Love Thy Horse
I have been flipping back and forth about buying another horse. I have an older gelding that I love to death, but he is starting to feel his age. I found that last summer when we went camping, he almost couldn't complete our 20 mile ride above treeline. I knew he had altitude sickness because he was swaying a little and glassy-eyed, but I suppose I was in denial about my solid riding partner. I walked him about two miles and we made it down the mountain tired, but safe. It was at that moment I decided if I was still to advert on my adventurous summer trips I would need a fresher steed. It is so sad to see such a good friend get old so fast. Not that I will sell him, but not use him as my primary means of rugged excursions.
It seems only yesterday he ran into a barb wire fence full throttle and about scared my sister to death. And, I remember the time he almost reared me off because he didn't want to walk on the way home.
These days I have to encourage a faster pace on the way home. His canter is a little slower and his trot is a little harsher. I think his feet hurt on the little pea gravel on the road's shoulder.
So, why keep him you ask? Well, I have a very strong answer to that. Horses usually live a life of hell (pardon my language for those fellow employees). They are bred for any reason; most for no reason at all but my mistake. Then, they are broke at 3 (or not even handled to be broke) and sold to someone that wants a challenge. Someone who thinks they will have the time. What most people realize it that they don't have time or the money. Very often, they do not have the energy either. So, many become lawn furniture that don't ever get touched and some are worked so hard chasing cans (what some call barrel racing) that they are destined to be lame and put down before their 15th birthday. You might come back and say that if horses were bred wild, they don't need attention. But, here's the thing. They are thrown into a stall or pasture and don't exactly have the run of Kentucky's open fields. They are fed by humans and get used to humans. They want to be loved. Think of a dog - even your dog - doesn't it break your heart thinking about never loving on him again?
Don't get me wrong - some horses can stay with one owner for a very long time... but it is rare. A full horse life can be an average of a 35 year commitment. Most horses are used for a purpose. When they are no longer able to perform, they are discarded. So, no matter where your horse is on his lifeline, if you get rid of him, there is really no way of telling where he will end up. For most, I find that they just don't care.
I have recently been scouring the auction houses out East hoping to find my perfect match. My attendance has conjured up these old realizations that I push to the back of my mind. It makes my heart ache. Horses give up who they are - we break their spirit and ask the world of them. They surrender to all that easily and we then throw them away.
Let me ramble on memories for a moment. I will never forget the trust I have with Cody. I trust him more than my dog or my car. More than my job and my friends. I put my life in his control(at least)every weekend. I trust him not to do anything stupid or dangerous. I trust him to be able to carry me and let me know when there is something dangerous ahead or behind. In return, he trusts me for food, water and safety. The return ratio seems very unfair. They cannot speak up when being beaten or sell themselves at an auction.
A horse will only lie down if there is another horse in the herd standing watch or it feels very secure in it's surroundings. One day I drove up and he lifted his head to look at me. As I approached he layed his head back down (clearly enjoying his bask in the sun) and waited. I opened the gate and went to where he lay. He looked at me and whinnied so slightly. I sat on the ground and stroked his head. After about ten minutes he decided he was ready for a ride. Instead of bolting up (because if he did he would have hurt me), he started to get up slowly and waited until I was out of the way before he heaved himself up and shook off the dust. Then there was the other time I couldn't get him to cross a ditch (there was a little river underneath). He was rearing and throwing a royal fit, so I got off and walked him across easy as pie. Curiosity made me go back, get on and ask him to cross again. He did it flawlessly. I am convinced he thought he would hurt me and that is why he pulled his stunt. (Maybe he didn't know how deep the water was?) Above all, I remember when I cracked my kneecap in 1999. I was riding one of my other horses (who was a huge chicken). We came across a ditch and halfway down he decided he didn't feel comfortable going down the bank. He then turned around and a step or two up the hill the whole bank gave out and we took a tumble into the river below. I don't know how he didn't land on top of me, but I was about a foot away from him with a dislocated knee. Now, a seasoned rider would know that the greatest danger is a flailing horse after an accident. He layed there motionless and I thought he had broken his leg for sure. It was only after my friends drug me out of the water he stood up and shook off. He was waiting for me to get out of the way before he made a move. To make the story more miraculous - he is a tripper. Being older he always triped and rattled my brain. As I climbed back onto my wet saddle with an injured knee, he didn't trip once the whole way home. (It was about 4 miles) I know he must have been sore and shaken up too, but his priority was getting me home safe.
