If you ask anyone why they love horses it most definitely cannot be pinned down to just 1 reason (or even 5!).  There seems to be a special connection between humans and horses that has just always been there and is sometimes difficult to put into words. 

Here’s our top 5, although there are many more.

1.  Inspiration

Horses are beautiful!  They are noble and majestic, their movement is poetry in motion, think the opening credits of Anna Sewell’s Black Beauty 70’s TV series.  Horses have inspired artists and poets though out the ages.  They have been the inspiration for God like mythical creatures, Pegasus the legendary flying horse and of course every girl, young or old, loves a unicorn.

2.  Riding is great exercise and fun

Riding is one of the best kept fitness secrets, toning all muscle groups while riding and then toning them some more when mucking out, bathing, grooming, poo picking the field etc.  and the best bit is that you do all this while having fun.  Horses are social creatures and they encourage us to socialise, have fun and make new friends.

3.  Positive mental health

Horses are peaceful, gentle creatures and are naturally calming and relaxing which is why they have been used for so long in therapy.  They are often used in RDA (Riding for the Disabled) and Hippotherapy which utilises the movement of the horse to provide carefully graded sensory input to the rider. Read more about Hippotherapy here https://mstrust.org.uk/a-z/hippotherapy-and-therapeutic-horse-riding

Just being around a horse is soothing and makes you feel better.

4.  Horses are great teachers

You have to earn the respect of a horse!  They don’t care what you look like, how clever you are or how important your job is.

They teach us a sense of responsibility…a domesticated horse requires regular commitment and care as they are totally dependent on us for providing what they need.  They won’t understand if you just fancy a day off or a lie in and for the competitive rider there are fitness plans, water treadmills, physiotherapists, training to be scheduled in and then if it all goes wrong you need to be able to pick yourself up, dust yourself down and work towards the next competition.  All great life skills.

5.  Friendship

Anyone who has experienced a relationship with a horse will understand this.  There is a great bond between a horse and human including mutual respect and trust in each other.  They seem to be able to sense our mood and try their best to do as we wish, even if it does not seem natural for them.

Horses have been used through the ages to help us, there have been 5 equine recipients of the Dicken Medal for services in World War II.

Put quite simply, horses are the best, we love them and they are good for us!