Submitted by Holston Manor/Seal Sport Horses: XOXO Rodrigo 💕 I don’t think there could ever be a horse that means as much to me as this one! I’ve always found that my personal horses are usually someone else’s last pick because they’re quirky, angry, or really scared. These are the horses that I want to keep! To show that the job and people can really be a lot of fun. Rigo has returned this favor to me with so much trust and willingness to work for me after a rough start to life. He’s my little buddy 🥰
Heart horse – that once-in-a-lifetime equine that comes into your life & leaves the most lasting impression. 💕 With Valentine’s Day having been yesterday, we wanted to share a gallery of these amazing horses to celebrate! we asked our social media followers to share their heart horses, and got so many touching submissions.
Svetlana Von Wernich and “Davina B”I love all my kids, but this was Bailey and he was special. I lost him in 2015. – Kristine B.My heart horse Frej! He is a 20 year old Knabstrupper who is completely blind. He made me into the rider I am today. We went through so much together, including his battle with Uveitis where he inevitably went completely blind. At 20 he is happily retired but still LOVES his trail rides. He is so incredibly special to me and I know I will never have a horse quite as amazing as he is! ❤️ – Sophia M.Rhapsody SCS, 2015 Hanoverian mare by Rotspon. Fell in love with her the first time I saw her at age 2, made her mine at age 4. The bond we have is amazing and she takes my breath away every time I see her. She and I will grow old together. ❤❤ Photo by Meg McGuire. – Katie P.California Dreamin “Callie” 26 years young. We grew up together (I got her when I was 12 and she 7), played in all the rings (hunters, eq, jumpers, western pleasure and dressage), been through high school drama, college life and first real jobs, and home ownership. She knows me better than I know myself and continues to put me in my place. She’s my best friend, my heart horse and the reason why I love this sport and horses. She’s set the standard and that bar is very high. – Caitlin S.My 2020 ISH colt, I bought him at 6 months old and it was love at first sight for both of us. He is the most cooperative gentle boy, such an old soul despite his young age. Just broke him last week, he was listening to my voice commands and didn’t do a single misstep! He’ll do anything for his mommy. ☺️❤️🍀 – Sabrina V.I’ve loved all my horses, but I’ve never loved one more than I do my Morgan/QH filly, Mia Fe 🥰 First met her when she was just days old and fell in love with her. I feel beyond blessed that I was able to make her mine last July after longing for her for two years. – Erin B.Dakota 22y/o TB/QH. I’ve had him almost 20 years. He’s the four-legged love of my life. – Cameron M.I’ve been blessed to have two heart horses! Celtic Rose on the left. A 20 yr QH that has been part of my life for 18 years, my feisty redhead and Diva Ballerina SH a going 7yr Hanoverian mare an absolute sweetheart who is my new partner. Photo by Patrick Burns. – Sandra B.My horse of a lifetime, Indro. A squatty little Andalusian that I started for a client as a 4 year old, convinced his then owner to sell him to me, he cracked through the levels and had 4 years out at GP, now semi-retired and dabbling in higher level Working Equitation. Through all of his (almost) 18 years he’s been the most solid, reliable, hard working, cheeky little horse. Big shiny heart of gold. ❤️ – Olivia C.My heart horse.. I got him when he was 4 months old. He’s six now . We do traditional dressage and western dressage , along with ranch riding patterns and rail classes. He’s opinionated, fun and I send messages to my friend that bred him all the time about what a lovely and fun ride he is. And he gives kisses 😘 – Janice P.I’ve truly loved all of my boys over the years, but one clearly stands out. I bought him as a yearling and he passed away 1 week shy of 25, with no evidence of illness prior to succumbing suddenly to an aneurysm, while I was riding him. My heart horse, Leprekaun. – Jayne F.Leprekaun – Jayne F.“Flash” aka Grandmaster Flash, my 17.1 SWB home bred Master grandson. He passed away suddenly in his sleep last July, 1 month after this photo was taken at the age of 22. My heart is still broken. 