Being new to “all things horses,” I jumped at the invitation to see a friend’s small herd of miniatures. We arrived at his small corral in the early evening about the time when he would be setting out their feed. I brought along my two elementary kids and we cautiously stepped into the center of the corral at the owner’s wave forward. The horses seemed to be uninterested in us until one neighed and started to trot in a circle around us. Suddenly, there was an electricity that passed through the seven horses and we were the center of attention. They formed a line, following the leader, and then enclosed us in a complete circle as they kicked up an excited trot around our speechless group. With the sun glinting off their backs, manes streaming, they stretched out in a full run, around and around us in obvious glee. The dust rose up to our necks in a fine mist as they swirled and our small circle matched their turns to catch every majestic move. We had been invited as friends into their space, and ended up in the inner circle.
Finally, they slowed and went back to disinterest, but as the sun shone through the dust and drifted down to our feet, I felt we shared a secret. I blinked in amazement. In the five minutes of their excited welcome to us, I gained a new respect for the connection between people and these incredible creatures. I understood why owners sacrificed and loved their horses like a family member. The experience showed me that these beautiful animals bring us inspiration and wonder at any unpredictable moment. And we don’t want to miss a single one. We’ll always be back for more. Ellen
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