BY BLOG EDITOR LAUREN MAULDIN

On Valentine’s Day, it’s easy to get swept up with the romance of the holiday. A long night at the barn grooming your horse, taking breaks between brush strokes to feed him gourmet horse treats and tell him how pretty he is. I know, it’s easy to get lost in the shavings and that luxurious horse smell all night… but don’t forget your other love this Valentine’s Day!

You know, the person that listens over dinner as you describe every detail from your lesson and doesn’t complain when you spend Saturday at the horse show… again. The long suffering, always compliant horse show spouse shouldn’t be neglected on the holiday of love. So today for our better horse show halves, we present a classic love poem.

A Love Poem for the Horse Show Spouse

Seconds are red, and first place is blue
But this Valentine’s Day
I’m devoted to you.

You don’t flinch at the corgi,
The pony or jumper.
You think breeches look sporty,
And bring me my number.

You tolerate the horse hair,
The dirt, poop and oats.
You don’t sigh when I swear
That I need a new coat.

You don’t roll your eyes when I make the assessment,
That my dappled new import is quite the “investment.”

You’re tolerant,
Benevolent,
You can spot the wrong lead –
Without you I can’t begin to succeed.

This sport is so hard,
The hours so long,
My body is scarred
From times I was wrong.

But you love my bruises,
Bum knee (and lame horse) –
A spouse that chooses
To follow this course.

So thanks for the pictures and filming my fall,
With you at the show babe, I have it all.

About the Author: Lauren holds an MFA in creative nonfiction from the University of California Riverside, and is a lifelong rider and writer. Beyond equestrian journalism, she explores body positivity, mental health and addiction through personal narrative. She enjoys showing on the local hunter/jumper circuit in Austin, Texas.

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