What about Horses and Hounds?

Is there a rule or a law abstaining someone from writing on a subject on which that person has no experience? Those of you, who say, “No”, read on further and those who say, “err, yes”, read as well as I talk out of experience. I have a story to tell.

As a kid, our parents always want us to pick up a hobby which is constructive, enjoyable, fun to do and safe. So my brother went ahead with his love for horses and started taking riding lessons and I tagged along with him only to find myself enrolled for them as well. He seemed to be doing more than just fine always when I always thought the giant (as mine appeared to me, considering my tiny frame then) I rode, would bite off my entire arm like a toothpick whenever, I tried feeding her some jaggery (a favourite of horses in India).

Amazing Grace was definitely not an arm chewing monster but a beautiful Australian Halflinger, chestnut in colour and a blonde mane. She had this poise of an attractive young woman and cantered with an amazing grace and took the name along. This I concluded after days of fearful lessons. The foal amused me every time as much as it scared me. As my brother rode and galloped Sultan through the woods following a good learning in the field, I was struggling with loose stirrups, surprise bucks, holding the reign to my dear life. Oh, I was such a sad picture for a student!

If you are guessing it went on this way, No, did not! We moved from that city as my father got posted to another place as he was serving in the Indian Army. My brother continued his riding lessons and even started participating in various obstacle course competitions riding atop a Destiny, a Thunder, a Bolt to name a few.I kept to watching Black Beauty reunite with the boy, Flicka reflecting the determination of that young girl, Seabiscuit – giving a hard time to thoroughbreds as a smaller than usual size Colt on tracks like Santa Anita and sometimes I came to admire the subtle relation between the beast and man in Horse Whisperer.

This was the closest I could get to the animal after failing lessons besides a few rides at tourist places. But yes, the charm and class widespread on a racecourse on a busy day, still seems hard to resist and harder not to wish to be there sometime; tinted glasses under those fancy hats, champagne flowing (now just in restricted enclosures), betting attracting a crowd of men praying for the best luck and all that furore. Amidst all that noise and moments, you become aware of one of the most sought after ways of enjoying that rush by man. It’s the close sync between the rider and his horse which together is at stake on the track.

What bout Hounds? I have a male, double coat German Shepard back at home in India and believe me, missing him quite often is a choice I don’t even doubt making.  How come one of the two most good looking and attractive animal species come so close to man? A farm, the family, your own big horse and the canine, is there anything I’m missing?

It’s interesting how the horse silently communicates and expresses pretty much the world through those big black eyes and how a dog with this affection by licking gives unconditional love. It’s not even fair when people curse each other calling the other a “dog”. I’d say, it’s a humiliation for the poor animal to have been unfortunate enough to be compared with to a man that truly has no “qualities” of a dog except for maybe barking too often. Is it the false symbolism or just passing time getting me cynical? Ever thought how great attributes and adjectives find solace in a horse or for that matter a dog. Strength, valour, power, loyalty, affection, speed, agility, accuracy, foresight, sensitivity and the list goes on. It’s the flexing muscles of a man and the grace and beauty of a woman, a horse possesses and wins place in our hearts as a truly remarkable creature. Dogs too come close; for affection, loyalty and trust are basic ingredients missing in most people’s life. A companion in the true sense, dogs are obedient yet cuddly for the master, ferocious for the stranger and pride for the owner.

I don’t enjoy the luxury of vast open land when I step outside my door and so, a dog suffices me but if you ask me, what about horses and hounds; I’d say, when you outlive a regular city life, they come in the package.

-          Devyani Lamba