TTEAM AND TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE

THE EARTH HORSE

The Earth Horse is likely to be solid, stable, of a heavier build than his/her Fire or Metal counterparts and as the name suggests, well grounded. Earth horses are generally 'good doers' and can often appear to survive on thin air. Blessed with a gentle, sunny disposition, Earth horses are generally good caretakers and enjoy looking after others. When in balance, they make ideal horses for children and novice riders/owners due to their reliable and easy-going nature. Earth horses are well suited to life as a family, or riding school horse, as they are able to form strong connections with several individuals at once. They enjoy home life, companionship and routine but are less reliant on the need to develop deep, lasting bonds than their more sensitive Fire friends.

Earth horses are generally content with whatever life offers them and are easy to look after and maintain. They are strong and dependable in mind, body and soul. They can happily live out all year round in a variety of climates and require little if any supplementary feeding. However, care should be taken to ensure that the vitamin/mineral intake is adequate as a diet consisting solely of grass and hay may not provide the correct balance needed to maintain vitality. With good feet that keep them well connected to the ground and plenty of bone, the Earth horse can look forward to a long and healthy life, provided they are allowed time to develop fully when young. Their broad frame and gentle nature can mislead their owners/carers in to believing that the horse is ready to be started too early which may lead to joint and tendon problems later in life.

Finding equipment to fit the Earth horse can be challenging for the owner as the broad frame and fleshy lips and cheeks can give rise to biting, rug and saddling issues. Their tolerant, forgiving nature can sometimes mean that dental problems and inappropriate tack fit may be overlooked as Earth horses are generally less reactive and tend to adopt a 'hey-ho' approach to life. This does not mean for one moment that the Earth horse is insensitive in any way. They are simply more concerned with the well fare of others, prefer to avoid confrontation and can generally find peace of mind in even the most challenging situations.

Earth horses have a great sense of self. Although they have great empathy with both horses and humans they are unlikely to over react to nervous, aggressive or inappropriate behaviour directed at them or around them. This may make them appear to be slow thinkers, lazy or even stupid to some trainers who can find their placid out look on life frustrating but these mild mannered horses can be incredibly thoughtful. They simply do not have the need to push themselves in order to feel at one with the world. Steady, consistent training to match their steady, consistent nature is more beneficial to the Earth horse. If compromised, the Earth horse is more likely to simply shut down until matters are resolved rather than resorting to violent outbursts to convey their disquiet. If the situation has become truly intolerable, a balanced Earth horse would prefer to walk resolutely away. As the Earth horse enjoys contact they may learn quicker when education is combined with touch. Earth types often need to feel something to fully understand what is being asked of them. Voice commands alone often go right over their heads.

Earth types have an inherent sense of service and are always genuinely willing to be of help. Care must be taken not to take advantage of their easy-going nature and ensure that they do not get over worked. Earth people will often be employed within the care sectors i.e. social work, nursing, physiotherapy, counselling etc and horses with an affinity to this Phase can excel as therapeutic riding horses. What they may lack in the speed stakes, the Earth horse makes up for with stamina and a willingness to work. In keeping with their affinity to Earth, they make excellent plough horses.

Although their natural, nurturing instincts can make them ideal babysitters and companions for some young or nervous horses their placid, forgiving temperaments may inhibit the learning of some necessary social skills if the youngster is overly boisterous and the Earth horse is in sole charge. In a field of many, however, the presence of an Earth horse can be invaluable as they have an inherent ability to keep the peace and defuse conflict. They are the least noise sensitive of all the types and it is no co-incidence that the horses used by the cavalry to carry the drums are large, broad-backed, cob types.

The Earth Phase is linked with the process of digestion and is associated with the Stomach and Spleen/Pancreas meridians. Earth horses therefore have a tendency to be rather food orientated. Disharmony in the Earth Phase can result in digestive disturbances such as colic, bloating, gas and diarrhoea. Windsucking can be linked to disharmony in both the Earth and Metal (Lung and Colon) Phases.

In keeping with their predictable nature, the Earth horse thrives best with predictable management. They enjoy routine, and work best with consistent exercise and feeding regimes as they find it difficult to reach and maintain fitness. The Earth Phase is associated with muscle tone and Earth types generally have a softer feel to both their skin and muscle (relaxed muscle) than others. It can take many months for an Earth horse to reach optimum fitness and seemingly only a matter of days to lose it! Monitoring the food intake is vital for most Earth horses as they have a tendency to keep on eating even when stuffed to the brim. Several small rations throughout the day are more beneficial to the Earth horse to reduce the risk of gorging and bloating.

The Earth Phase is linked to the lips and mouth and Earth horses have a tendency to express themselves with this aperture. They often have a full, mobile top lip, which they use to make contact with horses and humans alike.

If disharmony occurs, the Earth horse can become possessive and clingy. Instead of simply enjoying contact, the Earth horse not only needs, but craves, attention. This can drive them to extreme outbursts of jealous behaviour directed not just at other horses but children and companion animals as well. The affinity with the mouth may result in biting. Empathy turns to sympathy and the horse may become overly possessive and protective of their companion(s). They can become fearful of losing their friend(s) and react aggressively if a person enters the enclosure to remove another horse. This fear of deprivation can also result in food aggression and the horse may threaten anything that comes near them when eating. They may pin back their ears and dive at the food source when presented with their bucket or hay or turned out to pasture.

Energetic qualities are also attributed to each Phase, and Earth is seen to be 'stabilising'. Unbalanced Earth can lead a horse to become unstable, emotionally, mentally and physically. They may find it difficult to pick up their feet and become fearful of losing contact with the ground. They may become overly grounded and become heavy-footed risking injury due to stumbling and concussion. A horse with excess Earth energy will have a tendency to get 'stuck' or 'rooted to the ground'. Disharmony in the Earth Phase can give also rise to a propensity to bruise easily both emotionally and physically. Earth types are often sweet toothed but high sugar mixed feeds and titbits can disturb the Stomach and Heart and increase the feelings of anxiety and nervousness associated with unbalanced Earth vitality. Natural sugars in oats, apples, barley and carrots are more appropriate foodstuffs should supplementary feeding be required.

NOTE: Molasses were originally added to the grain that was fed to horses to prevent mice and rats from eating the food. It has since become a staple part of mixed feeds here in the UK and is, I believe, partly responsible for behavioural and digestive problems in some horses.

As Heat is associated with Fire, Damp is the climate associated with Earth and horses with disturbance in the Earth Phase can become clogged and sluggish in both mind and body. Horses kept in damp climates can be susceptible to the invasion of Dampness, which is another Pernicious Influence that can affect the organs and meridians. If living out, they may need to be rugged during persistent wet weather to protect them from the detrimental effects of Damp. A horse that is affected by Damp may retain water, appear muddled in thought and suffer from dull headaches with a feeling of heaviness in the head. The urine may become cloudy, the droppings loose and the joints stiff or sore.

Earth Element Associations

An imbalance in Earth energy can result in a wide range of symptoms that affect the horse mentally, physically and emotionally. The Spleen meridian runs up the hind leg and across the flank and rib cage, and the Stomach meridian runs up the side of the face, down the neck, along the belly and down the hind leg. Sensitivity to contact on these areas or kicking may be indicative of Earth disturbance.

The colour and breed associations are intended as a guide and not as a set rule. ANY horse can suffer from an imbalance within the Earth, or indeed any other Phase due to the close interaction of all Five Phases.

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