I'm curious...what's the BEST thing about being a horse owner?

ycbm said:
Ain't that the paradox!?!?

Currently sitting in the SiL's house stressing about why the nine o'clock trip into the barn hasn't happened this morning. They were in there at two this morning though, so stress levels under control atm.
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This week's stress was how to travel a 6 month old foal from Carlisle back to central Scotland by himself. Even OH, who hardly ever gets stressed, was getting stressed! Although this morning the problem was solved as our friend has bought the mare so the two can travel back together.

No doubt by tonight it'll be something else. I'm just getting over the stress of our 100% fit, in form racehorse putting his leg through a fence and ending his season three days before he was due to run at Musselburgh! He is thankfully now healed up and sound again but turned out until next year as the season finishes this weekend.

Horses. Who'd have them?!

(All of us...)
 
I like that no matter how crazy life gets they are the great leveller, the one constant thing. The freedom of hacking, giving a click and feeling my mare leap into canter just as eager as I am to go faster. Exploring new places and having her wait for me to decide how to get around something. Knowing she trusts me to make the right choice.

Seeing the new 2 year old watching me as I interact with the others. Watching and judging if I'm trust worthy. Knowing in a couple of years she will be the one trusting me to hack her out alone.
 
When she knows the sound of my car and comes trotting down the field whinnying, or when the head pops over the stable door and she greets me with a snicker.

Our yard is at the top of a hill with glorious views over Warwickshire towards Birmingham. We get stunning sunsets and I love to just lean on the gate and watch her graze and enjoy the peace and quiet and the views. Keeps me sane
 
Having them all canter over to me when I visit them in their field
Lazing around with them when they're having a lie down, again in their field
Watching them race around with each other, having a fantastic time 'horsing around' - aren't horses drama queens when they play :)
Their smell - absolutely divine :)
 
The best bit is the incredible bond and trust you have in a horse. It takes time to build but it's worth it.

After a good day out hunting I love putting him in his stable with a big thick bed, lots of hay and to watch him eat his feed. We're both happy and tired and I always give him a kiss and cuddle and say 'thanks for looking after me today'. If anyone could hear me they probably think I'm nuts but I don't care.
 
I have two best things:
The first is that, after taking his own good time to trust, my lad is now a soppy, affectionate, fool who likes to give me a "cuddle" and has even dared to extend his affections to the friend who shares the field with me and that we can both now trust that, despite him still being excellent at foul faces and snaking his neck at us, the biting has virtually stopped *crosses fingers*
The second is that, although it sometimes takes him a while, when he finally "gets" something, you can almost see the lightbulb come on and hear the brain click into gear and, once learnt, he remembers. It is a great reward for being patient :)
 
No matter what kind of s,hitty day I've had, I go up the yard give my horse a groom, have a nice ride, feel the fresh air as I have a good gallop up a hill and I always feel relaxed and happy after. Always. Literally don't know what Id do without her!
 
Legitimately owning a whip :D

Just kidding. My favourite thing is the thunder of hooves when I call them. I know they're only after the food really but while they're cantering up to me I can fool myself it's me they're running too.

I also love the fact that riding is the one thing I do when I don't think about anything else. It consumes me completely. All that matters is me and the horse there and then.
 
The fact that I absolutely cannot take my foul mood or worries with me to the yard. Should I show anything but levelheadedness, she knows and will be a right horror.
 
Flying across green grass in an elastic contact knowing he's not in the mood to start celebratory bucking! Not that it happens often.

But seriously, the complexity of the bond and the love...not deeper than the love of a dog, but very different.....
 
This. The bond you get when you know them inside out and instinctively know what they are thinking/feeling. That takes a while to achieve though. In the beginning it's getting out of the house at least twice a day in the fresh air, being active and doing something that makes you smile.
 
I love when my horse is always please to see me. The other day he saw me and canter across the field and started bucking in excitement. Cheered me right up after a long day at work :)
 
My mare, who I've had for almost 2 years, isn't chatty at all. However, I've recently been signed for work for a few weeks with stress and I've spent most of my time with her, either riding or just hanging out in the field.

Last week I arrived at the field and for the first time ever she quietly called to me and has done every day ever since. :) :) Now that feels really special. :)
 
I absolutely love this post. Been smiling the whole time!
I love in the winter, wrapping your arms around their neck and putting your hands under their warm rug while you can feel their sleepy breathing down your back as they rest their heads on your shoulder. The sound of their hooves hitting the floor, how they call out to you and come over for a cuddle. How they just know when you're upset and will stand quietly while you talk and cry on their shoulders! How they trust and look after you. Giving them a nice dinner and cosy rug, it's just so peaceful watching them. I love every minute of it all.
 
Ellietotz said:
I absolutely love this post. Been smiling the whole time!
I love in the winter, wrapping your arms around their neck and putting your hands under their warm rug while you can feel their sleepy breathing down your back as they rest their heads on your shoulder. The sound of their hooves hitting the floor, how they call out to you and come over for a cuddle. How they just know when you're upset and will stand quietly while you talk and cry on their shoulders! How they trust and look after you. Giving them a nice dinner and cosy rug, it's just so peaceful watching them. I love every minute of it all.
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No longer have horses and all the above but the thing I REALLY miss is stroking the soft velvety bit just above their nostrils. Nothing can compensate for that for me.
 
Too many things to list really but I think when you have that special bond which comes from having them for a few years and you really are partners in crime. I think there is a point and im not sure when it is or how it happens but you reach a deeper level of understanding with them and no one else can see or feel it when they watch you together although they can see you are on the same page ... Or some such rubbish like that, lol my pony just makes me a very very happy man :)
 
Mainly getting to know the horse over an extended period of time until you know what each other is thinking. Knowing that the horse is going nowhere until it's time to meet it's maker. Being able to ride in tack of my choosing. Riding where I want, when I want and at what pace I want.
 
His beautiful velvet grey nose that I can't resist planting kisses on and the way he always calls to me when I arrive on the yard or go into his field, its not an excited high pitched call but a wonderful deep and gentle whicker - makes my heart melt every time :) Also knowing that he only comes in from his field quietly for me - gives anyone else the runaround, this makes me feel as though I'm special to him.
 
I love when I know B is enjoying himself more than anything. I can definitely sense it, he loves jumping and showing off and you can see he is an absolute show boat when he's examining the course and is marching round nose tucked in, nostrils flared, big fancy walk, like he thinks he's something world class not jumping 70cm at a local show. He also does it when he does dressage, he goes round the warmup thinking he's Valegro (he doesn't look like Valegro unfortunately) but he absolutely loves attention and having people watching him and showing off, I don't care if we place or win nothing at all, as long as he is enjoying himself and he has his 5 minutes of thinking he is all that.
 
All their different personalities and the bond you get with certain ones. There is nothing like the bond you get with a horse. It is spiritual. I love dogs, but they're not hard to win around and you get a bond very quickly. With a horse, you have to work much harder. Yes, there may be that initial 'clicking' with each other but the bond grows stronger and stronger every year. It's almost like you become one and know each other inside out. When you lose a special one the pain is indescribable and lasts a very long time, but just having them in your life is worth all the heart ache.

Riding used to be the most important part for me in my younger days. Now it is the least important. It's just a bonus.
 
It's the ridiculous wuffle noise he makes every evening when I walk into the barn. Sums up every moment we've had together and makes my heart glad every time I hear it.
 
Being, exhausted, filthy and stinking, cold and wet, then getting into a hot bubble bath with a glass of wine and reliving that days ride/time at yard with my hairy friends. Will never stop loving having horses.
 
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