My Lifelong Love of Horses

It can be argued that a particular species is more powerful or magnificent or graceful. In my opinion, there is none that exceeds the horse in just about any superlative.

I'm not writing this article to sway opinions one way or the other. Rather, I am taking a moment to pen the good, wholesome feelings I get when I interact with our horses or see the image of a horse. In my opinion, the statement "The outside of a horse is like a melody of love for my heart" is spot on!

Throughout my life, horses have played an integral part of my existence. They brought me to pinnacles of joy and also depths of despair.

Animals don't come any better, more diversified or fabulous for sport and pleasure than horses. Whatever role each individual horse played in my life, it was with loyalty, grace, camaraderie and absolute willingness to please.

You might argue that the loving family dog plays any role that a horse can handle and do it better and in closer proximity to the human. I would agree wholeheartedly because I also am crazy about dogs. But still, there is the independent thinking, powerful horse that so totally subjugates himself to the human and forms a bond so close as to serve, love, obey. The horse is unable to sleep at the foot of the human's bed, yet he serves unquestionably to the best of his ability. He is grateful for good care, clean food and water, ample bedding and a dry place to rest in comfort; he will work to his dying breath to serve his master.

I will forever be grateful to the horses I have known. Very few of my beloved horses did not live out their days with me and I found other homes for them. They can be and are expensive to keep. At one sad time in my life, that was the case and, looking back now, it is still heartrending. I remember the eyes of my horses as they were loaded for the last time at my place - I firmly believe horses have deep feelings and know, but must accept, when they change owners.

To me, one of the greatest sounds has been the soft acknowledging nicker of a horse at feeding time. All of my horses were communicative, but none moreso than Patrick, the big guy in our barn. This fellow is a talker. He wickers and whinnies and hums and chuckles. He's got so many sayings that it is actually hard to describe them. Laugh if you must, but he'll actually carry on a conversation with me. He'll make his "statement" and I'll try to copy it in my voice; he continues with another sound, and I'll answer. He lets out another low conversational sound and I answer and so on. We've carried on a "conversation" like this for a good 10 minutes. The goofy thing about it is that he'll follow me back and forth wherever I go in his stall or on the other side of the grate, eyes never leaving me. He certainly knows what he is doing.

My show Welsh had to be euthanized at age 34; my small Shetland also made it to 34. I decided I no longer needed the expense and the work so I sold trailer and equipment. Wow, did I regret it. It did not take too many years before I started back into horses.

Since I believe in keeping horses for the duration of their lifetime whenever possible, I give serious consideration to any and all decisions that I make.

Besides my family, horses and dogs have been my companions since before my teenage years and they will be my friends until I cease to exist.

This article is written by The Old Gray Mare™ of www/DressYourHorse.com™, FantasyKritters.com™ and www.TShirtsbyLily.com.