Do you believe in heart horse

mariew

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The term heart horse for me is like scraping fingers down a blackboard, leccy and biccies fall in that category too. Saying that I have known 3 horses I connected with properly and we were on the same wavelength, one as a teenager, one that I looked after briefly as a teenager before he was sold on again and mine who died. There are definitely horse personalities I click with more, those I don't and I the odd one I don't like and often the feeling is mutual lol.
 

EllenJay

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When I first saw my old boy, who was owned by someone else, I completely fell in love with him. A year later he was mine. It wasn't always plain sailing but we had so much fun together. I eventually retired him and hot a new riding horse. The new boy didn't make my heart sing the way my old retired lad did, but I can't imagine my life without my new boy. The new boy is like a pair of old slippers, whereas the old boy was like an illicit love affair. One exciting, fun and daring, the other solid, strong and dependable. Loved them both, but in very different ways
 

stangs

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If you mean as an equivalent of human soulmates (one person destined to be with you), I hope not or else I've already used my slot up on a horse I'll probably never get to see again.
 

pistolpete

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I wasn’t even horse shopping for mine. Husband said absolutely not! He cost me a fortune loads of health issues. I had him eleven years. He was my rock he made me smile and always made me happy. He was kind and comforting without even trying. He could be challenging couldn’t be lunged and was lame as often as sound but there was just something. I felt he read my mind. I felt safe with him I changed hoof poultices on him in the dark. He would walk next to me for hours. I miss him so much. RIP Mr Pete. Total horse of a lifetime. More than a heart horse a partner. Anyone who says this sort of connection doesn’t exists isn’t open to the possibility or hasn’t been lucky enough to have anything like it. I have been so so lucky.
 

DizzyDoughnut

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I've loved all my ponies but the best has to be my new 2 year old. I bought him unseen and was nervously waiting for the transporter to arrive with him, when she opened the partition and I saw him for the 1st time I nearly cried, he was far better than I ever dared to hope for. He just fits in so perfectly like I've known him forever, I feel safer with him than with my old welsh pony that I've had for 18 years, he's cheeky and stubborn but makes me laugh every time I see him, I can't even describe how much I love him it feels like I'm going to burst with pride and love every time I see him. Luckily he seems to quite like me too ?
 

PurBee

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Its not an expression id use - yet i understand why others do. I havent experienced heart horse as others describe, and maybe its a case of needing to handle/own 30+ to come across that rare one who clicks instantly and is a dream in every way? I havent handled/owned enough to know this for me, but judging by others posts here, it seems its a rare yet beautiful experience.

I’ve clicked with horses, adore their individual personalities, no matter the behaviour really, ive always just loved being around horses.

I’ve never experienced complete total deep understanding and acceptance of my entire being by any animal - only human. Then again human to human connections are far more complex than human to animal.
The kindness/playfullness/loyalty and simple companionship from animals is a beautiful aspect of owning them, and they all have a place in my heart for trying/allowing/accepting me into their world - their willingness to be open to us humans!
 

DiNozzo

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I definitely agree with the sort of idea of a heart horse. I've had two.

The first one was as a teenager and I looked at this horse over the door and knew he was mine. Unfortunately I was off to uni and he was sold on and died not long after.

Another I had on loan while at uni and then for about 10 years. His owner loved horses but just wanted them as a pet and he was a horrible, spoilt brat that I wouldn't have even said I liked for the first several years. Then one day there was a just a connection that snuck up on me. I shouted at him out hacking and he glared at me and scuttled past whatever he was napping at and then did that lip curl thing. And that was it. He had successfully wedged himself into my heart and the little git knew it.
 

babymare

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My last mare had a bad time before I bought her. I went through an abusive relationship owning her. She knew my bad days and was “loving” but was cheeky on my good days. She knew me, my moods, my demeanour I gave off. To much to tell here but the horse of my life. That affinity you have. That pure love (sorry if that’s sick bucket)for each other. Miss her more than words can tell 8 years on. She saved me in many a dark abusive day xx
 

Sossigpoker

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I've has two horses who I couldn't keep for long , one I rehomed after breaking my back on her and another was PTS so I didn't really have a chance to bond with them.
But my old horse who i had fit nearly 15 years was the light of my life , and now my new little sausage is another one.
I don't like the term "heart horse " , it sounds naff but also , both my horses are/were my best friends and we have /had a deep connection. Id say theyre both my soul mates .
 

