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Even horses need hugs…after a difficult dressage test this horse seems to be enjoying his hug! Dressage is a real test of control for both the horse and rider and although it seems to look effortless and easy there is a tremendous amount of work going into the combination to ensure success. In fact if you watch a dressage rider and their horse and it looks effortless then they have succeeded! It is a display of all the paces a horse needs to master including walk, trot and canter although these are just the basic paces most people associate with riding and there are many more difficult movements that the horse is required to perform including extended trot and counter canter. The rider should always remain almost static with very little movement coming from the body arms or legs, as if the horse needs no instruction and is performing the test from memory, something which the riders sometimes suffer with – memory loss half way through the test! But this combo performed to perfection, smooth flowing and rhythmical, in tandem, perfectly together, a well deserved celebratory hug!

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Simple, beautiful, the horse. Having owned horses in the past I came to have a small understanding of these beautiful animals and yet they still hold so much fascination for me. Once you have formed a bond with a horse you never forget what it meant at the time, they are not just simple animals to be used and abused as we humans see fit. They have great character and kindness within and if treated well will repay you with service and spirit. Having owned several horses they each had their own personalities, quirks, likes and dislikes, they are not so different from us. They too have their bad days and good days, moods and moments, but still they surrender their wild ways and conform to the saddle, the bit, they learn the commands of the riders hands and legs and display skills as asked of them. From the smallest pony to the largest heavy horse these creatures have served us for thousands of years, through war and famine, for pleasure and out of necessity, they have worked underground in mines and reached the top of their game in horse racing, show jumping, eventing, and every other human pursuit whilst carrying their master to glories attained. Yet they are still subject to terrible abuse and neglect born of human greed and selfishness. The next time you find yourself in the company of an equine just pause for a moment and consider where we would be without this gift from God…….Although the image is not my horse the post is for Spring Mischief better known as Missy, my wonderful Connemara Arab who I still miss dearly.

 

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Whilst on a mission (and if I told you Id have to kill you lol!) for a little photo project that Im working on I spotted these 2 chaps who by the looks on their rather long faces had obviously spotted me! Now it was lunchtime when I took this shot and I guess you could say that by standing knee high in the ditch on the side of a main road balancing on a branch of a tree to get some height over the hedge and waving my 300mm lens through the surrounding foliage I was probably interrupting their lunch! Can I also add at this point that the hedge had rather long thorns and the fence was electric! Maybe they were waiting for the moment when I overbalanced and came into contact with the fence, not sure horses can laugh……but they definately look like they were wondering just what I was doing!