We love our horses so much at HorseBack. We admire them, because they do such valuable and meaningful work – with veterans, with serving men and women, with young people. They help people with life-changing injuries and those who are struggling with mental or physical pain.
They do this work with great generosity of spirit. We obviously train them very intensely for their job; we pay a huge amount of attention to keeping them healthy and happy and balanced in their minds and in their bodies. But no amount of training would work if the horses did not have brave hearts and a willing and open sense of self. We are, essentially, working with absolutely brilliant creatures, who are kind and friendly and intelligent. That wonderful fact fills our days with sunshine.
They’ve come to us in different ways – some carefully chosen, some arriving by chance, some rescued and given a second chance. Some were donated, by people who support us in our mission. Some are part of the HorseBack breeding programme, as we think of the next generation who will replace the ones who are growing old.
Every horse who comes here has a home for life. We believe that the least we can do for these beautiful animals, who give so much, is to offer them a gentle and merry retirement, with their herd, up on their Scottish hill. We would never cast them aside, just because their work is done. They deserve their rest, and they shall have it until their very last breath.
Most of all, we adore spending time with them. They are really nice people. They bring a smile to every face they meet. They are funny and idiosyncratic and interesting.
We love the fact that they touch lives and change lives. They have brought human beings back from the brink. In their quiet way, they are profoundly transformative. Like all nice people, they bring pleasure and joy with them – to the whole team here, who see them every day, and to the people they have helped over the years.
They are so much more than just horses. And we feel gratitude to them which goes beyond words.
