For as long as I remember, I’ve been an avid science-fiction fan. It started with Torchy the Battery Boy, a children’s TV series about a small, wide-eyed battery-powered character who found himself in all sorts of adventures. Looking at it now, it’s more than slightly creepy 😳 At the time I was totally fascinated. When Star Trek arrived on Irish TV screens in 1970, I felt like I had finally found my tribe. I loved the adventures, the challenges, the sense of curiosity and courage that took us boldly where no one had gone before every single week. But more than anything else, I was deeply taken by something that wasn’t explained, debated, or mentioned. 👉 The unquestioned inclusiveness. Different species. Different cultures. Different appearances, abilities, ways of thinking and communicating. There were long speeches about tolerance or inclusion. No explanations. Everyone simply belonged. Your worth wasn’t based on how you looked, where you came from, or whether you fitted a narrow definition of normal. What mattered was how you showed up, how you contributed, and how you treated others. That quiet, matter-of-fact inclusivity felt radical, and and still does. I believe that is one of the reasons working with horses feels so familiar to me. Horses don’t ask: - What label do you carry? - How much are you earning? - What diagnosis do you have? - How old are you? - How important are you? - What’s your backstory? They don’t judge your words, your status, or your past. They only respond to: - your presence - your intention - your honesty - your nervous system - the energy you bring into the space To horses, our human perception of ‘difference’ doesn’t exist. We are all simply natural part of the whole system. Belonging is based on relationship, not conformity. Just like on the bridge of the Enterprise, there’s room for everyone as long as you’re willing to show up with awareness, respect, and a willingness to learn. 🌱 Reflection prompt: