The Smell of a Horse

Why is every aspect of a horse so pleasing?

Yesterday I was especially enjoying the aromas. Of course there is the subtle scent of leather, which many people enjoy, and the fresh, clean smell of the flakes of hay. That’s probably best enjoyed by those without allergies.

But yesterday I was aware of Champagne’s lovely personal aroma. He smells like, well, a horse. I really can’t put words to the scent; I suppose if I were a wine connoisseur I’d learn how. It isn’t earthy, exactly, but it is warm and rich like soft velvet, and lustrous like a perfect sheet of dark silk.

And then there is the other scent: the billows of strong, sharp almost musky smell streaming up from a pile of fresh manure. I love that, too. Not that I’d want to be in a small closed space with it, but for gathering up and putting in a bucket, it is quite a treat.

Speaking of treats, yesterday after I gave Champagne his dinner (real, low-carb grain!) and he chomped that down he licked his salt block, and then came over and licked my arm! Maybe I tasted salty after riding. I was charmed. He may not be a people-centric horse, but I think I’m growing on him.