The bond between rider and horse is unbreakable.
At some point, most little girls dreamed of getting a pony for Christmas. As little girls, we dreamed of brushing the long mane of our pony while our braided pigtails swayed in the breeze; and then, we would ride our pony off into the sunset where Prince Charming would be waiting for us with his unicorn. lol
On a sunny Saturday in the later afternoon, I met up with my lovely friend Julia and her horse, Ben. As I walked past the clucking chickens, llamas, and a mule, I came across dozens and dozens of horses whose owners were no where to be found. Between the stalls, a couple women lingered grooming and caring for their horses. As I walked closer to the stalls, Julia caught up with me in her riding pants, Vanz, and waist-long braided ponytail that resembled that of her horse. In the hot sun of the Palos Verdes Hill side, Ben casually stood in his stall with a hood over head protecting him from pesky flies.
Together, we walked Ben through a small trail behind the stables. It was a warm Fall evening with a watercolor sky and silent noise. Ben strode gracefully along the path as his large shadow cast shade along the path. As I ran my finger along his chest, I could feel the pure muscle of his body flexing with each step. Horses are such beautiful creatures. Like so many living things in the animal kingdom, the beauty of horses is not only their utilitarian use, but also their sleek build and natural grace. And as Julia pointed out, Ben has a personality that simply resonates with her. The connection formed between a horse and his rider is just as strong as any human friendship. They are the closest of companions.
During my visit with Julia and Ben, I learned that many wealthy people have horses in the stables but do not take the proper amount of time to care for their companion. Like so many animals in shelters that go unloved, horses need just as much love and even more care to be properly taken care of. It takes daily feeding, brushing, washing, cleaning, and loving to take care of a horse. Because of the gigantic physic of the horse, he needs to be walked and ridden in order to build muscle and maintain sanity. Of course, I believe most people already know the basics of how to take care of a horse, but it definitely saddens me to see so many horses go unloved by their owners. You need both the financial capacity and emotional connection to properly care for any animal; not just one or the other.
The most magical part of owning a pet is the animal's capacity love unconditionally. When it comes to wants, animals are simple creatures. When it comes down to their heart, animals love unconditionally. This is something that is easily taken for granted.
Despite Julia's budget, she somehow manages to call Ben her own; and even though she's financially limited, she still finds a way to make the most out of her time with him and provide him with the best. It's a beautiful thing to watch a human care for an animal.
