Horse

The traditional Navajo song often associated with horses is the Song of the Horse (dedicated to the Turquoise Horse of the Sun-God, Johano-ai), used to bless, calm, and connect with horses rather than act as a mechanical training command. Diné (Navajo) horsemen traditionally sing to their herds to establish spiritual harmony (hózhǫ́), mutual trust, and deep calm. Rather than "docile" a horse through force, the chanting shares a peaceful energy that wild or restless animals sense and respond to.  The words of the traditional song translate as: How joyous his neigh!Lo, the Turquoise Horse of Johano-ai,How joyous his neigh,There on precious hides outspread, standeth he;How joyous his neigh,There of mingled waters holy, drinketh he;How jurisdictions his neigh,There in mist of sacred pollen hidden, all hidden he;How joyous his neigh,These his offspring may grow and thrive forevermore;How joyous his neigh!  Screenshot In Navajo culture, horses are viewed as spiritual allies and sacred beings deserving of profound respect, not just working animals.  Chanting softly, maintaining a quiet demeanor, and using sacred corn pollen are meant to restore balance, which naturally reassures a flight-oriented animal like a horse. In the Navajo, by James F. Downs, he writes: One significant aspect of Navajo horsemanship is the casualness with which a fall from a horse is accepted. Among White riders a fall is considered a sign of inexpertness, and although it will be laughed off by the one who falls, it is nonetheless not taken lightly. Experienced riders tend to minimize falls with statements like "If you haven't been pitched off a few times, you're not a rider."  The Navajo, on the other hand, do not seem so concerned with a fall as a sign of inexpertness. The