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Małgorzata Kuriata, Poland

Owner: Monika Gutnecht

Submitted by Lieke Wijnker

Spotlight Fotomomente

www.callyspictures.com

By Tyler McCrea, Ireland

This is my ex racehorse Duck. I waited 13 years to get a horse and as soon as I was 18, he came onto the cards. He came from having nothing to me giving him everything I had in return for the best friend one could ever ask for. He was my happy place and I could rely on him on them dull days. Such a character and a real mummy’s boy, followed me wherever I went no matter what the situation was.

I started him of in an arena and could trust him from the second day I had him. He was perfection to me. Amazing jumper for being a racehorse and never knowing anything else to hacking on the road and looking at cars as flies just. We had our moments, but we’d always make friends because sometimes this lad was my only friend.

Saturday two weeks ago, I was in doing the usual horse shopping for food etc and had rung a new yard to view for him. A few minutes after I had a phone call telling me he was lying in the field unable to move. I rushed up the road and broke down in tears when I seen my poor boy. He fell with colic the night before and wasn’t caught in time, but as soon as he realised it was me, he tried his best to get up.

It was no good; his legs had gave up. We tried everything with a vet but it was no use. Eventually hours after him laying across my knee I had to have him put to sleep. I’ve lost 5 friends and 4 within this year, but this was the biggest and hardest loss I have ever had to overcome. He was my rock. I had some very kind people offer me to ride their horses and the first day I rode a little white feather landed on me and later on my horseshoe necklace that I lost month’s prior to this fell at my feet out of my wardrobe. He is my dream horse, but he’s also my guardian angel.

Man Ja, Germany

Photo.Manija

Equi Photography

By Sheri Pagel, Texas

I love seeing all of the wonderful photos and beautiful (sometimes happy, sometimes sad) stories people have contributed and would love to tell you of my precious Rain, aka “Momma.” I inherited Rain - along with 2 other horses - from an elderly neighbor 3 years ago who could no longer care for Rain, her daughter (“Pretty Baby”) and a pasturemate (Mexico by Lead Rope). I caught this photo recently after a much needed rainstorm here in Central Texas.

Rain was used as a broodmare for 12 of her 14 years and never trained for anything against a halter to be held during breeding. Rain was skittish and wouldn’t let you touch anything, but her neck and shoulders. Now Rain finds me wherever I am and leans her whole body in for hugs and treats and knows exactly when I have had a rough day. She also knows when I am in a great mood because she backs right up to me and wants the dock of her tail scratched. If I walk away, she keeps backing into me until I scratch her.

She is my sweetheart and I can’t imagine life without her. Such a difference a little affection and attention can make in the life of a horse AND a human.

By Lindsay Madru, 23 from Massachusetts

This is my 13 year old American Quarter Horse Joe and I stopping for a quick photo while out riding the trails around our home. Going on six years together, Joe and I have surely had our share of ups and downs, but through it all, we have learned so much and we have become the best of friends and the best teammates. The trust and confidence we have in one another never fails to astound me. We ride some pretty treacherous trails and he always puts his trust in me, and I in him-no matter what the situation.

After a lot of hard work and practice, Joe had proven to be a champion in the show ring a time or two, but when we push for perfection in the ring, I can tell it strains our partnership and more so, I can tell it bores him; he isn’t his same sparky self that I have come to know and love out on the trail.

Over the years, I have learned that Joe will literally do anything to make me happy, and that includes monotonously plugging along in the ring, but what is it really worth? Win a couple of championships at the cost of your best friend’s spark and happiness-at the cost of your happiness? Worth it? I think not! No ribbon is more valuable than our friendship. After all, for me ribbons have always symbolized harmonious teamwork and a beautiful, utopian bond. I want to look back on the years spent with Joe and think “wow, we were so happy and we had so much fun!” not “wow, we won a lot of ribbons, but we sure were miserable in the process.”

Through it all, I have come to learn that it’s all about fun; if you and your horse aren’t happy and having fun, then you’re just wasting your time and you might as well hang it up! I want to go back to being that crazy, carefree little girl who took such joy in a good gallop through the woods on her best friend in the whole world. So here we are, six years later and a million priceless life lessons learned.

Happy trails