The Ups and Downs of Having a Horse

Owning a horse is full of ups and downs, figuratively, and for some of us, literally. The joys of feeling those strong muscles stirring as you lope across the pasture; the joy of a morning nicker as you come into sight. The agony of vet calls at 3 am because your own personal Houdini managed to get the feed room door open and ate an entire load of grain; or having to change bandages on you best friend's legs where he or she ran into a fence.

Some people decide that the ups are not worth the downs. But the rest of us find ourselves as inextricably addicted to our equine friends as any thing else in our lives. But one thing that seems to me to be the epitome of the joys of a horse-owning is the thrill you get when you enter the pasture a good acre away from where your horse is sleeping in the sun and see him scramble to his feet and race across the distance between you neighing his pleasure at your very presence.

Of course, his pleasure could be entirely due to the fact that he believes you are going to feed him or give him a treat - but that is another story. For now, let us assume that he is overjoyed by the very thought of your presence in his pasture. He sees in you a familiar and adoring being that means more to him than anything else - except perhaps, carrots; and treats; and grain; and really, any kind of food! But we digress, we were talking about the joys of being owned by one of these magnificent, and sometimes annoying creatures. Lets face it, at times you have to work in that pasture with him, and when he is determined to stick his nose into whatever you are doing, the tasks can take a great deal longer.

Hearing a friendly wicker, a soft muzzle against your cheek, sweet, grain-smelling breath gently blowing your hear, all of these things are our rewards from or friends. They can't pay us or make our problems go away. But what they can do is make us forget it, for a little while. As we feed and groom and ride and love these creatures, we receive a very large return for our time and effort. We receive their eternal love and devotion. For every late night vet visit, for every long day spent tending and nursing, for every minute of worry, there is a tenfold joy that returns to us.

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