Horse owner acquantances fall into 2 categories.
The horse person...
And
The non horse person.
The Horse person knows the difference between a bridle
and a halter...
What a hoof pick is...
And which end the combo piece of the rug goes.
They are the ones you call when your horse goes through a
fence...
Gets injured...
And arrive bearing all essentials including pain relief.
The horse person is the one who takes turns walking a
colicking horse....
Speaks to the vet...
And is your voice of reason when you cannot be.
When given baling twine...
The Horse person morphs into a modern day MacGyver...
There is nothing they cannot fix.
They examine poop with you..
Hold torches for you....
And have a wardrobe with one section dedicated to
"Paddock Fashion".
During the summer months a horse person's choice of makeup
is dirt and sweat...
With numerous "beauty" spots...
Also known as flies.
The horse person has a tack shed that to an outsider
looks like a tangled mess of ropes and leather...
But not to them....
They are able to put their hand on exactly what they need
in a heartbeat.
When asked...
"Can you just check the horses on the way
past?"
The horse person knows this means....
Check the water..
Check the fenceline...
Check the gates shut..
And check for injuries.
The horse person lives by...
"The Survival guide of the bush"....
The horse will always kick...
The bull will always charge...
And the gun is always loaded.
Remember those rules and life will be a little easier.
When greeted by flattened ears from a mare in season..
The horse person will casually walk right up and say....
"Mornin' Darlin' is that the best you've got."
The horse person is often covered in scrapes and bruises
with blisters on their hands...
They will be sore where you didnt think it would be
possible to be sore....
And quite often have a broken bone or two.....
Mention a Doctor and the response will be
"Nah she'll be right".
They are the ones who take note of wind changes thru
bushfires...
And message you telling you that the float is hooked up
and they are on their way to get your horses out.
The horse person knows what Psyllium is used for....
And the importance of salt.
They can rattle off every worming paste they have ever
used on the horses.
And the date of the next treatment...
But ask them when they last had a personal health
check...
You will be met with a blank stare.
And whilst they are there for all of the good days...
They are also there for the hardest.
The horse person will make the call when you cannot...
And offer to hold the lead rope as you say goodbye.
They will know whether to stand by your side...
Or give you the space that you desire...
But either way...
It'll be done as their own silent tears roll down their
face.
And whilst the horses will always be our herd.
It is the ones we call a "horse person"...
Who will always be our tribe🌿
