Beauty

I’m afraid this blog update is going to be a shamelessly self indulgent eulogy in praise of the utter beauty and grace that is LVA Faith.

I have to start off by saying that I think that all horses are beautiful in their own way, particularly my horses. Tilly has an inner beauty and wisdom that shines through her eyes, and often brings me close to tears. Tommy is spectacularly and magnificently handsome, and is the sort of horse that will make me take a step back and say ‘Wow!’ He is the sort of horse that the word ‘gorgeous’ was invented to describe.

But Faith is becoming more and more beautiful by the day. Sometimes it is the exquisitely graceful arch of her neck that takes my breath away. It looks like it has been perfectly carved from marble, and is the combination of living strength and graceful architecture. At other times it is the effortless flow of her movement, where each stride is a mere whisper of a touch against the earth as she floats with silent power over the ground.

But it is her manner that touches me most. She has an innocent, childlike curiosity that is utterly charming. Everything she does is a perfectly honest illustration of her feelings, be it playful, fearful, curious or affectionate. She very much communicates the desire to be close, to understand, and to have a dialogue and relationship. This, together with an innate gentleness, so typical of her breed, makes her a totally captivating person. It is no wonder that I fell in love with Faith more quickly than I have done with any other horse, and the reason that whenever I am with her, she makes me smile from the inside out.