Sunday, January 17, 2010

How Do You Consider Your Horses ?

I know this seems like a strange question but it refers to how we think of our horses.

When we go out or come home the first thing Callie does is to check the girls ( Kola and Misty ), now I think the best way I can describe the way we look at our horses is "as members of the family"., where as we consider our dogs and cats as Pets and members of the family

I also remember some 20 plus years ago watching a BBC documentary on real cowboys, those guys who spent most of their time on horseback on the range, and one of the questions the interviewer asked them was how they thought of their horses and the general consensus was that while on the range they thought of their horses as their best friends because they trusted the horses natural ability to sense danger.

What Do You Think ?


Looking forward to Spring it should only be ?? weeks away

Steve

8 comments:

Jean said...

My horses are family, no doubt about it, as are my cats. I never quite think of them exactly as animals either--at least not in spirit. I think it's their minds and personalities I notice more than anything, although I am in constant awe about the physical differences that make them so much more able to adapt to the world than I am.

Mrs. Mom said...

They are animals, but well, family members at the same time. The big, hairy family members. (Not like that Crazy Uncle that lives in the basement and you can't let small children near him either kind of family) ;)

I know its time for a breather when we - as equine service providers- drive down the road, spot a horse in the field, and only see potential income- not the horse.

Katharine Swan said...

Oh yes, my horse is definitely a member of the family -- not to mention my best friend and soulmate. We also have two cats and two dogs that we consider to be family members, too.

cdncowgirl said...

My horses are members of my family, my kids (along with the dogs and cats) They are also my best buddies :)

Nuzzling Muzzles said...

Family, definitely. I'm reading a book now where people stopped at farms to swap their spent horses out for fresh horses. It blows me away how the could be so unattached, treating horses like nothing more than transportation. People are even more attached to their cars than that now.

The comment about the horses sensing danger is interesting. On one trail ride I had on Bombay, he balked big time as we were approaching a thickly wooded area. I decided to trust him and turn around to go back the other way. His reaction made my hair stand on end. I promised him I'd never force him to walk into a bear's den.

Fantastyk Voyager said...

My horses are definitely like family, just as my dogs and cats are. They are my best friends. I can also know that after a bad day my horses will cheer me up, they'll listen to my problems, and they'll never let me down like human friends often do.

WOTD- grand

Callie said...

And gals? Don't let Stephen fool you. He won't admit it but he often addresses the girls as "darling"........hee hee Well, Misty is dalring and Kola is dipstick, LOL

Pony Girl said...

Hi Ladies! I just found your blog and love it. I consider myself a "Mother of Four"...2 dogs, 1 cat, and 1 horse. My "Furry Four-Legged Children"