Barnmice Equestrian Social Community
The video community for horse people everywhere
It's Valentine's Month on Barnmice! Tell us why you love your horse!
Add your stories, poems, photos and anything else that defines your love for your horse!
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Tilly Berendt on -
I had never planned for that scruffy, lice-ridden, pony-looking Thoroughbred to win me over in such a monumental way. In fact, peering into his stall, I had decided that he would be one of those horses that you ride without much enthusiasm - just put in the obligatory time, do the routine horse-care, and be done.
Dante was a sale horse that had come from Minnesota to Virginia to be sold, and I was a working student - riding multiple horses per day and falling in love with few of them. I was also an outsider; the youngest of the group, the most homesick, and thus, the one that was pushed away. It had become easy to wallow in self-pity, but it was high-time I got something more out of the experience. So, because he and I were both outsiders, Dante became my project.
I gave him a bath, banged his tail, and pulled his long, thick mane, and discovered that the horse underneath wasn't pony-like at all, but rather a strapping, 16.2hh spitting image of Seattle Slew, his grandsire. In pulling his mane, I discovered an infestation of lice, and so daily lice-baths became another chore I willingly accepted. The daily attention brought out his Jim Carrey-esque personality - he pulled faces, unzipped my jacket with his curiously mobile lips, and waggled his rabbit ears to express his every emotion. I started riding him, and discovered the most wonderful canter I had ever felt - silky smooth and not entirely half-haltable. I would start cantering around the arena, and although Dante liked to lengthen into something a little more racetrack worthy, I would be grinning like an idiot, enjoying the ride. In the field, he would come running if he heard my voice, and at the end of the day I would sit on the fence, his head in my lap, and talk to him about life.
But he was a sale horse, and with my triple-figure budget, I couldn't afford his five-figure sum. I cried into his (now lice-free) mane, wished on stars, eyelashes, and 11:11, but I knew that it was hopeless. Dante would never be mine.
A few weeks later, my sojourn as a working student came to an end, and it was time to go home. I walked from stall to stall, saying goodbye to the horses I had come to know so well, giving each a kiss on the nose. But Dante deserved more. I slipped into his stall and gave him a hug, and he reached his head around to groom my back with his elastic nose.Forcing myself not to cry, I fed him an apple and smoothed down his fluffy forelock.
"Make sure you find a great owner," I whispered. "Buck off the mean ones."
He snorted his understanding and I pulled myself away, knowing that leaving would never be easy. During the eight-hundred mile journey home, I willed myself to forget about him, forget the huge, caramel eyes and the deep, silky brown coat.
A few days later, after my eighteenth birthday had come and gone, I received a voicemail message from my former barn. Assuming something awful must have happened, I fired off a quick email to find out what was going on. Shortly thereafter, I had an answer.
"Dante has been vetted for a prospective buyer," it read. "It turns out he has an old injury in his stifle and needs annual injections. Rather than put money into management and training fees, his owner wants to give him away. If you want him, he's yours."
I read the email five times before it sunk in. Bawling my eyes out, I ran downstairs to tell my mother, who had heard about little else but Dante since I'd met him. Shocked, she agreed to let me take him.
A few weeks later, Dante arrived. Every day, I'm amazed at my good fortune - to be given a horse is a wonderful thing, but to be given your favorite horse is something indescribable. As corny as it is, I feel like we were fated to be partners-in-crime. He's my best friend, and my teacher - he'll lick my face and smile on command, but when I saddle up he expects me to really RIDE, use my legs, and get the heck off his face! I've improved in so many ways since he came into my life - he truly is my best friend.
-
-
Permalink Reply by Tilly Berendt on
-
^In the second picture, which is very questionable looking, I went to give him a kiss on the nose and he licked me. Haha!
