It all starts somewhere. If we are lucky we are born into it. For the rest of us it is a picture in a book, or a flash of a hoof on the TV, or in a friend’s back yard. From the moment we see one, our lives are forever changed. The Horse.
Unlike almost everything else in the world, the horse is a great leveler. Those that love horses and choose to spend their lives with them come from everywhere. I may not be a good talker when it comes to most people, but put me with another horse person… I can talk all day and I’m happy to meet you.
It doesn’t matter if your a man or a woman or a child. It doesn’t matter if you grew up poor. It doesn’t matter if you grew up rich. It doesn’t matter what color you are, what language you speak or where you are from. It doesn’t matter what your politics are, how crazy your hair is, or who you love. It doesn’t matter if your horse was free or $500,000. It doesn’t matter if you scrounge together a few hundred dollars a month to support your love or if you have a stable full of horses. It doesn’t matter who your trainer is, if you show or not, if you work with horses or if they’re just your leisure activity. It doesn’t matter if you’re a champion or an Olympian. It doesn’t matter if you just took your first lesson or if your only experience is your weekly trail ride with a friend. English or Western or Australian or anything in between…doesn’t matter.
It doesn’t matter if you dress like a homeless person or a Hollywood star. It doesn’t matter if your thin or fat. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or an old hand. It doesn’t matter if you can’t back a trailer (or if you have a trailer to back up at all). It doesn’t matter if it has been a few years since you touched a horse…or you haven’t been able to bring them into your life yet. It doesn’t matter if you love shopping for your horse and make him look like an Instagram model. It doesn’t matter if your halter is 20 years old. It doesn’t matter if you’re nursing along your 32 year old retiree or you have a 2 year old show horse coming up.
It doesn’t matter.
All that matters is the love you have for the Horse. All that matters is that we can share our love together. Share our experiences and stories together. Maybe get to spend a ride together. Share our joy together. I’m thankful for horses for bringing me so many friends and acquaintances from all walks of life. For allowing me to meet and enjoy people from various corners of the earth with thousands of different life experiences… Because you love horses, you are important to me.