This is such a beautiful animal... until the advent of the machine the horse was as plentiful (almost) as the dog, and certainly man's best friend.

V.

It's also so wonderful to go up to these huge creatures and hold out your paw to give them apples. The lady in the photo wouldn't even eat it whole; she took bites and expected it to be held up until she was finished. Ended up with horse spit all over my hands, my camera, my clothes ...

That sounds great. And a much better bonding experience than if the critter just went CHOMP and left.

Our relationship with these animals changed human ideas time and distance forever. We are as changed by them as they are by us. We can not go through a day with out encountering some legacy of that relationship even now.

(yes I ride)

I wonder how you test weather or not any particular horse will tolerate a person vaulting into the saddle over their rump?

"I meant to do that. We are an acrobatic teem."

"Yes that was a nice reverse 360 off the horse's rump. Until you hit the barn!"