LOVE is in the Air

By Dr. Melody Campbell February 2021
Have you ever wondered why we love the PARD boys so much? We even love Doc despite the number of ruined blankets that we have to purchase for Stormy over the winter! The human-horse bond has a very long and varied history. Horses have served humanity as a means of transportation during war and peace times. They have partnered with humans to compete in a variety of disciplines, like endurance, stadium jumping, dressage and more. And now, they are helping people heal from trauma, assisting children with learning, and supplying many therapeutic benefits for people of all ages.
Did you know that people who love horses are called ‘hippophiles’? Have you ever thought about the reasons why we love horses? We can come up with some of the reasons why everyone at PARD loves horses.

Horses have large hearts and they can provide a calming, peaceful presence just by being there for us.
There is a therapeutic benefit when you are around horses, either on the ground or in the saddle. They can reduce a person’s blood pressure and heart rate which can calm physical symptoms such as anxiety and stress. When you are in the saddle the motion of the horse walking mimics the way our muscles work when we walk on the ground. The PARD boys are experts at providing therapeutic benefits to our riders!
Horses are beautiful and majestic whether they are standing still or moving.
Our Pard boys are sensitive and kind. They are also patient and gentle. Horses are naturally empathetic. Because they are a prey animal and typically live in groups or herds, they instantly pick up on emotions within the group so they can react appropriately to avoid being attacked by predators. This means they also know exactly how we are feeling. Can you imagine how powerful that is within the human-horse bond? No wonder we love them!​

Horses teach us how to ride and they show us their goodness and inspire the best in the people who they share their lives with. Take a moment to think about your last contact with a horse and how that contact made you feel. Hold onto that feeling until we can all be together again.
Each of our PARD horses has a unique personality, just like people! Doc likes to shred Stormy’s blankets and Bobby loves to have the door of his stall decorated for special holidays. When they line up at the fence to be tacked up, Frank has to be the first one in the line. Stormy obviously likes to have his blankets removed during the winter as he does not object when Doc starts to pull them off. What a pair!! NuBuck is sturdy and calm and willing to do whatever is asked of him. He never talks back!
Some people have difficulty saying why they love horses and will tell you that horses are just in their blood!!
On Valentine’s Day we recognize the people in our lives that we love. Take a few moments on Valentine’s Day and think about Doc, Stormy, Frank, Bobby and NuBuck. Send them your love and good wishes for all that they do for us!

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