See them at the starting-gate: <br />impatient horses tossing their bridled heads, <br />rearing, backing, snorting; <br />silk-bright riders patient; <br />how have they attained this race? <br /> <br />they’ve shared a fortitude, horse and rider together: <br />out at dawn in all weathers, focussed, thundering <br />down and round the beaten, scuffed-soil track; <br />never a slack training session; <br /> <br />they share – without a common language <br />save that of the heart – their discipline; <br />share that rare sense of unity <br />once forged in battle, now in peaceful excellence; <br /> <br />‘they’re off! ’ – the race begun; <br />all around, the watchers shouting, jumping, waving race-cards; <br />the rider, in the camera’s eye, <br />so calm; invisibly controlling; <br /> <br />amidst all this excited noise, <br />they are the quietest; <br />amidst all this galloping, <br />they are the stillest in their mind; <br /> <br />yet who knows a horse’s mind, <br />to say what’s patiently endured, <br />the daily training, bridle, bit and whip; <br />or what’s sheer exultation for a horse? <br />or where the discipline and freedom meet? <br /> <br />who knows what may be horse’s sheer contentment? <br />knows what contentment may exceed <br />that of horse being horse? … <br />as rider knows, that, win or lose, he’s done his best, <br />for himself and for the horse.. <br /> <br />what do horse and rider share <br />between themselves, that’s <br />never spoken? For, see: each, <br />a clear and shining eye..<br /><br />Michael Shepherd<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/horses-for-courses/
