Do you believe in heart horse

[The Irish Draft 2022]

Definition The term 'heart horse' was coined by horse lovers. It describes the dream of finding a horse that is much like your soul mate in life. You're able to love this four-legged friend unconditionally. They seem to truly understand you. Together, you work hard and feel proud of your accomplishments. I copied and pasted it because it hard to explain. I do believe in heart horse my horse has truly helped me though tough times. so do you believe in heart horses or do you think people are just romancing horses .

 

[LegOn]

I think like 'soul mates', its what you feel and believe, so if you feel its real and it helps you then I dont think its fair for anyone to invalidate your feelings. Feelings are real for the person experiencing them so sometimes you have a couple where one person believes in soul mates but the other doesnt - neither is wrong or right!

My first horse was very special to me and I loved how we could have these epic conversations about life and the world without saying a thing to each other - he was one of those horses that I just was a mentor aswell as my best friends, I could think things and he understood! He was an opinionated, grumpy shit and I'm sure he thought the same about me! But he knew me inside out - but also without him, I wouldnt be the rider I am today so I know he has made it possible to love my current horse as much as take every experience as individual to each horse. I've only had the 2 - so maybe if I'd had more I might feel different - who knows!

 

[Snowfilly]

Yes. I’ve owned probably 50ish, and ridden and worked more than I could ever count or remember. I liked lots of them, loved some and one stood out above all the rest. I don’t believe in fate or destiny but that horse was enough to make me wonder; I walked into his yard and knew I’d buy him from the moment I saw him. It was a strange feeling, as if I’d always known him, more like ‘oh there you are, I’ve been looking for you.’

He wasn’t the best looking or the best performer I’ve ever owned but I loved every hair of him and there wouldn’t have been enough money in the world to buy him. He was, quite simply, my soul mate.

My mum found two her in her lifetime, out of probably a thousand she worked with and owned, and my riding instructor friend found two as well. He described it as like a marriage, a true love as opposed to friendships.

I hope I find another one day.

 

[teddy_]

I believe that we connect with some horses on a deeper level than others.

I cannot put my finger on why. The horse I view as my horse of a lifetime was in many ways unsuitable and we never really clicked when it came to 'work', but I feel like he could read me like a book, and vice versa.

 

[smolmaus]

I'm not sure about that definition. I always took it to mean the horse (or other animal, people use the phrase for dogs and other pets too) who is/ was truly special to you out of all the special ones you've had or known. I do think they tend to be found at times in your life when you've been struggling and they helped you through it. Whether that is your own brain creating a strong emotional connection based on trauma or stress or whether sometimes the universe just gives you the friend that you need when you need them, who knows. Maybe it's both.

There is one horse at the rescue (not my horse, perhaps disloyally) who I just Get. He is also a grumpy, hangry, sometimes bitey *rsehole but as soon as I met him there was a little *ping* of recognition like, "Yes I understand you. You're awful and never easy, but I get it, me too bud." With my own pony I love her and maybe one day I will get that little ping but she is too sweet and kind for me to relate to on that level ?

 

[pistolpete]

Yep

 

[blitznbobs]

I think your heart horse finds you. I have had a lot of horses in my life but heart horses have always come to me in unusual ways … my heart horse at the moment doesn’t even belong to me — so im hoping that ends well.

 

[LEC]

I do think people get far too caught up on this and I hate to say its mostly women who want this deep emotional bond. All my horses have been special, but some are more special than others. I don't believe in the whole heart horse thing though. I currently have 3 horses and I really like all 3. If we stop fitting together then they get sold. I have had a lot of horses and some you just love straight off, others you fall out of love with and then some it builds slowly. Bit like relationships with humans really.

 

[Zuzan]

This may sound a bit heartless but I think anyone is capable of building a very strong relationship with virtually any horse... the only limiting factor being the humans ability / capacity to put the effort in..

Yes, some horses are harder to build a relationship with but it always boils down to how much time and effort the human can put into it..

We have to be realistic about what time and effort we as individuals can realistically put in.. obviously, if you have less time / energy / tenacity, then building a relationship with a more difficult equine probably wont be possible.

Part of the skill in horsemanship is understanding and being realistic about our own individual capacity.

 

[Annagain]

I'm not too keen on the phrase 'heart horse' but my old boy Eb was special. As much as I adore my other boys, and in ridden terms I did much better with Monty, they haven't been there for the milestones he was so I don't need them in the way I needed him.

