Arabian Horse

by Paula
(Quebec)

This photo of my aging Arabian horse “Vanna” was taken this spring; she was enjoying the new sprouts of fresh green vegetation. Our 200 acre farm is in southern Quebec, Canada, close to the US border.

I took this picture because my son was working on a school project entitled “Signs of Spring”. We walked into the woods and took photos of everything new and green, even bugs!

Vanna had endured a long winter of grazing only on hay with an occasional treat of grain and carrots, and sometimes an apple or two for good measure.

I love the earthly sight of a grazing horse, the happy feeling I get when I look at Vanna out my back window. This just urges me to go outside, snap some photos and spend precious time with her.

During the late 1980’s Vanna was a young, spry mare, ready to leap over fallen branches as if they were five foot equestrian jumps. When I’d ride her on the trail loop we both couldn’t have been more contented. I even anticipated her sudden jumps with exhilaration and giddiness.

Riding her had been a pleasure; she had a very comfortable gait and was always in good humor (very strange behavior for an Arabian horse).

Nonetheless, this soon came to an end when chronic lameness started attacking her. Treatments were administered for the pain but she could no longer be ridden; having extra weight on her back would be agonizing and cruel.

Since the early 90’s she has been “out to pasture” and enjoying life on the farm. She is still a pleasure though, just looking at her gives me and my children immense joy.

She is always friendly towards the kids; however it is probably in part because they often bring out treats for her!