-
-
Permalink Reply by Heather Baiano on -
Northline Rainmaker came into my life quite suddenly in 2003. I had been through a car accident that had shattered my body and my soul. I had lost everything, and had to sell my morgan at the time because I was not supposed to be able to walk again. Well, a year later I proved them wrong of course. When I got a phone call saying, "There's this morgan colt in need of a good home asap!" my husband said we'd take him.It was a good attempt to bring me out of the loss I was feeling in my life. I was excited until I saw that wild, half blind, crazy colt get off the trailer. With Raine it was fight first, ask questions later! He had an injury to his right eye that would eventually heal but he would always have limited sight. Throughout the years we became partners, with the ups and downs, tears and cheers that go with it. Our trust and love for each other deepens as time goes by. He will be eight this may, and since he was four we have been showing in all sorts of disciplines. Surprisingly, Raine loves to jump. Together we have won championships, ribbons and trophies.
Rainmaker is truely my phoenix, he raised me from the ashes of my loss, and together we soar high. -
-
Permalink Reply by Heather Baiano on
-
-
-
Permalink Reply by Ruairi on -
I love my pony Indigo because........she has excuses for everything...whenever i find myself on the ground after she has bucked, spooked, refused I want to get mad but that puppy eye face saying, "I did not mean to do it....please don't get mad at me" but it always stops me. I guess that is why I love my pony sooo much. You can never get mad at her:) She has taught me to live the moment and never worry about the future-even if it is bleak. When I am stressed or mad she knows the right thing to cheer me up- and knows how to put a smile on everyones face.....She loves me for who I am and I love her for who she is. We are two puzzle pieces that make a perfect match.....she is the best!!!
Her is a pic of my perfect pony.. -
-
Permalink Reply by DressageGeek on -
My horse is an off the track thoroughbred - in typical Bold Ruler style, he is smart, ultra sensitive, and with a highly developed sense of injustice. Even though I had been out of horses for 20 years, even though I had never ridden dressage, in my ignorant hands we were able to garner regional, state and national awards at Intro, Training, and First Level dressage. And while he is athletic, with a wonderful work ethic, he's not an easy horse. I don't know where, or when, but I do know he was abused.
As I became more conversant with horse society, I became more educated. I drove on the Missouri interstates, seeing double decker haulers, and then learned that they could carry horses to slaughter. Ted came off the Fairmount track, a short ride from Cavel, the slaughterhouse in Illinois. Knowing my horse, I realized: there but for the grace. I could see how very easy it would have been for a horse like my precious Ted to fall through the cracks. As I discovered more about horses that did fall through those cracks, I began to offer up what I called my "dribbles:" small donations to 501(c)3 rescue organizations, helping with making flyers, or asking for donations for events. But dribbles can become a river, and with my co-enabler, Colleen, we became Special Horses Inc., a not-for-profit organization that facilitates the efforts of 501(c)3 equine organizations that directly foster, rescue, or rehabilitate, or are hippotherapy or equine assisted therapy facilities. We are 501(c)3 pending, and are expanding our efforts to help network response efforts for equines in need during natural disasters, and to help educate the public about the missions of our groups.
By day, I'm a scientist, and I put in long hours at the lab bench, doing experiments and mentoring students. Ted is my "down time:" my buddy, my gym workout, my partner in competitions, my conscience about animals in need. Yes, his antics make me laugh. Yes, learning how to ride dressage keeps me humble. Yes, I have mud and hay bits littering my car and my clothes. But Ted's greatest gift to me is that, through my efforts with Special Horses Inc. to help equines in need, I have been able to make a difference - there but for the grace. - Attachments:
-
-
HPIM0492_2.JPG, 237 KB -
HPIM0149.JPG, 1.1 MB
-
HPIM0115.JPG, 1.9 MB
-
-
-
Permalink Reply by Jennifer Santerre on -
I love my adopted quarter horse "Dante" for many reasons...
