Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
1 Ownership
D
id you ever wonder why so many young girls collect statues of horses and decorate their
bedroom walls with photos of horses? Why some, when they have had an opportunity to
stroke a real, live horse are reluctant to wash their hands so they can keep that heavenly scent
around for as long as possible?
How about the middle-aged woman who secures a position with a trainer or instructor as
a working student, trading labor (cleaning horses, tack, and stalls) for riding lessons? And
why do professionals from so many fields find that weekend rides help them make it through
their workweeks, no matter how hectic?
What makes a horse owner postpone his own medical checkups but religiously schedule
routine veterinary appointments for his horse? Why would a person consistently skip his
breakfast or vitamins and grab fast food, yet never dream of shortcutting rations for his
horse? What makes a horse owner forgo a new coat, yet not bat an eye when slapping down
several hundred dollars for a new winter horse blanket?
These and other “horse-crazy” behaviors demonstrate the effect a horse can have on a per-
son. There is something noble about horses that makes us want to treat them well. When we
treat horses with the respect they deserve, they provide us with many unique opportunities
to find a type of nobility in ourselves as well.
Animals are a reflection of their care and handling, and in no case is this more evident
than with the home-raised, home-trained, home-kept horse. The relationship between horses
and their people should be a partnership. Both have certain obligations to each other, and
when those are met consistently on both sides, the partnership is solid.
The Benefits of Horse Ownership
The relationship between a person and a horse can be simple and fulfilling and without all
the complications that can occur in the human world. A horse doesn't talk back but does tell
you, using body language and other nonverbal communication, how he interprets your ac-
tions. A horse will reveal your true character—your confidence, the shortness of your tem-
per, how consistent you are—and working with horses can give you the opportunity to be-
come a better person. Caring for and interacting with horses has made many people more
reliable, thorough, trustworthy, honest, and consistent. People who have difficulty working
with other people often learn the meaning of teamwork with a horse.
