Friday, June 22, 2012

I'm realizing more and more how special the love for horses is. It's very unique, and doesn't touch everyone. Trying to explain it is like trying to describe color to someone who was born blind. It's intangible, ethereal, and resists definition. No matter how close I get to putting it into words, the other person never walks away with a true understanding or a newborn adoration for equines like I hope to instill. The love just is, or it isn't. 


This quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson touches upon the strength of it. Yet again, though, even through the words of a great poet, the only people who seem to truly understand the words are horse people themselves. 


“Riding a horse is not a gentle hobby, to be picked up and laid down like a game of solitaire. It is a grand passion. It seizes a person whole and once it has done so, he/she will have to accept that his life will be radically changed.” 


As much as I try to teach my husband this desperate passion for the horse, I don't think he will ever truly grasp it. I suppose his soul was not sewn with the hair from a horse's mane like mine. It will remain a privilege, given by the gods, to those of us who do love horses. 

9 comments:

  1. Love this! It's so true, and beautifully written

    I knew an older german trainer who described it as a "virus". It infects, consumes and changes you forever.

    My husband doesn't understand the horses, and I've given up trying to teach him. He understands that they are a part of me, and he loves all of me, so he tolerates them!

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    1. Thank you so much, Shannon! I love our "virus"! Maybe someday we'll find a way to infect the hubbies with it!

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  2. True! My husband doesn't understand either, but then I don't understand his passion for football. We each have our own thing.

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  3. OMG. This was SOOO well written. My husband understands that it grows and moves under my skin and in my soul like nothing else and that I'm a much happier person when I come home smelling like a horse. Only my love for my son and him comes close.
    So as the above post explains only a horse person can understand another horse persons addiction. It is also true that non-horsey husbands are a breed unto them selves too, as it takes a VERY special person to love someone so consumed with pasion for anonther being

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    1. Thank you so much, Cam!! You are so right; our non-horsey husbands really are something special for loving us who love horses!!

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  4. My mom gave me the horse bug, and then tried to get it back out of me. She likes horses well enough, but never had the "passion" for them that I do. She doesn't watch a horse perform with a rider or at liberty and shed tears. My husband is the same way. Likes them like one likes a pet dog, but thats about it. Me on the other hand.... I've gone from the bug, to full on Friesian Fever that I don't think I'll ever be rid of. I couldn't imagine not being near horses again. My heart would simply die.

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  5. Hi

    I am an equestrian novelist soon to release my new racing romance, Share and Share Alike and was hoping you might consider reviewing it on your site. Drop me a message if you’re interested.

    Best wishes,

    Hannah Hooton

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  6. i couldnt have said it any better and it is such a PRIVILAGE and if a horse owner doesnt see it that way they dont deserve to have any.

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