Saddle Up.

Horses evolved over 50M years ago from a small, forest dwelling, multi-toed browser called Eohippus to what we know today as a large, single toed, grazing beauty. 

A dog may be man's best friend but the horse wrote history. - Anon

First domesticated 4000 years ago in what is now Ukraine, the horse was initially a food source and then adapted to use in agriculture, transport and warfare. Now horses are used for recreation, sport and breeding.

A horse gallops with his lungs, perseveres with his heart, and wins with his character.  - Federico Tesio

Their courage, spirit, strength and intelligence were immortalised in such films including The Black Stallion, Black Beauty, War Horse, The Man from Snowy River and Hidalgo.  While every little girl knows the heroine is always swept away on the back of an elegant steed from Spirit to Donkey. 

Horses lend us the wings we lack. - Pam Brown

We fantasize the freedom of the horse galloping across expansive plains however in reality only 1000 truly wild horses remain in Mongolia. The Przewalski Horse was virtually extinct, down to 12 and since 1960 through selective breeding has reached a precarious 1000 in number.

Mustangs (140,000) in the USA and brumbies (400,000) in Australia are feral horses who descend from domesticated stock. Currently the Bureau of Land Management in the USA is undergoing a massive cull in order to manage their numbers.  Isn’t it ironic that a treasured icon becomes dog food. 

They provide peace and tranquillity to troubled souls, they give us hope. - Toni Robinson

Equine therapy programs are based on the horse’s unconditional positive regard. Simply their presence and touch calms clients inviting them to confront difficult emotions.

A horse is the projection of peoples' dreams about themselves–strong, powerful, beautiful–and with the capability of giving us escape from our mundane existence.-  Pam Brown   It is the horse's gift to connect us with Heaven and our own footsteps. - Ronni Sweet

As we enter the year of the horse I invite you to saddle up, take the reins and have the courage, strength and determination to gallop into your future.

No hour of life is wasted that is spent in a saddle. - Winston Churchill