the problem. The momentum of humanity is awe inspiring, but unfortunately cannot change directions quickly. The only remaining option resist. Maybe, if we are lucky, the mustangs will return—without sadles.

HORSES ARE MEANT TO BE FREE--WILL WE EVER LET THEM?

[1] X846
[2] Austyn’s Blog
[3] X111
[4] Wild is probably the wrong word to describe it, because nature is by no means chaotic. A better description would be “in harmony.” Nature is not the result of haphazard competition among animals and plants; it is a finely tuned machine that operates at an efficiency that will never be matched by humans.