I Love Horses! The End.

It’s true. I love horses! When I look at a horse I'm always in awe. From a wild mustang to the old gray mare. I tear up at both a beautiful dressage pattern and an impeccably executed reining pattern. I admire their athleticism, loyalty, and honesty. Yes, honesty. A horse will show you what its thinking, and mirror what you're feeling. They respond and give back to everything we do. They are loyal. Sometimes to their own detriment. If you have earned their loyalty, you have earned an amazing gift. If we ask too much, they will try to give it and sometimes that goes wrong. If we need a shoulder, they will gladly let you rest your head. There are lots of amazing equine athletes everywhere. Even a lazy horse turns into an athlete when there's competition for the hay bunk. They can defend their munchies with ninja-like ability.

Do you know that special horse that totes kids and adults around the ring in hunt, western, dressage and ranch tack… sometimes all in the same day? Have you marveled at a vaulting horse that maintains the perfect cadence for its vaulter's safety and success? The speedy barrel horse? The trusted roper? The sure-footed trail horse? Swift wild mustang? Cross country eventer? Elegant dressage dancer? Powerful cutter? Steady carriage horse? Then there's the horses that do a little of everything, the all-rounder. I can’t name them all because there are so many disciplines and skills a horse can have.

I've followed the journey of a wild mustang that becomes a sweet, soft kids’ horse at county fair. My chest fills with pride as I watch a stunning horse pull an immaculate spider phaeton carriage in the dewy grass on a sunny summer morning. I get all choked up when the lesson horse that’s toted generations of kids around show rings gives their final ride before retirement. I hold my breath until the pole bender that just slipped stands up and keeps going. I grit my teeth watching an amateur horse shuck and dive responding to every move the cow makes for the first time. I beam when I see a horse gallantly accepting whatever crazy costume was chosen for costume class.

Yes, I've seen them all, the good, the lazy, the zippy, the scary, the old, the young, the quiet, the talkers -- all of them. I'm still in awe, still mesmerized, by each and every one. Maybe it's my personality quirk, but I will forever see majestic beauty. No, I am not naive enough to think that every horse is a perfect angel every day. Who is? I choose to look at the bigger picture and when I do there's usually a reason today was a bad day or that particular moment was not the horses finest because I see an animal reacting to its human or its situation. I see the good, or the potential for good, in all of them. Wrapping my arms around a horse’s neck and feeling them hug me back with that unspoken “its ok, I got you and I love you too”, fills my soul.

I love horses! The End.