The day a horse chose me

An approximate recreation of when my mare was sniffing me. I had no cameraman with me, so this illustration is it.

Welcome to Horse Bud! This is a space where we celebrate the magic of connection with horses — through my own stories, through the voices of others, and even through the surprising friendships horses form with other animals. From everyday riders to well-known names who’ve shared their hearts with horses, every bond has something to teach us.

I’m beginning by sharing some of my own experiences, hoping that as I open up, others will feel inspired to share their stories too. To start, I’d love to tell you about the first time I realized a horse had truly chosen me.

I grew up around horses. Since the time I was two years old, they’ve been part of my life — their presence, their scent, their quiet wisdom. But it wasn’t until I was in my late teens that I felt something deeper than I ever imagined possible: the day a horse chose me.

She was a rescue. Her past was full of shadows and uncertainty: many owners, abandonment, rumors that she bit. No one really knew the whole story. What I did know was that she carried wounds. When she came into my life, I was told to be careful with her, that she might lash out. But from the very beginning, she never bit me.

One afternoon, as I was grooming her, something extraordinary happened. She lowered her head to my feet and began to slowly, deliberately sniff her way up my body — all the way to my face. I froze, nervous. She didn’t know me well, and I didn’t want to risk being bitten. But instead of pushing her away, I chose to trust.

And then — the moment that still brings tears to my eyes — after she smelled my face, she rested her head gently on my shoulder. She stayed there, breathing with me, as if we both knew we’d found something rare. I let the brush slip from my hand and wrapped my arms around her. We melted into a long, quiet hug. It was the first time I felt the pure, unguarded love of a horse, given freely.

That was the day she chose me.

For a while, we shared a beautiful chapter together — just the two of us, all love and play. But life took me abroad for my studies. I wasn’t able to be there as much as she needed, and horses don’t understand human obligations. All she knew was that I kept leaving. She became pregnant, and after giving birth, her biting returned. But even then, I could feel the thread of our bond: she would warn me three times before biting, a courtesy she gave to no one else. In her own way, I believe she was saying, I remember you. I love you. But you hurt me too.

That’s when I realized something many people overlook: horses feel everything. Love, joy, grief, abandonment, betrayal, fear, trauma. They are not just animals we ride or train — they are beings with rich emotional lives, mirrors of our own humanity.

This first horse taught me that connection with a horse isn’t something we take. It’s something they give, when we’re willing to listen, to trust, and to open ourselves to their hearts.

I will carry that first magical hug with me forever. And I hope more people in the horse world begin to see what I saw that day: horses are sensitive, soulful, and capable of the deepest bonds — if only we let them choose us.

Thank you for being here for my very first post on Horse Bud! This journey is just starting, and I’ll be sharing more of my own stories, as well as stories from others — people like you, and even a few familiar faces whose lives have been touched by horses. Horses connect us in unexpected ways, and I can’t wait to keep growing this space into a circle of shared stories and heartfelt bonds.

In loving memory of my first horse, Ista-Wí, who showed me that horses truly choose us.