I got him when we were both 13 and had him until 3 days before my 27th birthday, 6 weeks before his. He was there for all my 'firsts' growing up. I told him about my first boyfriend, cried into his neck when said first boyfriend caused my first heartbreak, nearly threw up in his stable dealing with my first hangover, made my first solo journey in the car to see him when I passed my test. I got my first job to help pay for him. He was my break from work when I had exams, I broke my heart leaving him behind (on loan at his yard) to go to uni. I lived on spaghetti on toast to afford to still keep him and buy my first house when I finished uni. He was one of the first 'people' to whom I showed my engagement ring when OH proposed. When the time came, he was the first one I'd had to make 'that' decision for. I'd lost pets before but it was always my parents who made the decision. My biggest sadness is he wasn't there to take me to my wedding.

He saw me through from being a kid through all the teenage angst and into adulthood. I'm sure that's why my relationship with him was different from the others. He died 17 years ago and I still well up thinking about him.

 

[meleeka]

I’ve been lucky that I’ve had a strong bond with most of mine. I think that grows over time. I didn’t think of my cob as a heart horse until he was in hospital then box rest and I think he decided he did need me after all. My first pony was probably my ultimate heart horse and I didn’t think I’d have that again, but I have it with a mare now.

One of the ones I have now is unquestionably the most beautiful horse I’ll ever own but I just don’t find her endearing as a character. I’m not sure I ever will, but I like her enough that I’ll keep her until she dies.

 

[vhf]

I don't see why it should be any different to relationships with humans really. There will be some who you just click with better, on some level, for some reason.
But there will also be ones who you cross paths with at a particular moment which means the relationship means more for whatever reason (again just like people).
If you get both of those situations happening at the same time, then undoubtedly you will end up with a partnership that transcends most others.

 

[Spotherisk]

Yes, kind of. The one I’ve had for nearly 25 years, well that’s like a long marriage when two old fogies have been together forever but quite possibly the love has gone! But riding him is like putting on your old slippers, everything just feels right. In all those 25 years he’s never looked me in the eye when up close. He shuts down a bit and I wonder if it’s my fault?

Whereas Tinner, now dead nearly two years, looked at me from across a barn of over 20 other foals and yearlings and I was jolted. He stood and stared at me, and I him. We were very close all our years together,

 

[Antw23uk]

No not particularly. In fact my close circle always laugh and say 'tick tock' when i start gushing about the horse and how much i love them ... thats usually the trigger that they'll be gone soon enough .. I'm very fickle sadly!

I do believe in right horse, right time and i am very fond of my current horse and i do believe we both needed each other when we met. I needed safe and confident steady and he needed TLC and out of where he was so it was a very good match. How long he will last who knows, lol!

I tell you want irritates me and thats when you see for sale adverts saying 'sad sale of my heart horse, only the best home sought blah blah blah' ... it just grates on my nerves, rightly or wrongly!

 

[teddypops]

I do because I have mine! Poppy now 31, still in full work and extremely feisty. She is the love of my life and I will be gutted when I no longer have her. I put a wanted ad out 16 years ago looking for a horse, Poppy’s owner rang and said she had my perfect horse and she did. I had her on loan for 3 years before buying her. I was then told that she had the vet booked to put her to sleep as no one wanted her. She is strong and forward and pretty useless at everything except hacking but she is so much fun. I also really love my Sec D as she is so kind and willing and always looks after me. I have never had a bond like this with any other horse.

 

[Queen Dotty]

Oh yes, heart horses definitely exist. I lost mine after 10 years of ownership in the summer and have been truly heartbroken. I have barely set eyes on another horse since and it is only now, 5 months later, that I am vaguely thinking about returning to horses again. The problem with having a heart horse is that your heart is completely shattered when they die.

 

[Cortez]

If you mean favourite horse, then yes. All the other gubbage is just woo.

 

[Sprat]

I feel quite a bit of second hand cringe with the term to be honest. And I'm reluctant to romanticise a human / horse relationship too much.

However, with the above in mind, my current mare who I've had coming up to 6 years is as close to damn it as I think I will ever get, though I highly doubt I would ever refer to her as my 'heart horse'.

I have a huge amount of respect and admiration for the wonderful animal she has become. She's not easy, she has her foibles and likes things a certain way, but it works exceptionally well for us as a pair. I've had many horses in the past who have all been lovely, useful types (probably more useful than her to be honest), but none of them have ever quite given me that feeling before, and I'm not sure I'll find one again. I feel very lucky to have her in my life.

 

[pistolpete]

This may sound a bit heartless but I think anyone is capable of building a very strong relationship with virtually any horse... the only limiting factor being the humans ability / capacity to put the effort in..

