When I was in California last year, at Monty Roberts' Flag is Up Farms, I met a mustang called Casanova. I fell in love with him the moment I first saw him. Of all horses I have met so far, he is the most special to me. He inspired me and taught me so much. I wanted to put this experience into words, so I decided to write a poem...
In sunny California, our eyes first met
Your beauty was mesmerizing, like watching the sun set
Both of us entering a new challenging phase
Not knowing what would happen, over the next few days
Wild and untouched, is how your life began
Before you were brought into the world of men
First to a rescue center, then to this farm
How could you know, I don't mean you any harm?
In your innocent brown eyes, all humans are bad
No wonder these memories keep making you mad
They put you in a chute and cause you pain and stress
You kick and strike, rear and bite, without any success
Then here we come, my dear friend and I
Into that chute you go again, probably wondering why
For the very first time we put a halter on you
Nobody asking for your point of view
And so you became our 'project horse',
We said "no more chute for a while, no more force"
Only advance and retreat, in your own pen
Maybe we weren't as bad after all, as those other men
Curiosity started to replace anger and fear
Allowing me to touch you made me shed a tear
Those big brown eyes could look right through me
You finally began to trust and decided not to flee
The progress we made was slow but steady,
No need to hurry, you will tell us when you're ready
After a month, however, it was time for me to leave
That you now belong to a friend of mine, is a big relief
"First you go with the horse, then the horse goes with you,
then you go together", Tom Dorrance already knew
Dear Casanova, you are an inspiration to me
Remember, in your heart and soul, you will always be free
