Not worthy....

Reading through this thread and the other one questioning the riding of horses has made me wonder what owners actually want or expect from their horses, but does it actually matter as long as the horse in their care is given everything it needs to fulfil the hopes, wishes and dreams of their owners, and the owner takes responsibility for a dignified ending.

Why don't we all just remember the words below and enjoy whatever we do or don't do with our horses, be it an elite competition horse or a cherished family pony. Lets be grateful for everything they have done for us. I had an elite competition horse, now much missed, who was also a beautiful hacking horse and I am grateful for everything he did for me.

The Horse

Where in this wide world can
man find nobility without pride,
friendship without envy or beauty
without vanity? Here, where
grace is laced with muscle, and
strength by gentleness confined.

He serves without servility; he has
fought without enmity. There is
nothing so powerful, nothing less
violent, there is nothing so quick,
nothing more patient.

England’s past has been borne on
his back. All our history is his
industry; we are his heirs; he
our inheritance.
 
Titchy Pony said:
@Boulty, I'm jealous of the diversity of your hacking! Around here, it's all lanes, cows and tractors. To the point that most the horse at the riding school struggle with the very rare sheep we come a cross. To be fair to my Little Madam, she dealt very well with trains, bridges, tunnels, gates (once she'd figured out they weren't for jumping), fords, etc... during the brief time we were in the UK. The help of a steady companion was needed for the sheep at first, but then he didn't like cows, so that was a fair exchange.
Click to expand...

Will admit this is the hacking from a couple of different yards (although one of them you could have devised 20 or 30 mile loops in a few different directions if you didn’t mind linking with roadwork) plus a few different road trips & multi day rides.
 
Burnerbee said:
I’ve no problem with horses using their brain and energy - just don’t make it something that’s aesthetic / pointless / weird / for humans to show off / entirely for profit / cruel.
Click to expand...

I think any of those terms can be used to describe horse ownership in general, not just competing. It is entirely dependant on who the owner is.
 
AdorableAlice said:
Reading through this thread and the other one questioning the riding of horses has made me wonder what owners actually want or expect from their horses, but does it actually matter as long as the horse in their care is given everything it needs to fulfil the hopes, wishes and dreams of their owners, and the owner takes responsibility for a dignified ending.

Why don't we all just remember the words below and enjoy whatever we do or don't do with our horses, be it an elite competition horse or a cherished family pony. Lets be grateful for everything they have done for us. I had an elite competition horse, now much missed, who was also a beautiful hacking horse and I am grateful for everything he did for me.

The Horse

Where in this wide world can
man find nobility without pride,
friendship without envy or beauty
without vanity? Here, where
grace is laced with muscle, and
strength by gentleness confined.

He serves without servility; he has
fought without enmity. There is
nothing so powerful, nothing less
violent, there is nothing so quick,
nothing more patient.

England’s past has been borne on
his back. All our history is his
industry; we are his heirs; he
our inheritance.
Click to expand...


Gosh that brings back memories of the finale of horse of the year show, doesn’t it? I can almost hear it being read out.
 
AdorableAlice said:
Reading through this thread and the other one questioning the riding of horses has made me wonder what owners actually want or expect from their horses, but does it actually matter as long as the horse in their care is given everything it needs to fulfil the hopes, wishes and dreams of their owners, and the owner takes responsibility for a dignified ending.

Why don't we all just remember the words below and enjoy whatever we do or don't do with our horses, be it an elite competition horse or a cherished family pony. Lets be grateful for everything they have done for us. I had an elite competition horse, now much missed, who was also a beautiful hacking horse and I am grateful for everything he did for me.

The Horse

Where in this wide world can
man find nobility without pride,
friendship without envy or beauty
without vanity? Here, where
grace is laced with muscle, and
strength by gentleness confined.

He serves without servility; he has
fought without enmity. There is
nothing so powerful, nothing less
violent, there is nothing so quick,
nothing more patient.

England’s past has been borne on
his back. All our history is his
industry; we are his heirs; he
our inheritance.
Click to expand...



I thought there was another poem about horses competing, but cannot recall it, and one sentence had stuck in my mind since the day I read it


Something like, (and mine is the pain filled effort in the night) , referring to the horses experience

I often think about that and how sad it is

But true
 
AdorableAlice said:
Reading through this thread and the other one questioning the riding of horses has made me wonder what owners actually want or expect from their horses, but does it actually matter as long as the horse in their care is given everything it needs to fulfil the hopes, wishes and dreams of their owners, and the owner takes responsibility for a dignified ending.

Why don't we all just remember the words below and enjoy whatever we do or don't do with our horses, be it an elite competition horse or a cherished family pony. Lets be grateful for everything they have done for us. I had an elite competition horse, now much missed, who was also a beautiful hacking horse and I am grateful for everything he did for me.

The Horse

Where in this wide world can
man find nobility without pride,
friendship without envy or beauty
without vanity? Here, where
grace is laced with muscle, and
strength by gentleness confined.

He serves without servility; he has
fought without enmity. There is
nothing so powerful, nothing less
violent, there is nothing so quick,
nothing more patient.

England’s past has been borne on
his back. All our history is his
industry; we are his heirs; he
our inheritance.
Click to expand...



I thought there was another poem about horses competing, but cannot recall it, and one sentence had stuck in my mind since the day I read it


Something like, (and mine is the pain filled effort in the night) , referring to the horses experience

I often think about that and how sad it is

But true
 
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