Yes, some horses are harder to build a relationship with but it always boils down to how much time and effort the human can put into it..

We have to be realistic about what time and effort we as individuals can realistically put in.. obviously, if you have less time / energy / tenacity, then building a relationship with a more difficult equine probably wont be possible.

Part of the skill in horsemanship is understanding and being realistic about our own individual capacity.

Totally disagree. I’ve spent five years trying to build some kind of relationship with my highland. No way are they all the same.

 

[MuddyMonster]

I do but mixed with a quite practical sense of having had him a decade and for the most part seen him daily (if not two or three times), we have ridden miles and miles for hours together so we know each other & trust each other pretty well. I do think we have a real partnership together (something I've worked hard on) and that he's the absolute bees knees - I appreciate to most he's really nothing special but he's a very special horse to me and I know I'll be heartbroken if anything ever happened to him.

But, I'm hoping for a second horse as he gets older and needs a quiter life (absolutely not to replace him) so I hope in fifteen years time, I'm saying the same about the second (and possibly third) horse too.

I don't think there's just one heart horse for each person, if that makes sense.

 

[cold_feet]

If you mean favourite horse, then yes. All the other gubbage is just woo.

This.

 

[CrunchieBoi]

I've pretty much found something to love about all of the horses we've had over the years. Some were certainly easier to like than others but I'd like to think they were all loved unconditionally.

 

[Ratface]

I've had horses/ponies all my life. Mostly blood horses. I had one who was difficult, opinionated, kind and too clever for his own good. He's been dead for many years. My current one is very similar, apart from not being particularly kind. Although thinking about the times he could have had me off - and hasn't (yet) perhaps he is . . . A bit.

 

[Alibear]

No in the same way I don't have a favourite child. All have their good and not so good points

 

[Snowfilly]

Totally disagree. I’ve spent five years trying to build some kind of relationship with my highland. No way are they all the same.

I think it’s like people. I can work with 95% of the people in the world but there’s certain personalities I find it easier to get along with, then some who you want to be friends with and a couple you want in your life forever. Doesn’t matter how much effort you put in, some are always more to your taste than others and some just mesh with you.

I used to work at yards so my living depended on being able to ride and handle anything on four legs, and I can do that. But I have a certain type I prefer for my own, in the same way as most of my friends have a certain personality. I could work forever with a clingy, cuddly needing reassurance horse and although I’d get them working, I wouldn’t love them like I can love a nice brave independent horse who wants everything to be a 50/50 partnership.

 

[Winters100]

Not in the way you describe, but yes I believe that we can have one or more horses which are very suitable for us and which, because of this, we as humans feel a bond. How the horse feels in anyone's guess. I believe that my horses see me as someone who is calm and consistent, so they know what is expected of them, and they certainly do not see me as a threat, but I would not say that they feel a bond with me.

I do not believe that horses feel 'love' towards humans as we feel towards them. I adore my schoolmistress, as she is the one who I rightly credit with getting me riding again after a serious accident, and she carried me safely day in day out while my confidence recovered. For this I love her, but for her it was not an emotional issue of building confidence, she was just doing the job that she was trained to do.

 

[Peglo]

I don’t believe in soul mates or the one with a partner so I’m no sure if that definition would work with a horse as well.
I absolutely adore my 2 oldies, don’t get me wrong and would definitely describe them as heart horses but I think my definition would be more that they will forever live in my heart and fill me with love. I love them for everything they are and would like to think I’m more to them than the hand that feeds them but who knows ?

 

[HorseMaid]

I'd say my current horse is as close to heart horse as I'm going to get. I've had others that I've loved but been happy to let go to other homes for various reasons but current horse, no way, she stays forever. She just ticks all the boxes for me and I've been able to mould her somewhat into exactly the horse I want from when I bought her at 5 - but that's because she is intelligent and willing, just so willing. She goes about life with a smile on her face which I love also and just isn't really any bother to have around.

 

[Lady Jane]

I use the expression 'horse of a life time'. I had mine for 23 years, he was a miserable old git on the ground but he was my world and just loved being ridden. I thought there could never be another - but I have found one! I had him on loan since Apr 21 and the owner agreed I could buy him just before Christmas. I love all my horses but for some reason these two are more than special to me. Strangely they are the least well bred of all my horses, unknown breeding actually.

 

[SEL]

I've got a companion horse that my OH says is the true love of my life! I can count on my fingers the times I rode him so it's nothing to do with that, but I adored him the moment I met him and I'll be devastated when it's time for him to go. Can't put a finger on why - just stole a bit of my heart.