Equine Unrestrained

Akin to dogs and cats, the horse is super intelligent.

The special trust, unique to the horse,

elicits communication between this equine and human.

Yes! I was raised on a farm ~ born and dwelt until post-secondary education.

My father had 'work horses' ~ sometimes Clydesdales, Belgian or Percheron. When working the fields at planting and harvest seasons, my sister and I rode on the horses' backs while a pair of these equines pulled the plough and other machinery for tilling the soil...for cultivating...harvesting hay, grain or corn. These horses, gentle in nature...graceful in movement...and respectful of humans were subtly like dogs ~ becoming man's best friend!

When tractors became the wheels to implement on the farm,

Dad sold the horses and purchased a McCormick Deering tractor with huge-lugged-wheels to pull all his machinery as needed: the mower for cutting hay...placing it in withers to 'ripen in the sun' before storage in barn loft...then baling the alfalfa, was loaded onto a wagon and horse or tractor-pulled to be stored for over-the-winter- food needed for his milking cows. Guess who drove the horses and tractor?

One day, he brought home and introduced me to a handsome black horse ~ who had white 'leggings' and a white blaze on her face. Oh! What a beauty! In winter, when entering the stables, she whinnied for attention; her voice having a 'language' which interpreted, prompted us to name her Whistler.

When feeding her an apple or grain from my hand, her nose felt like velvet as she nibbled my palm.

Daily I visited her...we chatted together...and an equine-human relationship grew between us.

At Christmas one year, with a heavy snowfall...and being unable

to spend the celebration at my grandparents' home...

Dad and I harnessed Whistler...hung sleigh bells along her sides to jingle, jingle, jangle

and with a sleigh, Whistler trotted the snowy roads to the country homestead.

“Ritchie and Sundash”

When my daughter was young and energetic, I engaged her in various activities: gymnsastics, dance and music throughout school's holiday weeks. When school was out for the summer, a friend, Joan and I enrolled our daughters in a 2-week riding camp at local stables near Oakville along Hwy. 5.

With weekly riding lessons, soon my daughter competed in local pony/horse shows. It was then I realized the communication between a horse and its rider. We bought her a pony...appearing like a miniature Thoroughbred, he was named Richmond Rose...whom she called Ritchie.

Within a few years she yearned for a horse.

No problem selling Ritchie, 'cause parents with younger children wanted this pony for their child.

But Alas! Ritchie didn't perform well with a new rider...as I anticipated. And understanding, I knew the answer to their dilemma: It was the love and devotion between my daughter and her pony!

A most special trait which breeds success...it's called Communication!

Oh Yes! Jim, the stable owner, located a horse! Understand, dear readers, I didn't have $$$ to purchase an already trained horse...so he knew, we'd need to 'start from scratch'! Sundash was a pure-bred chestnut thouroughbred being trained as a track race-horse ~ but being very spirited, the 'starting gates' frightened her ~ forcing the owner to sell her. Jim knew that the only kids at his stables who could possibly train and ride Sundash were his own son, Neil and my daughter.

Daily, before any attempt to ride this chestnut, she had to be lunged

for 10 to 15 minutes prior to any attempt to ride her.

When calmness descended...the horse would permit a rider on her back.

It's not truly a secret ~ or a stroke of luck that this spirited horse

trusted her rider...for between the two of them, an understanding relationship developed.

The horse senses ~ and the horse knows!

Could this thoroughbred horse jump? Oh, Yes! She soared over equestrian fences like the Pro she is!

Her stall at the stables had a half/door open window...and when arriving, Sundash, recognizing her mount, would neigh...and their equine conversation would ensue. One day I snapped a photo...and having it enlarged, took it to a framing studio...the owner asked, “Is that a Bateman?”

To me, the beauty of this equine's head, neck and brown eyes that sparkled,

was the fly on Sundash's nose.

My inspiration to write this article, was a picture I discovered

 and placed in a scrapbook for my son, who also knows my horse infatuation.

The wild horse with flying hooves...windblown tail...and determined gait,

pounds down barren desert sand to the far horizon.

 And I ask, “Who could not love this horse?”

Since my son`s jobs are frequently out of town, 

he frequently takes along a scrap book 

displaying local `shots`of his escarpment home location.

In the coffee room, office personnel 

often comment about his geographic niche in Southern  Ontario.

And, of course, the wild horse photo captures their attention!

Written by Merle Baird-Kerr...June 29, 2019

Your views appreciated: mbairdkerr@bell.net