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You Tell Us: Why is your horse a special family member?

Sunny, my 20-year-old Welsh Pony, is special for so many reasons. For instance, our bond with each other has left us best friends for life. I share all my emotions with him, and he seems to share them with me. Sunny was my first horse and because of him, I own two more. Sunny is old but his heart, soul, spirit and mind are still young. There are still many reasons why Sunny is special but these are the best.  -Makayla Dahley, Internet




 My mare is a special part of my family because I got her at 4 months old and she is like my child. She is the first weanling I ever bought and trained. She is now 5 and to this day she hasn’t had one minute of professional training or another rider.
Over the years we have had our ups and downs, but we have a special bond and I think the world of her. Last year was our first show season together and we did very well. We qualified for districts at our local 4-H show, and did well at the open shows we entered. I’m looking forward to our future together in the show-ring but mostly out.  -Delanie Casselbury, Pennsylvania




Tarbender, my 13-year-old Leopard Appaloosa gelding, is more than just family–he’s a part of me. I was 12 years old when we bought Tarbender (Tar) at a sale barn. Now he has arthritis, even at his young age, so I don’t ride him a lot. He’s helped me through some pretty rough times, and when I need someone to talk to, I know I can always bury my face in his mane. I’ve brought him to two different schools for demonstrations, and anytime we have beginner kids he’s the one we choose to put them on. I want to use him for more demonstrations or maybe some therapeutic riding, but for now, he’s my best friend and companion. He truly is my guardian angel, and without him my days wouldn’t be so bright. He’s my best friend, and always will be.  -Micala Hunstable, Minnesota


 Rudy, my 9-year-old Paint gelding, is a special part of our family because I love him so much. He isn’t much of a show horse and my parents actually begged me to sell him and get a beautiful Thoroughbred mare, but I insisted that Rudy was much better even though he’s still green.
He’s been my dream horse for as long as I can remember. I would always ride my pony by his pasture where he was at stud and fantasize about riding him. You can imagine my excitement when I received him as a present for my 12th birthday. Since then, I’ve showed him in a few local hunter/jumper shows and I even taught him to shake hands. He my best friend and definitely the best brother I could ask for!  -Tori McMahon, Internet



My horse, Migo Magic, a 26-year-old Arabian mare, is a special member of the family for many reasons. In her own way, she teaches every kid she meets everything they need to know about a horse. We got her for my older sister, Jess, when Magic was 16, but Magic was given to me when my sister out grew her. Magic is the type of horse who, even at an older age, can out run, out smart and out maneuver all the younger horses on the farm, making me the happiest girl in the world to own her.

The first time I took her to a horse show I was 8 years old and so scared that I was debating scratching my class, but my dad assured me Magic was a pro and would take care of me. She did just that, out of a class of 15-20 riders we trotted out of the show-ring with a third place ribbon. I was smiling from ear to ear. Magic had shown at Class A shows her whole life before we bought her, and she has taught me how to show and what to do. Any of my friends could hop on her and have a blast riding around the pasture. As a result, some of them have started talking about wanting to get horses of their own because of the joy and fun they had on Magic. My dad will even get on her now and then and go on a trail ride with me (which is quite a funny site since she is a small Arabian mare and he is 6 foot 1 inches tall.) After a scary riding accident, my mom was afraid to get on a horse. With Magic’s calm and loving nature the two of use persuaded Mom to go for a short ride. I boosted her up on Magic and away she went. I was so happy and so was my mom. Magic is a sincere member of the family for all of these reasons and more. We all love her very much. Even though she is now 26 and retired from being ridden, we still wouldn’t ever consider trading her for a younger horse.   -Tiffany Faughn, Missouri


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  • My horse is Beau Zeau. He is special because no one thought he could do anything, and wanted to make him Alpo. People these days are so used to having complete control they give up on anything that has power over them. Beau was very mistreated in the mouth and no one wanted to try to help him.So my mom bought him and we put him in an english hackmore. He now happily accepts the bit. All he needed was someone to love him. I have never met a horse with more personality! If he doesnt like something, he pushes it % Once I was talking aloud about how I d my saddle, and he picked up the saddle with his teeth and threw the saddle! He's definetly not a children's pony, but I love him!