scats

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Yuk to the phrase ‘heart horse’…

However, I do think there are some horses that you connect with in a way that you don’t with others. Diva was one for me. Within ten minutes of being in my stable, I felt a love for her that completely outshone the other horses I had at the time. She was absolutely my soul mate and I felt if she was a human, we’d have finished each other’s sentences!
Losing her so young was one of the most painful experiences of my life and one of a few times that i have felt true heartbreak.
 

dorsetladette

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The term 'heart horse' makes me shudder. A bit like other terms that seem to have cropped up lately (baby daddy being another :eek:)
But, the terms 'horse of a life time' I totally get. And one you've had 1 its really hard to not compare every other horse to them. Nothing has really ridden the same since I lost mine.
 

Bernster

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i don’t really think/feel like that. I’ve had special horses. I’ve had ones I’ve been more attached to than others, but I don’t think I’ve had a ‘heart horse’ or maybe I’m just not wired in a way that would connect to that as a concept.
 

Leandy

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Ugh to the phrase and the guff which goes with it, sentimental nonsense frequently accompanied by claims of a special "bond" blah blah (ugh to that phrase also). Of course we all have favourites ie ones we have a soft spot for and yes there are such things as a horse of a lifetime - which means different things to different people - the competition horse that gave you opportunities you never thought you would achieve, or the one which made your dreams and aspirations come true, or just the one which was your true best friend.
 

paddi22

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I think you get out what you invest into a horse. If you invest intense emotions and focus, then you are more open to receiving the feeling of a deeper bond. Someone could have a heart horse who took them for quiet hacks while they processed a parents death. They would attach huge emotion to that as it's a very intense emotional time for them. but the horse in reality is just a quiet hack. Or a competition horse that carried someone up the levels, it's just solid competition horse really. I think when you throw yourself emotionally into a horse you get a richer emotional narrative. And sometimes a horse is just there at the right time doing what you need it to do.
 

Cortez

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....I hate the term heart horse, lol ? it's on a par with 'furbaby', imho
Why on earth do people take on these revolting expressions from america? It's not like there is anything to particularly admire or emulate coming from there, and we have a wonderfully expressive and descriptive language already available. Grump, grump, grump.
 

[153312]

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Why on earth do people take on these revolting expressions from america? It's not like there is anything to particularly admire or emulate coming from there, and we have a wonderfully expressive and descriptive language already available. Grump, grump, grump.
Ah see that's not my issue with it: I do understand, and like, that language is a fluid thing that changes over time. Being used enough is sufficient to make an invented term into an to 'official' word. I just don't like the anthropomorphism of human-horse relations. I do think it's possible to have a horse you prefer above all others you've encountered, but the idea of an 'equine soulmate' is silly.

Personally I'm not old enough to say if I've met my 'favourite ever' horse at this point. I hope to meet many more horses in my life yet! :)
 

oldie48

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Another who hates the expression "heart horse". Over the years I've owned quite a few horses, some ridden by me and others ridden by my daughter. Some have been "special", some have been "nice enough" and one was a horse of a lifetime in that he gave my daughter a lot of early success, was easy on the eye and could turn his hoof to anything.
 

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I hate people who refer to their horses as their baby or child. But the RS Connie mare I rode for 8 years was my heart horse.

The staff said she would do anything for me and that was true. I knew the first time I rode her and we had a discussion about her nibbling the window boxes before setting off. The third time of my asking her not to, she complied.
She was my heart horse thanks to this contract, the mutual understanding but also as years pass one builds up a shared history.
It doesnt repeat itself. I have hacked for hours of happiness on 2 successive ISHs - but the build of a Connie is different and the burst of lightness and speed.
 

Errin Paddywack

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I remember talking to a rough old farmer, not a softy by any stretch of the imagination. He told me you get one 'special' horse and dog in a lifetime. He had a horse like this which became very ill, can't remember what was wrong as it was over 50 yrs ago, and he declared that she waited for him to get to her before dying. It was really surprising to see someone like him being so affected by his loss. He was hard as nails with his wife and kids.
 

