What horses do for the soul is nothing short of miraculous. Whether you spend millions or get a hand me down from your neighbor, the horse changes your heart. To the horse, it doesn’t matter if you have a run in shed or a glamorous barn with fishbone pattern bricks lining the floors and lacquered black shiny metal bars gleaming in the sunlight. (Ok, I can dream.)
The horse does something to us that is different from a dog or a cat and definitely different than a goat or a cow. They are majestic. They are brave. They are quirky and full of personality.
Like people, horses have an ability to be kind and horses choose it more often than not. They give a calming energy to us and bring confidence and security. They are able to connect with humans on a level that heals the soul and settles anxiety.
Like best friends, they are there when we are sad and there when we are happy; seeing us through ups and downs. In working with them and riding them, we create a bond that is stronger than we understand. We learn to trust and we learn to forgive ourselves and others.
I had a horse that had a freak accident a year or two before Attie (chestnut horse pictured to the right) arrived at the farm. She was incredibly smart and talented. It was a heart wrenching loss. Pictures of her still bring me to tears. At that point, I had decided I was done to opening my heart too deeply to another horse. I would love kisses from Magnum and snuggles with goofy horses but kept a distance. But when Attie arrived off the track due to an injury, I couldn’t help but fall for her. I never wanted a chestnut and always dreamed of a dark bay gelding, but for some reason, here I am again, in love with a chestnut mare.
While I don’t get to ride like I would like to, I still love my quiet moments with “my girl.” She is gentle and warm. She is appreciative of small gestures and loves treats. She thinks I am her personal candy dispenser. She really needs bubble wrap because she is much like me in her lack of coordination at times but I still adore her. She taught me to recognize my desire to keep relationships at a distance. We can try to avoid sadness but then we would fail to experience the joy of life. We cannot have one without the other.