Home Is

Home is the sound of his hoof beats pelting the soft clay as we gallop through the woods of Cranberry glades in the midst of the golden hour. We blaze past deep under brush, soar over fallen logs, and weave through trees. I loosen the reins and he opens his stride, galloping faster and farther, until the greenery passing by becomes more of a blur. Adrenaline pulses through our veins, as I feel him urge to increase speed. My legs glue around his saddleless barrel, my hands grip his wild blonde mane, and my lungs open, taking in the fresh air. This is our freedom. Him, free from the hierarchy of his pastured herd and I, free from the expectations and judgement from my family or friends. No one can tell us what to do, because in the glades there is no one but us and the creatures who shy at the sound of our pounding hooves. It is just him and I, a seemingly unstoppable force stampeding through the forest, our minds and bodies are one. Our souls sync and at that moment I know I am where I belong, I am home. My horse and I find solace in each other, our trust bound by an unspoken knowing. I give him the freedom to choose and he gives me the freedom to lead.

In caring for my horse, Homeward, I developed my ability to instinctually think of the needs and wants of others as well. For eleven years, he has relied on me for the tender love and devoted care that would ensure both his physical and mental wellbeing. I had viewed his reliance upon me to satisfy his needs as my only source of tangible control—a concrete purpose. I firmly believed that the love I have for him, is strikingly similar to the love shared between a mother and her child. I have dedicated to spending hours each week at the stables to care for this incredible animal. It was through Homeward that I had the opportunity to learn the true meaning of love and loyalty. He was the one I leaned on when I let the harsh words of my peers get the best of me, he was the one who rested his head in my arms until the hurt I felt vanished from my thoughts, and he was the one who never left my side when I took a fall. When my grandmother named Homeward, she had envisioned that one day, if I was ever to be lost, he would bring me back to the farm. Little did she know that anytime we are together, I am never lost. I am always home.