Walking On Volume 3, Issue 9, October 2016 | Page 6

The “VALUE” of a Horse
By Ashley Pigford
So, can a horse choose a person? Those of us “horsey”
folks undoubtedly know the answer is yes! How is it that
when we are looking to buy a horse, we innately seem to
know when we’ve found “the one?” I believe it’s because
we somehow can sense when our horse has “chosen” us.
The bond between horse and human is a very powerful and unique relationship that only those who’ve
experienced can truly appreciate and understand. It can,
in fact, have a life-changing affect on someone. Many
horsemen are familiar with the famous quote by Sir
Winston Churchill, “there is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.” Now,
my husband and other “non-horsey” folk would add to
this, “and bad for the pocketbook” ...sound familiar anyone? In their defense, it’s hard to understand the value of
the horse-human bond without ever experiencing it.
Despite the “expense” of a horse “hobby,” those of
us lucky enough to experience this intense bond will
become better people because of it. “Deep pockets”
become a second thought and easily justified when realizing in the “grand scheme of things” the invaluable life
lessons we learn from a horse we’ve grown close to. The
value of this special relationship extends well beyond superficial logic. The value of this relationship can change
the very soul of a person for the better! Horses have the
power to teach us the value of teamwork,
discipline, dedication, loyalty, selflessness,
trust, work-ethic, pride in accomplishing
goals, listening skills, communication
skills, patience, respect, conquering fear,
and most importantly humility and love!
Out of curiosity, I recently Google’d the
value of a horse. What I found amazed me
and inspired me to write this. I found the
“non-horsey” definition...
“ They can help with people riding the
horse to get work done. They are also a
good way of transportation, also very
small ponies can be used as guide horses
for the blind they also help with rehabilitating people who have been hurt. They
used to help plow land, before they had
tractors.” ....
6 • Walking On
©BRYCE WALKER

Wow, how limited this is! Horses have so much more
value than just what is on the surface. But then again, I
guess the reason I’m able to recognize this is because I’ve
been “taught” by horses to look beyond the surface. To
find value in what others’ would discard as useless. I’ve
been lucky enough to experience horse bonds with the
type of horses that most wouldn’t give a second thought
to and pass off as useless.
What I’ve discovered that I wish to share with others
is that truly, it’s the most “useless” horses that can turn
out to be the most priceless! The one’s which can have a
lasting effect on one’s life and be the motivating force behind success. The inspiration to keep moving forward!
The secret to “value” in a horse is the bond between
horse and human. If you find a horse who likes you,
who chooses you, then that horse will burst his heart
and soul for you! This same horse may not be one tenth
as talented with another person or rider, but is indeed, a
horse of another color with the one he’s chosen!
I’d like to challenge all horse people to take the test.
Take a closer look at the “value” of a horse next time
you’re in a position to purchase one. Look beyond the
surface, and take note of the horse’s reaction to you. Are
you being chosen? If you feel this bond, take a chance
on a horse that logic would otherwise cause you to walk