EponasDevotee
Esteemed Citizen of ZV
This is something that came across my feed on social media that I found eloquently expresses what it means to be a committed equine keeper/steward. IMO the term 'horses' applies to ALL equines (donkeys, hinnies, horses, mules, zebras, et al.) An equine should be more than a sex 'object', they should be companions, lovers AND life partners. Herein is another reason for my dislike of those (e.g., bestialists/fetishists) that are only interested in equines for their sexual 'talents'...
A life with horses is different than boarding a horse at a barn.
A life with horses is different than volunteering at a stable.
A life with horses is different than going to a one hour lesson once or twice a week.
A life with horses is different than being a feeder or a barn manager at a facility
A life with horses is different than donating money to some backyard rescue who purchases horses from a kill pen in the name of "rescuing"
A life with horses is different than being a "trainer" at someone else's facility and getting a check.
Its different when you have your own horses in your backyard or down the road, you are solely responsible for the upkeep, vet bills, feed bill, hay bill, farrier bill. When you have your own mode of transportation to haul your horse and can put them in a trailer and haul them wherever you want too, it is different. When it is freezing outside and you know you have to getup and go out to feed YOUR animals, because no one else will, it's different. When you are running a 103 degree fever, but your horse needs hay, and you have to go get it anyways, it's different. When it is you responsible for fixing a broken fence in the middle of a thunder storm because you are responsible for your horse, it's different. When you are buying multiple tack for multiple horses,it's different. When you are the one who has to work your problem horse, and "get it right", it's different. When you get a 4am call from your neighbor saying your horse is out and you have to go in pajamas and wrangle all of your horses in the middle of the night, its different. When you are filthy, tired and sore and come in at night, but get no sleep because you can't remember if you turned the water off or not, and have to go back, it's different.
THIS is LIFE WITH HORSES. No amount of"formal education" or weekly hour lessons can prepare you for LIFE WITH HORSES. It's lifestyle, not a hobby.
Many days, I wish I boarded one horse at a facility. It would be so nice to make a weekly visit and love on my animal, knowing someone else was feeding him. However, THAT would be different to me, and not the lifestyle I chose.
A life with horses is different than boarding a horse at a barn.
A life with horses is different than volunteering at a stable.
A life with horses is different than going to a one hour lesson once or twice a week.
A life with horses is different than being a feeder or a barn manager at a facility
A life with horses is different than donating money to some backyard rescue who purchases horses from a kill pen in the name of "rescuing"
A life with horses is different than being a "trainer" at someone else's facility and getting a check.
Its different when you have your own horses in your backyard or down the road, you are solely responsible for the upkeep, vet bills, feed bill, hay bill, farrier bill. When you have your own mode of transportation to haul your horse and can put them in a trailer and haul them wherever you want too, it is different. When it is freezing outside and you know you have to getup and go out to feed YOUR animals, because no one else will, it's different. When you are running a 103 degree fever, but your horse needs hay, and you have to go get it anyways, it's different. When it is you responsible for fixing a broken fence in the middle of a thunder storm because you are responsible for your horse, it's different. When you are buying multiple tack for multiple horses,it's different. When you are the one who has to work your problem horse, and "get it right", it's different. When you get a 4am call from your neighbor saying your horse is out and you have to go in pajamas and wrangle all of your horses in the middle of the night, its different. When you are filthy, tired and sore and come in at night, but get no sleep because you can't remember if you turned the water off or not, and have to go back, it's different.
THIS is LIFE WITH HORSES. No amount of"formal education" or weekly hour lessons can prepare you for LIFE WITH HORSES. It's lifestyle, not a hobby.
Many days, I wish I boarded one horse at a facility. It would be so nice to make a weekly visit and love on my animal, knowing someone else was feeding him. However, THAT would be different to me, and not the lifestyle I chose.