Pearlsacarolsinger

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I remember talking to a rough old farmer, not a softy by any stretch of the imagination. He told me you get one 'special' horse and dog in a lifetime. He had a horse like this which became very ill, can't remember what was wrong as it was over 50 yrs ago, and he declared that she waited for him to get to her before dying. It was really surprising to see someone like him being so affected by his loss. He was hard as nails with his wife and kids.


I can well believe that the farmer had such a relationship with his horse but I loathe the use of these nasty, sickly, sentimental terms. Goodness knows what a 'heart horse' is!
 

babymare

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I can well believe that the farmer had such a relationship with his horse but I loathe the use of these nasty, sickly, sentimental terms. Goodness knows what a 'heart horse' is!
Heart horse? That horse that captures you. That horse, for what ever reason, reads you like you read them. Please you make light of term but from personal experience I had a Heart horse” Bless her I’m here today because of her. So please don’t make fun of term. 52 years of horses both working and owning but one wee mare made impact on my life ❤️
 

fidleyspromise

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I class Tilly as my heart horse (one in a million).
She is naughty, cheeky and drives me up the wall some days BUT I love riding her. I know I'm safe even when she puts her head to the ground and tanks off. She has so much character in her.

She ploughs through fencing, she'll open a gate and disappear if given the chance, she refuses to get out of the sea and splashes you instead, she pulls faces the last half mile home as she wants to be in front and she has her own routes in mind out hacking sometimes very insistent on them.
On the other side she's a great nanny for green horses, loves to be out and going new routes, impeccable on the road, jumps anything you put her at (small heights as I'm not brave), enjoys chilling with you, great to be around (no biting or kicking).

She's just a wonderful natured mare that it feels like we click.
I will put her in lots of situations I wouldn't trust any other horse in - some hacks we do we go in and out trees very close together, had her on the main A road to ride to/from competitions and I take her off track in woods to find new paths. We go walks in hand with the dog and she just mooxhes along without a care in the world.

I let inexperienced riders take her out and know she will look after them and bring them home safely when they get lost.

I love my other little mare but she just doesn't fill my heart like this one does and yet she's friendlier, more eager to please and always loves to see you - even 3 times a day but she is flightier.

My next horse has big hooves to fill. She's 20 so I'm looking for a youngster in the next couple of years.
 

[153312]

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Heart horse? That horse that captures you. That horse, for what ever reason, reads you like you read them. Please you make light of term but from personal experience I had a Heart horse” Bless her I’m here today because of her. So please don’t make fun of term. 52 years of horses both working and owning but one wee mare made impact on my life ❤️
I'm here too arguably because of several special animals. No one is disputing that they can have a huge impact on people, the term is just sickly sweet and fairly cringe.
 

Caol Ila

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I don't know. Gypsum was everything. We were a pair, a partnership, one of those big relationships, but I had her for 21 years. Of course it was a big relationship. Ask anyone who's stayed married for 21 years. Was she my best friend? Yes. Was she my one magical equine soulmate? I bloody well hope not. I hope to feel that connection with one or both of my current two. It develops through time, patience, affection, and experience, and I will give them that. It's all I can do.

Annagain said that her horse was with her through transitions and crazy life stuff, and it was the same for Gypsum. Got her in my last year of high school, she followed me through university, my first job, moving from the US to the UK, a masters, a PhD, assorted boyfriends and sh1tty break-ups throughout all of that, my shotgun wedding, my ex getting MND, us breaking up, me going back to uni, meeting my current OH. I sometimes like to think that she chose to hang around until I found the right guy, and she was sure of him, but that's silly, lol.

I hope my relationship with my two horses now will be as powerful and epic as that. I know it will be different. But we're off to a good start, though -- OH proposed while I was riding Foinavon.
 

Pearlsacarolsinger

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Heart horse? That horse that captures you. That horse, for what ever reason, reads you like you read them. Please you make light of term but from personal experience I had a Heart horse” Bless her I’m here today because of her. So please don’t make fun of term. 52 years of horses both working and owning but one wee mare made impact on my life ❤️


Every horse, I've ever had has made an impact on my life, even if I only had them for a short time. It's a schmaltzy, 'Hallmark' term imho. I can't stand 'furbabies' or 'bonding' either.
 
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