But the most important is that I was truly blessed to have been the chosen one, as his new owner. I know I have saved him once again from an unknown and potentially terrible future as a 25 year old horse with a stifle injury. His owner had rescued him from an abusive School many years ago and then was forced to give him up due to financial difficulty. I had been leasing him for a summer in 2008 and you have to understand that Senior horses tend to be the last ones chosen, especially by potential owners as they are definately not looking for horses in their mid 20's with physical limitations or imperfections. I felt he would end up in the worst place of all: an auction lot! So there I was also slightly "imperfect", with limited horse training, obviously green and still learning. To me he was the "Perfect Match" even as a Senior, for I really had nothing to compare him too, he was my one and only and hey I'm no spring-chicken either!!
Big tough-boy Dante had an inner voice that spoke to me from the first time we met, and in the beginning that's what we did, lots of talking or "horse-whispering" you could call it, really just the 2 of us bonding. Many late nights at the barn were spent grooming and chatting and just getting to know each other until he turned into a wonderful old softee full of kisses and nuzzles and whinnies for his new Mom! This wonderful gentleman of a horse has the most perfect leisurely-living now as my best friend and most respected partner in life. I believe Dante saved me as well, by allowing me to learn everything from him from the ground up...things like trust, patience, perseverence, dedication and above all LOYALTY!
I'm a very lucky first-time horse owner with a very educated, old, jumper who can still do it all: Dressage, English, Western, neck-reining, bridle-less, bareback and his favorite of all trail-riding. He took me on my first full-out gallop across a gorgeous field last year and I felt completely safe and exhilarated, and at the same time I could tell it was pure joy for him as well. If I mess up he corrects me, he keeps me safe and truly inspires me and reminds me that even at 40 years old your never to old to get back in the saddle and live your dream...because to me DANTE is definately a dream come true!
My final thought to share with you: This year Dante is 27 and I'll be 41, and we are doing our very first show, we have many plans ahead of us you see, because we are both living life to the fullest together and Dante is so full of knowledge and experience I know I can't go wrong!! =) - Attachments:
-
-
BIG D!.jpg, 80 KB
-
NOV09.bmp, 802 KB
-
-
-
Permalink Reply by Debbie Jones on -
Good for you Jennifer, I wish you and Dante all the luck in the world, you go girl!
-
-
Permalink Reply by Laura Cain on -
Dylan; what can I say about my boy. I bought him from a dealer about 4 yrs ago & he had this something that I could not put my finger on. I bought him that day (after riding him of course!)
I got him home & he was an angel, fab with the other horse, hound puppies. He was a horse that everyone loves.
Dylan is a big horse, which when you first meet him, it is oh my god, but after a few minutes you fall for him just like I did & still do.
We have been through sooo much over these 4 yrs, highs & lows, but I have never given in on our partnership!
Dylan, I am sure feels the same. Take my friend riding him for me when I had to help another livery with her horse being shod. I had my friends dog with me & as I turned to leave the school & not talk to my boy, he had an almighty strop! It was the foot slapping the floor that done it. I laughed because it was that I had left Dylan in the school & had gone off with THAT dog!
I came back into the school, just said DYLAN & he stopped & looked as if to say "Mum your back, opps sorry!"
Yes my boy might be slightley spoilt, but he loves his mum, just as much as his mum loves him!
We are a team through thick & thin & I am looking forward to this year & the things that we will get up to. I trust & love my horse to look after me & he the same.
I love you Dylan for ever & always xxx
-
-
Permalink Reply by Lucy on -
There are so many reasons why I love my horse. First off my horse is a dream come true.I grew up on a beef cattle farm surrounded by boarding barns and lesson barns. I often made my parents come out with me for walks and bike rides just so I could pass by and visit with the horses. Every Christmas I would write a letter to Santa and every birthday I would beg my parents for riding lessons or a horse and the answer was always "no they are too dangerous of an animal". When I hit high school I stopped asking and figured I would have to wait until I was a working adult to get my horse.
