There really is nothing quite like owning a horse. I got my first horse when I was fifteen. At twenty, I found myself without a horse and with no way to buy one. I started catch riding, and eventually got riding jobs. For a few years, I exercised and trained horses along with teaching riding lessons. I loved it. Yet, it was still not quite the same as owning my own horse. When I rode so many different horses all the time, I never experienced an actual bond with any of them. Sure, I liked some more than others but there really is nothing like the bond between horse and owner. The bond that slowly develops as they trust each other more and more – which can take years. I am starting to feel it when I ride Chance. We are in sync more often than not. He knows what I want before I ask him. We listen to each other, and we are finally beginning to really trust one another. It seems to have taken longer to develop a bond with him than with my past horses. Perhaps it is because I bought him to be a sale horse and I never thought of him as being “mine” until recently. Or maybe it is simply that we did not trust each other for a long time. Regardless, I have recently been reminded of how great it is to own my own horse. Besides our rides being so much better, it is precious when he whinnies at me when I show up at the barn; or when he gives me “neck hugs.” I do not know much about his background, but I am pretty sure that I am his first real owner; I believe he was always a sale horse that was not handled much. He certainly seems to enjoy his new life of getting a lot of attention and affection. And I am enjoying owning a horse 🙂