What it Takes: Finding a Pal

Legend has it that I've wanted a horse since before I could walk. I probably even asked for a pony for my birthday a time or two. The thing is, you can't just go to a pet shop and buy a horse. Even if you could, horses require special living quarters, and a lot of care.

The next best thing I could do was find a friend with a horse. I was lucky to meet Nan Taverna and to have her invite me to meet her horse, which she stables at Craig & Bonnie Voigt's barnyard outside of town.

Pal, a 14 ½ year old quarter horse quickly became my new best friend. Nan has been working with him nearly his whole life, and she assured me that he was a gentle and patient animal who wouldn't mind the antics of a 10-year-old boy.

Over the course of an afternoon, Nan showed me what it takes to care for an animal this size. A horse pal's size weighs around a thousand pounds and lives to be 30 years old. Talk about commitment.

Pal spends his days either in the stable or out with his friends in the pasture. Horses are social animals who feel the safest in a herd. Usually the herd leader is a mare or female. Horses are like children. They need discipline, care, and trust- lots of trust.

Horses will only behave as well as they are taught. This is why you can establish dominance over the horse. Nan explained it's all about safety, as an animal this size could easily cause damage to a human.

Caring for horses is an important job, because you learn to establish a bond and communicate. Also horses need a lot of care, so you don't have time to get depressed!

When humans domesticated horses 6,000 years ago, they had no idea just how important horses would become in history. The use of domestic horses began in central Europe and eventually became worldwide. Over time, the horse has been used in many ways: herding, warfare, transportation, communication, agriculture, trade, sport, competition, and recreation. Without horses, we might not be where we are in society.

Horses even fought in battle. Greek conqueror and horseman Alexander the Great led a mounted cavalry – which was easily and quickly maneuvered in battle. By adopting the horse, Alexander the Great became far more successful than any other conqueror of his time.

Horses also made it possible to travel further distanc

es. Humans walk at a rate of about 4 miles per hour. The horse trots at twice that rate and can gallop at up to 35 miles per hour for shorter distances. A healthy horse can cover as much as 100 miles in a day!

These days, horses are enjoying an era of leisure. With automobiles available, most people don't choose to ride a horse to work. Anyway, most places of business don't offer a hitching post any more. As a result, keeping horses has become a hobby or specialized sport.

One thing that hasn't changed is that horses need a lot of care. Nan explained that they rely on their owners for just about everything. They always want to eat. When they are in the pasture, the grass is plentiful, but in the stable they need to be fed oats.

This time of year, flies are atrocious, and Pal would agree. Horses seem to be plagued by flies, especially around the eyes. Pal is certainty appreciative when Nan uses a special spray to deter the bugs. He also wears a special head covering when he is out to help protect his eyes.

Nan taught me all the steps that are required in preparing a horse for saddling. I thoroughly brushed Pal to make sure he didn't have any uncomfortable bits stuck in his hair. We also checked his horseshoes. Nan even explained how professionals called farriers put on and remove the horseshoes. The horse's hoof is a lot like our fingernails, so the horseshoes don't hurt them at all. In fact, they protect the animal's feet when walking on the pavement.

When looking at the shoes, we found that a bit of mud and manure had packed into his foot, so we scraped it clean, which made for a more comfortable horse, I'm sure.

Next was the saddling, and let me just say, saddling is not as easy as it seems. The first thing to put in place is a cushion to protect the horse from the weight and wear of the saddle.

Next is the harness and reins, which help to guide the horse. Nan explained that horses move away from pressure. This means that the pressure a rider applies from the reins influences which direction the horse will move. This isn't to say they are easy to steer- oh no. As I worked with Pal, he was easily distracted by the grass on the ground, the apples on the tree and his buddies in the pasture, but still we got along okay.

I have a much better understanding of what it takes to care for horses- communication, patience, forethought, strength and confidence.