One summer when I was home from university ( in my early 20s) I decided to bring up the subject of riding again and my dad suggested just getting a horse. My mom agreed deciding that I was able to understand and accept any risks involved in riding.I was in heaven and started searching for the perfect first horse while at the same time taking lessons from a friend. While searching the internet I found the ad for a horse that sounded perfect for me so my family and I went a head to try him out. He was perfect and I loved him- great attitude, beautiful horse and very friendly. One catch- he was a camp horse and had to be replaced before he could definitely be sold,oh and he was a standardbred (pacer). Well I had faith a replacement would be found and started preparing myself for a new horse. Two weeks later I got a call and was devastated-the replacement didn't work out and the horse could not be sold but would defintley be for sale in the winter.
My parents kept trying to get me to look at other horses but I held out and the following winter when he went up for sale he became mine. He was delivered to me two months later (I was out of province when I bought him). It was a stressful time when he arrived as my grandfather was in hospital dying. 5 days after my horse got home my grandfather passed away.My horse was strength during that time, he was my shoulder to cry on and the one I could tell anything too.I don't know how I would have gotten through that time without him.
I knew he was perfect too when my 2 year old niece could handle him with no trouble at all. He fits in nicely with my large family as he adores all the kids and is a great babysitter.
Together we began to work toward our goal of schooling level dressage shows which meant hard working on getting him out of pacing into trotting. Each and every session my horse would try his heart out and eventually after a year and a half of hard work we brought home our first two ribbons in walk trot dressage- great for a horse that many said was useless and would never do dressage.I was so proud of him. It also just so happened that it was father's day as well that first show and my dad told me we gave him a great father's day present by doing so well- not because we brought home ribbons but because we had worked so hard and improved so much. We went on to bring home more fabulous results and higher percentages in the tests each show. He loves his new job.
It's not just his hard work I love him for. It's also the way he loves to cuddle,the way he calls me in the mornings, the way he is so sweet and patient with our calves and the way he protects our dog from the other animals when they bully her.
I am currently living 4.5 hours away from my horse working on contract until May but I miss him every single day and can't wait for my next vacation to see him. - Attachments:
-
-
seth2009_0001.wmv, 41.4 MB -
amazing.jpg, 35 KB
-
pinkribbonformsn.jpg, 142 KB
-
-
-
Permalink Reply by Tiffany on -
Over the years, my encounters with horses faded in and out and I took up several jobs that involved horses one way or another. It wasn't till I was 19 years old that I realized I wanted those gorgeous equine companions in my life for good and thus I took up lessons and went back to college for schooling. At the time, I'm pretty sure I fell in love with every horse I hopped on, spoiling myself in all their crazy antics, cuddles and kisses. Truly, it was a major eye-opener when I knocked heads with my current love, Dots.
One day, as I clocked in nearly 11 hours at the barn for the sheer enjoyment of it, I was staring into a pen of ponies munching away at their hay. I recognized every one of them but it wasn't until I hopped into the pen to touch them, did I notice this tiny paint standing next to one of my favorite babies. I couldn't decide whether she was built moose-like or simply mistaken as the ugly duckling.
Covering her belly was tremendous mats that accumulated as her winter coat began to shed and tangle from neglect. Feeling sorry for her, I took a shedding blade to her stomach and over the next few days, began to peel off mat after mat of fur. At the time, I was a reasonably irresponsible person—huddled into the corner of the paddock on my knees with an unfamiliar and unpredictable baby paint and no escape route in sight. It took a moment before I realized that Dots had been staring at me the whole time I'd been picking at her belly and I paused my motions only to see her reach around and place a velvety muzzle on my arm. The position was uncomfortable and odd for both of us but we froze there for a good 3 minutes. I believe this was our first real connection as Dots truly began to trust me.