💔 – Kristen A.My heart horse, Fabian aka Wanderer. Came into my life when he was 5 and I was 14. We grew up together and learned together, training through GP. We had a 20 year partnership and he was my hardest goodbye. ❤️ I miss him everyday. Photo Credit, Barbara Shear-Smith. – Laura N.Chexter 87.5% Foundation bred Quarter Horse. Donated to my barn for $1 he didn’t start his competitive career until he was 16. AQHA high point winner at First and Second level and three day evented until he was 24. He is 26 and retired now but my dream is that we both live long enough to do our century ride. – Eric S.My beautiful girl Allie❤️ Trakehner/thoroughbred X Had her for 20 years. I miss her everyday and still haven’t been able to replace her. – Anna Lea S.Gotta Love Me (Joe) FEI schoolmaster. Trained by Amanda Harder My best friend and teacher for 14 years. Always in my heart. – Mary Z.My sweet Prada 💜 Forever my best friend – Heather G.New Edition FF—Diddy—my partner, my friend, my love. – Heather C.This is Idylwind Brychan (Bryan) who definitely has captured my heart❣️ Together we have climbed up the levels. 😁 His willingness to learn, tolerate my mistakes and be my steady equine best friend makes him incredibly special. He’s a Section D Welsh Cob gelding. – Valerie T.UF Gray Smoke! AKA Pedro. AQHA. Bought him as a western pleasure horse and converted him to dressage. He has excelled in dressage, winning high points in USDF and AQHA dressage. He’s easy and smart. Loves being around people. Having been born at the University of Florida, he was handled by a lot of students. – Joni P.This little Arabian has stolen my heart! He is so smart and tries so hard! – Chelsey B.Kountry Khym❤️… my first horse- an 11 month old pure bred Arabian gelding— given to me on my 31st birthday by my husband. Showed him in Dressage ..had to put him down a week before he turned 16. Devastating. Showed training thru 4th (one test only) … he was very talented but a handful & I loved that about him . USDF 2nd level- 3rd place – PB Arabian so long ago 💕 – Suzanne K.My best friend FHF Fein Tuned. The most amazing teacher and therapist I could ever ask for. Sir Sunshine! 💛 – Alexis C.My partner in crime E Huckster+ He has been my best friend for 10 years now and I couldn’t think of a better equine partner to share this journey with. – Lea L.Hustler’s Rythm my soul mate and best friend – Janina K.Firgrove Trakhen Up+/…August 11, 1993-July 19, 2022. The first Half-Arabian in my little breeding program, by Faber [Trakehner] out of Mi-Gai Pacifica [Arabian]. I didn’t think so at the time, but one of the best things that ever happened to me was when he didn’t pass a pre-sale vet check as two-year-old, and stayed to become my partner. When we won the Show Hack Championship, the judge said to me, “He did everything you asked of him.” And that says it all, doesn’t it? – Kaye P.My daughter’s TB that she just lost last month at 29years young. Lucky Teddy was well loved💖🐴🌈 – Diane H.My perfect mare Cadence. KWPN Idocus x Don Primaire She was perfect. – Carissa M.This guy is going on 25 thinks and acts like he’s 4. The biggest personality I’ve ever seen!! Cracks me up every day! Had him since 4 years of age. Battling an abscess (hope that is all that explains the lameness) and finished with the rain and stall … I keep telling him they say stay clean and dry.. he rolls his eyes. Used to be our ranch horse in Wyoming and came to Alabama at 19 to learn dressage. Such a beautiful mover!! – Jennifer F.West Point. We were together 22 years and rode down center line 437 times. We will be together again my friend. – Lynn L.This is Awesome, who I lost on January 12, 2023. He would have turned 32 in May. We spent 27 years together and there will never, ever be another horse that will mean as much to me as he did. We did everything together. We understood each other. I am so grateful and blessed that we 27 years together. The pic below was taken two years ago. He was 29 and we had just completed a 12 mile trail ride. – Holly S.My heart horse, Balta’Rhee, “Shuree” Bred by my late mother and inherited after she passed, she is a Thoroughbred/Oldenburg mare who is out of my mother’s heart horse as well She will be 19 on the 23rd – Chloe R.Pandorra 💕 my Grand Prix Stallion From 6yo to 26yo – So many amazing experiences together! – Marina P.My dressage Saddlebred and childhood horse, Nautica, not only changed riding disciplines but also overcame a major injury. Over ten years together and hopefully many more. ❤️ He’s my world. – Sheila P.Widegro loves his snuggles. ❤️ – Christine L.My ❤️ horse. I miss her Every.Single.Day. – Barbara K.My mare Moxie who not only has my heart but my two toddlers love as well. – Trisha K.A little horse named Phil changed my life as he would do anything for me and made my dreams come true – Darsie B.