03/23/2021
It is true that there are more mustangs in BLM holding pens than homes for them. Let's rethink the value of a horse. Are they just for our riding pleasure and competitive spirit? I think not. A horse can bond with his/her owner and the owner can bond with the horse not because it wins ribbons or is a good trail horse. But, because it is a friend who likes to spend time with its human. Since I am no longer able to ride, I found that spending time grooming my horse, playing at liberty with him and walking out to the pasture to give him carrots is pleasurable. He always comes over whether or not he thinks I have food. He stands by the gate if I skip a day to visit him. He has other horse companions, but he wants to spend time with me. I like that. It gets me out of the house, walking, exercising (yes, mucking our stalls is exercise, its the yin and yang thing - although mucking really isn't all bad - who can resist that earthy smell?) and the whole family joins in. The cats run around and climb on posts, the dogs watch the show. My horse likes to walk in the woods with me. I enjoy this companionship. I enjoy it more than I enjoyed riding. Let's rethink horse ownership. It really is more than what my horse can do for me. It is low key exercise in the fresh air with a pal. Dogs are great but so are horses. How about it? Adopt a mustang as a pasture pet.
