Today for Thursday Art-day we explore the working horse and their human relationship. The art featured showing several disciplines are by three very talented artists Willa Frayser from Virgina USA, Jill Vanstone from Queensland, Australia and Marian Duncan from New South Wales, Australia. All three are accomplished artists and clearly LOVE horse. Please enjoy their fabulous paintings and ponder how important it is to understand our equine friends.

Clearing the Vertical by Willa Frayser to see more www.willafrayserstudio.com

Isn’t the horse-human relationship wonderful. In the last several days I have reacquainted myself with some talented horses and riders and learnt a little about others. Often without realising everything we do with horses revolves around the relationship we have with them.

Harness Arabians by Jill Vanstone to see more www.jillvanstone.com

We train them to do specific tasks – stand still, load in a float, pull a carriage, take a rider, move over – the list is endless. The relationship you have with your horse is similar to every other relationship you have. However I read an interesting thought in that a horse is not a human, and a human is not a horse but curiously I’ve noticed in our culture we often associate not being a human as being something less than ourselves. Many struggle to understand this concept. Whether it is done unconsciously, the sooner we let this idea go, the sooner we can open ourselves up to a better relationship with our horses.

Nigel Kable & Levi by Marian Duncan to see more go to www.maduncan.com

Horses are a herd animal, so constantly engaged in relationships with other members of the herd. This herd relationship is natural to a horse and is something they want. As humans, we need understand this relationship and work at developing a real connection with our horse. Horses can be companions. In the past, people have travelled everywhere on them. Countries were conquered on the backs of horses. There are so many things that are perfect about horses the way they are put together, the way they move, their fluid bodies and shining coats, the way they smell, their velvet noses and ticklish ears. I find every one of them fascinating, different. Some horses are just simply magnificent. They are beautifully bred, handsome creatures with lots of attitude and character.

Doc’s Playtime & J.R. by Willa Frayser : www.willafrayserstudio.com

The relationship between man and horse is incredible to watch. With the rider holding reins, the horses seemed delicate, gentle and biddable creatures, with an clear understanding of what is expected. There is something within most of us that romanticises horses. Maybe it is, in part, because they still seem wild and also still possess their flight instinct. They are strong, sometimes frighteningly so. And people love to conquer them.

Harry Dale by Jill Vanstone : www.jillvanstone.com

It’s not for nothing that we use the term ‘breaking in’ to describe the process of how a young horse is turned into a riding horse. And yet some horses will always be unpredictable. if you are a rider you are aware of that. They are stronger than you are and if they want to get you off their back, they can.

Jessica Brown @C. Active by Marian Duncan : www.maduncan.com

And yet we fall in love with them. You can run away on a horse, you can go fast down hills and gallop along beaches, through the bush and over the countryside. You can cut cattle with them, jump them, perform intricate movements on them and race them. Sometimes going so fast tears run from your eyes. Horses are the ultimate escape. But when you are in true simpatico with your horse, you are a very happy person.