I was uneasy around these giant animals when I first encountered them in New York City and at Blue Star Equiculture, I learned over time that they are gentle and affectionate, once understood and approached properly. It is quite common, horse people will testify, for people driving by to call the police when they see a big horse lying down, they often assumed they are being neglected or abused.

But horses do lie down to rest, to sleep, to dream and they love people and need them in their lives, they have been attached to human beings for many years. At Blue Star one afternoon, I saw Deb Janik-O”Brien walk out into the pasture and hug this horse, who raised his head, closed his eyes and shared the moment.

Domesticated animals need people, and I know that people need them. At Blue Star, the horses speak to us, and you can see that and hear it there.