  • My Horse Amira is a 21 year old Arabian, She IS the best horse around! Why do I think this? Well, when we got her, she had not been rode in many years. I really wanted a horse that I could just ride around the farm. She was a typical Arabian, and was a little flighty, after we worked with her for a summer, she became the most trustworthy horse that I have ever known! And you may think that at 11 years old I have not known many, well, that is not true, I ride Saddle seat and have rode many beautiful Arabians as well as many other types of horses. Amira can be trusted to first of all do almost anything I ask of her. She has more stamina than most young horses, we ride O Mok See (Games) and my old mare will outlast many of the others young horses. At the end of the day, we are usually not the fastest, but we are still there, while many others are trying to get their horses in the gate! I love my horse, she greats me every morning with a nicker, and is my best friend!

  • Abby is my baby, a 12 year old Arab mix. She was my 4H horse in high school. At age 3 I had her in parades with flags waving and sirens blaring. She took it all in stride. Horse shows, trail rides, giving other people lessons, and any stupid stuff I decide to try in the pasture - she puts up with it all. I saved for 4 years so that I could buy her and take her to college with me. She is my de-stressor. When I turn her loose on some back trail, she runs so fast my worries can't keep up. She got me thru undergrad and she'll get me thru grad school too! Also, she chased off a couple big dogs who were after my little pup. My hero!

  • Morgan is also such a special part of our family for many reasons. When a man my husband works with told him he was going to sell him at auction, my husband immediately bought him for me. Not only did we "rescue" him from an inevitable slaughter house, Morgan rescued me from my own type of slaughter. Unfortunately, I have a very bad case of depression which has crippled me in many ways. Morgan has turned my entire life around and actually saved my life on a few occasions. My husband got into some legal problems recently and, if it weren't for Morgan, I most certainly wouldn't be here to share my story as I have considered suicide since this has happened. Morgan allows me the opportunity to see the good things life has to offer and that there is a God; for it is God who brought Morgan and me together. I love being Morgan's human (because I truly believe it is Morgan who truly owns me, not the other way around) and know God brought us together and allows me to keep my sanity through all of life's tragedies.

  • Jennifer my 17 year old mare is a very big part of my life. I can tell her my thoughts and she will listen. She gives me advice even i ask her simething and she even tells me what to do. We understand each other. And is the trail isn't safe you can bet she won't go; she would buck me off before she would take me somewhere unsafe. Eversince my dad brought her home she is THE BEST FRIEND i have ever had!

  • My horse Jennifer is my BEST FRIEND. She listens to me and gives me answers to my problem. If i was crying she would come and nuzzle me. She understands me better than my parents. She is sure-footed and can smell danger a mile away.

  • I appreciate and enjoy reading about others relationships with their equine companions. I am steward to a herdlet of eleven beautiful equine souls. I love each and every one of them equally, yet differently. How can or does one "quantify" love? Love should't be about more or less but embracing the unique color or flavor we have with each of our loved ones. I don't know what I'd do without each and every member of "my" herd but am reassured that should something happen to one or more of them that the others will be there to comfort and console me. I guess I'm "in love" with equines, they are a fire that burns from the very center of my soul. They literally leave me "breathless" and I get "butterflies" in my stomach whenever I gaze upon the perfect beauty of most any equine...
    ~"This one creature I have found who mirrors my soul… to this creature alone do I give the mystery of who I am." - Author Unknown~

  • Jazzi is my first horse and is a very well trained Paint mare. She was 13, I was 41. We trail ride for now. My first instinct is to trust, her's is to question. I have learned to follow some of her instincts and she has learned to follow some of my experience. She can see and hear things that I can't and sometimes she has to trust me that these things won't hurt her. We work very well together. She has taught, I have learned and together this bonds us.

  • i love my 13.3hh 17 year old welsh pony crossed with quarter horse. he is just great. im 12 and have had him since i was 8. he is a bay pony. we love to play in the feild and do silly games while i ride. he is such a comedian. he love to follow me around too!! Mikey is the best pony in the entire world

  • Shotzie is a very very special member of my family... she is quiet, polite, gentle and willing to please you in any way you ask her. She is truly a lady. She is sweet to my 7 year old son and always watches out for him. She is patient and kind with him and is building my sons confidence beyond belief while learning how to ride. She is a wonderful teacher. She is truly a blessing to us and we will always cherish and appreciate her in every way , we all are definately best friends forever. We love her so much! She is the best!!

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