Back then she was just under a year old but to this current day, she is 1 and a half years old. Every day I go to the barn, I am not greeted with a pleasant whinny; I am acknowledged with a lift of the head for a brief 5 seconds before resuming her lunch. I am not cuddled when I am at her side; I am mauled and thoroughly strip-searched for any and all carrots or treats. I do not get kisses while I lovingly kiss her nose; I get long, booger-y smears all over my clothes, arms and face. If she plans cleverly, she gets it in my mouth sometimes. Yuck. When I turn her out into the pasture, we do not stand beside each other and linger a moment longer in the others company; instead she takes off almost immediately at a gallop towards the feed pen.
But as lack-loving as all that sounds, all of them combine to create her one-of-a-kind personality. She's a tough lover and in no way gives it away freely. Dots strikes me as the kind of 'person' who would remain fairly mellow, indifferent to every situation and probably finds me really annoying with my antics but when it comes down to it, she's really loving when it's deserved. All these things is what makes me love her. I am never spoiled by her love and thus I don't demand it every day like I used to. Typically I would become upset if I was never cuddled or kissed but when I go to the barn, I don't expect that treatment from Dots so every day is a surprise when she suddenly decides to reach over and put the entirety of her massive head into my arms, confirming that only I am allowed to handle her in ways that no one else can.
Because of her young age, she cannot show me the surreal freedom felt while riding atop her back but in exchange, in only one year of her life, she has managed to show me what it truly means to love your partner and companion. -
-
Permalink Reply by Debbie Jones on
-
I got Lexi when she was approx. 6 months old, she was a resue from a PMU farm in Manitoba. I have to be honest here, I had know idea what I was in for. Unfortunatly life got in the way and she was not given the time and attention that she needed and deserved. She grew up and really all she cared about was the herd that she had become a part of. When she was 3 I sent her out to be trained, I sent her to the lady that had originally brought them in from Manitoba. She was there for approx. 4 months and to make a long story short when we got her home we realized that she hadn't been trained at all, the farrier couldn't even trim her feet. We figured every time we went down to see her, she had been druged, she was always so incredibly quiet she was certainly not the horse we sent away, it only took a couple of days back home to see her back to her old self. I paid this woman alot of money to train her and I just couldn't afford to send her out again to be trained so she just became pasture art and a very very spooky horse. My husband would just shake his head when I tried to do anything with her and would say "if she hurts you - she's gone", she was just becoming dangerous to be around if anything scared her, she would just flee and not think about anything or anyone. There actually was an incident when I said it was time to get rid of her, I was sooo pissed off, I just didn't know what to do, I was not a horse trainer, I had not idea of where to begin, what to do, how do I communicate with this 1200 pound animal that thought I was going to kill her and didn't really seem to like or respect me. Then I was approached from a long time friend who was having issues with one of her horses and was having alot of success. She asked me if I was interested and after much persistance I finally said yes, please come and help me, I figured I had nothing to lose. She came out and showed me how to get started. Lexi was not thrilled with her at all but let me tell you after 20 minutes or so she had her full attention on Laura and responding to her very well. Laura showed me what to work on and would come back a week later, start Lexi on something else and I would continue on everything from week to week. Well, I have a different horse now, we are bonding, we are friends, she is learning to trust me, she will follow me around, she can not get enough attention, she doesn't care if she's not with the rest of the guys, she is with me. We have a long way to go but she is really comming around, when she is scared she won't turn and run she will look to me for guidance and security.
She is teaching me so much, not only about her, but about patience, kindness, attitude and so much more. I am so glad that my dear friend Laura was so persistant with me, I really don't know what Lexi's future would have been, but I do know what it will be now. I get so excited now when I see her, I just love her so much and I am so proud of her and of myself too. Thanks Laura, your a great friend and oh I would like to thank and couple of other people who made this totally possible.... Pat & Linda Parelli - you guys are awesome!!!
Deb Jones -
Contest Corner
International News
© 2012 Created by Barnmice Admin.
