for the love of a horse

For those of you who have ever loved another species, their death nearly breaks your heart. My friend, Sally, lost her Arabian gelding this past week. I loved him too. We can barely talk about it. His name was Adar Ibn.

Born in Texas, he moved to Colorado with his mom, which is where we met. For years, we rode together under the shadow of the North Table Mesa.

Over the years I’ve known them, I have photographed this wonderful, impish spirit.

Ibn could jump the moon, handle a trail ride, and would tolerate young riders of differing abilities.

When his legs began to show weakness, he was ‘retired’, but someone forgot to tell him!

He leapt in the Easter snow and irreverently tossed off his mom’s jacket.

They played well together.

He was a credit to his breed, an Egyptian Arabian. He was beautiful.

Today, I am too sad to be brilliant, but here are some who are:

“The horse, with beauty unsurpassed, strength immeasurable and grace unlike any other, still remains humble enough to carry a human upon his back.” — Amber Senti

“The air of heaven is that which blows between a horse’s ears.” — Arabian Proverb

“When your horse follows you without being asked, when he rubs his head on yours, and when you look at him and feel a tingle down your spine… you know you are loved.”

— John Lyons

The Horse

by Robert Duncan*

Where in this wide world can
man find nobility without pride,
friendship without envy or beauty
without vanity? Here, where
grace is laced with muscle, and
strength by gentleness confined.

He serves without servility; he has
fought without enmity. There is
nothing so powerful, nothing less
violent, there is nothing so quick,
nothing more patient.

*Ronald Duncan was an English horse breeder and writer. He particularly loved Arabian horses.

“If you have gained the trust of a horse, you have won a friend for life.” — Unknown

My heart is with you, Sally.