Now, you can take my stories worth a grain of salt. I will have you know that there may be no other animal bond greater than that of a horse and rider. Even if the rider doesn't identify the bond. So, riders, love thy horse.
It seems only yesterday he ran into a barb wire fence full throttle and about scared my sister to death. And, I remember the time he almost reared me off because he didn't want to walk on the way home.
These days I have to encourage a faster pace on the way home. His canter is a little slower and his trot is a little harsher. I think his feet hurt on the little pea gravel on the road's shoulder.
So, why keep him you ask? Well, I have a very strong answer to that. Horses usually live a life of hell (pardon my language for those fellow employees). They are bred for any reason; most for no reason at all but my mistake. Then, they are broke at 3 (or not even handled to be broke) and sold to someone that wants a challenge. Someone who thinks they will have the time. What most people realize it that they don't have time or the money. Very often, they do not have the energy either. So, many become lawn furniture that don't ever get touched and some are worked so hard chasing cans (what some call barrel racing) that they are destined to be lame and put down before their 15th birthday. You might come back and say that if horses were bred wild, they don't need attention. But, here's the thing. They are thrown into a stall or pasture and don't exactly have the run of Kentucky's open fields. They are fed by humans and get used to humans. They want to be loved. Think of a dog - even your dog - doesn't it break your heart thinking about never loving on him again?
Don't get me wrong - some horses can stay with one owner for a very long time... but it is rare. A full horse life can be an average of a 35 year commitment. Most horses are used for a purpose. When they are no longer able to perform, they are discarded. So, no matter where your horse is on his lifeline, if you get rid of him, there is really no way of telling where he will end up. For most, I find that they just don't care.
I have recently been scouring the auction houses out East hoping to find my perfect match. My attendance has conjured up these old realizations that I push to the back of my mind. It makes my heart ache. Horses give up who they are - we break their spirit and ask the world of them. They surrender to all that easily and we then throw them away.
Let me ramble on memories for a moment. I will never forget the trust I have with Cody. I trust him more than my dog or my car. More than my job and my friends. I put my life in his control(at least)every weekend. I trust him not to do anything stupid or dangerous. I trust him to be able to carry me and let me know when there is something dangerous ahead or behind. In return, he trusts me for food, water and safety. The return ratio seems very unfair. They cannot speak up when being beaten or sell themselves at an auction.
A horse will only lie down if there is another horse in the herd standing watch or it feels very secure in it's surroundings. One day I drove up and he lifted his head to look at me. As I approached he layed his head back down (clearly enjoying his bask in the sun) and waited. I opened the gate and went to where he lay. He looked at me and whinnied so slightly. I sat on the ground and stroked his head. After about ten minutes he decided he was ready for a ride. Instead of bolting up (because if he did he would have hurt me), he started to get up slowly and waited until I was out of the way before he heaved himself up and shook off the dust. Then there was the other time I couldn't get him to cross a ditch (there was a little river underneath). He was rearing and throwing a royal fit, so I got off and walked him across easy as pie. Curiosity made me go back, get on and ask him to cross again. He did it flawlessly. I am convinced he thought he would hurt me and that is why he pulled his stunt. (Maybe he didn't know how deep the water was?) Above all, I remember when I cracked my kneecap in 1999. I was riding one of my other horses (who was a huge chicken). We came across a ditch and halfway down he decided he didn't feel comfortable going down the bank. He then turned around and a step or two up the hill the whole bank gave out and we took a tumble into the river below. I don't know how he didn't land on top of me, but I was about a foot away from him with a dislocated knee. Now, a seasoned rider would know that the greatest danger is a flailing horse after an accident. He layed there motionless and I thought he had broken his leg for sure. It was only after my friends drug me out of the water he stood up and shook off. He was waiting for me to get out of the way before he made a move. To make the story more miraculous - he is a tripper. Being older he always triped and rattled my brain. As I climbed back onto my wet saddle with an injured knee, he didn't trip once the whole way home. (It was about 4 miles) I know he must have been sore and shaken up too, but his priority was getting me home safe.
Now, you can take my stories worth a grain of salt. I will have you know that there may be no other animal bond greater than that of a horse and rider. Even if the rider doesn't identify the bond. So, riders, love thy horse.
posted by Nic at 1:53 PM
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