The Benefits of Horse Ownership Go Beyond Riding
Today I walked my far fields, skirted the woods my husband and I planted decades ago, and soaked in a few moments of one of the last sunny days of the year. The grass was damp from a recent rain, but the path was dry; it wasn’t cold and it wasn’t hot. It was a perfect fall day. The sky was a deep blue without a cloud in sight and a slight breeze blew out of the north, bringing a chill to the air. At one point I looked up and saw cottonwood leaves falling in a swirl of green and gold—nature’s dance at the changing of the seasons—and above the trees a red-tailed hawk flew slow circles.
I walked my fields, instead of riding, because my three horses are all currently out of commission. My 6-year-old, Gus, has some kind of gut issue that has the vet scratching his head. We’re treating for ulcers and keeping our fingers crossed. My 14-year-old Lusitano, Exo, has a serious congenital back defect that makes riding painful and dangerous, and my 22-year-old Quarter horse, Gunner, who has given me so much joy as a riding horse, has just recovered from a bout of laminitis. Although he’s sound now, he’s recently been diagnosed with a heart issue that makes riding him out of the question.
Horse ownership can be discouraging at times, but that’s the nature of the animal (and life in general). With the highs come the lows. It’s important to remember the benefits of having horses go beyond the joy of riding them: the rural lifestyle, the open fields, the time spent in solitude, the relationships we make, and the lessons we learn are just some ways horses benefit us.
I hope you enjoy our issue this month. I’m always moved emotionally by our Senior Horse Essay Contest. Reading the submissions is a privilege, and I relate to the love and appreciation people have for their older horses, though I struggle to choose the winners. I hope everyone who submitted an entry knows they’ve already won a prize by being fortunate enough to love a horse.
See this article in the November/December 2023 online edition:
Colorado Horse Source Magazine’s November/December Issue 2023 IS HERE!
Kim Roe grew up riding on the family ranch and competed in Western rail classes, trail horse, reining, working cow, and hunter/jumper. She trained her first horse for money at 12 years old, starting a pony for a neighbor.
Kim has been a professional dressage instructor in Washington state for over 30 years, training hundreds of horses and students through the levels. In recent years Kim has become involved in Working Equitation and is a small ‘r’ Working Equitation judge with WE United.
Kim is the editor of the Northwest Horse Source Magazine, and also a writer, photographer, and poet. She owns and manages Blue Gate Farm in Deming, Washington where she continues to be passionate about helping horses and riders in many disciplines.