All For The Love of Horses

How many do you have? Why do you need so many? Why do you have so many? These are some of the common questions I get asked about my horses. Not that it's anyone's business but mine but I do understand people's curiosity and desire to know why a person would choose to live to take care of something that financially, usually takes more than it gives. But I don't see it that way... obviously.

I wasn't raised in a family with a lot of money, though we weren't dirt poor either. My parents both worked and worked hard. I was taught the value of hard work and that money, while very important, was not the most important. I knew we didn't have it as good as some but always felt I had it pretty darn nice.

My mom, God bless her, saw a fire in me and fueled it to the best of her ability. She kept me in horses that did nothing but improve my abilities and confidence. Sometimes we owned those horses, sometimes, more often times, they were borrowed but she was the driving force behind finding them all. And there have been a lot of them along the way.

I was never a one horse wonder. I rode many different horses with different styles. They were all broke, seasoned horses, so to win, I had to learn how best to ride each of them. I couldn't have my style and expect them to change for me, that doesn't work or win. I got very comfortable riding any style or personality of horse and still today, I do best if I have more than one to run.

As a young adult, I recognized that I had an expensive habit. I don't mind working hard but I want my hard work to be compensated adequately to support lots of horses. I felt that nursing was a career that would allow flexibility in a schedule but give me financial security that would help support my hobby. And a hobby it is. I do not see my horses as a business.

My husband once told me I didn't have the right mindset to be in the horse business, and I told him I wasn't in the horse business. I'm in the horse hobby. While I would love to make money with my horses, it is not my goal to do so by selling them. I'd love to do it by winning in competition but that really is not a solid financial plan. So, I picked a career that would support my habit even if my horses didn't win a dime. Sounds silly really. But it's all for the love of horses.

I love horses so much. I love the winners, and the losers. I love the easy to train, smart ones, but also the difficult, challenging ones just as much. I talk to all of them like people. Tell them they are pretty or handsome. I feed them treats and give them extra goodies on holidays. I like to pet them on they foreheads and kiss them on their noses. I love burying my face in their manes and take in their horsey scent. I just love the horses. All of them.

So, how many do I have? It's in the neighborhood of 20. Why do I need so many? Because horses embody hope. Hope is the feeling of expectation and desire, and trust. If you ask any horse person about that colt that just hit the ground or that 2 year old prospect they picked up, or the finished horse they spent more on than they probably could afford. They will likely all give you a story of how they have high hopes for where that horse will go or will take them. Hope is what keeps people going forward. And I have a lot of it in my heart.

For me, horses also make me feel closer to God because they are such a tangible way to experience so much that He is. They are powerful but gentle. They are beautiful, sometimes in unclassic ways, ways you have to work to see to appreciate. They teach you to trust in something you can't always control and the more you try to control it the worse things get. You learn to feel communication because not everything can be seen or heard. The more time you spend with them, the closer your bond becomes and the better you understand them, yourself and life in general. They teach you lessons you didnt know you needed. That's God and that's horses.

I have goals and I know how few and far between truly great horses are. They are God given. I feel that all of the horses that have come and gone in my life were all on purpose. I've learned something from all of them, which I pass along to the ones I've yet to ride. It's my responsibility to use the skills and talents I've been given to make the horses the best I can make them. They may be for me, or they may be passing through me on their way to their intended person. It's hard for me to let any of them go. Not because I want them selfishly for myself but because I appreciate them so much for what they taught me. I've built a bond with each one and it hurts to break it and it give it to another. I know its necessary and right but it's still difficult.

So, the question remains, why do you have so many? I already said I have goals. And that those special horses that could take me there come along, sometimes, just once in a lifetime. I know that not all the horses we raise will be what I hoped for. Some will hate barrel racing, some will get injured, some will unfortunately not make it, that's just how things work. The more you have the more chances you get. Let's just say, I've given myself a lot of chances.

Another thing about me, is that raising, training, and succeeding on my own horses is very important to me. I have no interest in buying a finished horse or being a jockey, riding or training horses I don't own. I don't just want to win. That really means little to me if I'm not riding my own hard work. That's just a personal thing of mine. I'm not taking away anything from anyone who has done it differently. I also don't want to take away anything from the people and horses that I did jockey for and did well. Those were awesome opportunities and I got to experience where I'd like to go with my own horses one day. But just winning to win is not where my goals lie. Winning on horses I've raised and trained, is. It's also very satisfying to see them go on and be successful with someone else.

So, I have a lot of horses... because I can. I hope to accomplish my goals with them but even if I don't, I will love them anyways. Because it's not about winning, or making lots of money, or everybody knowing your name. It all for the love of horses.