03/05/2026
Overwhelm doesn't always show up dressed in bright colours, announced by a fanfare of shouting and screaming. More often than not, it is outwardly invisible, buried underneath a stoic smile or brushed aside without acknowledgement.
Holding responsibility for another's wellbeing, whether animal or human, can be exhausting, no matter how much love you have for them, and it's ok to admit that. It's possible to feel gratitude and grief at the same time, to carry both hope and fear, love and resentment, joy and sadness, strength and anxiety.
At the moment, 2 of my herd are experiencing severe equine asthma, and it's been hard. There's been lots of research, vet visits and advice, tests and procedures, trials of medications, adapting day to day management, and a lot of financial outlay. Extra time is needed to give them their treatment each day, and the worry about how to help them is constantly in the back of my mind. I love them dearly and know I'm incredibly lucky to have them in my life, but at the same time, it can be shattering.
If that's how it feels from a human perspective, I can only imagine what overwhelm feels like for our precious equines. They have no say in where they end up, who their companions are ( if they even have any ), what they are fed, or what is asked of them. Their efforts to communicate are often labelled as a behaviour defect, rather than a cry to be heard, and they are pushed whilst physically and mentally uncomfortable, or passed on to another home when they're unable to perform as expected.
To all those who are guardians and carers, who stick with it however difficult it gets, thank you. This is what love looks like 💗. It's not extravagant gifts and grand gestures, it's telling your partner to rest while you rock your child to sleep, or making them some tea and toast because you can see that they're exhausted. It's not flashy matching tack and endless shows, it's quietly walking your retired pony to his favourite place to snack, or making up extra feeds because your horse needs her medication 3 times a day. It may not be glamorous, but it's real 💗🐴.
