The eyes are the windows to the soul,

So bright and hopeful as a young foal.

Sad learnt helplessness eyes tell a tale,

Along with the eyes that humanity fail.

The spirit and soul is often not seen,

In a world of profit that's cold and mean.

Too many are just there for pleasure and fun,

What happens to them when they cannot run?

Too many eyes see cruelty, horrors and dark,

Left exhausted and struggling in a car park.

Some eyes see a kind soul to rescue from hell,

For some it's too late as it doesn't end well.

Many are see worthless, discarded like trash,

Others labelled naughty and get the lash.

Broken, abandoned, starved and hidden,

All because we cannot be driven or ridden.

Eyes tell the stories if people would look,

It's there to read just like a bound book.

Beyond the cover inside is what matters,

Yet those that can see are not mad as hatters.

They see who we are and know our heart,

Then a magical connection happens that's art.

Kez's eye done in soft pastel by Vicki Jayne Yates. Click here to visit the gallery. 

.A good walk is great for body, soul and mind,

A stroll in nature is the best therapy to find.

Us horses do love to explore and roam,

Enriching our lives a short stroll from home.

Check out what you can see on your walk,

Listen out for sounds so silence don't talk.

What can you touch and how does it feel?

Use all your senses and life becomes real.

On the breeze sniff the air what are the smells?

This time of year maybe sweet bluebells.

Then there is taste, a walk can include a treat,

Positive reinforcement cannot be beat.

Enrichment go for a forage or a graze in hand,

Plenty is there to discover across the land.

My mum found a 4 leaf clover and a feather,

A stroll out is perfect in sunny weather.

We are lucky we walk our farmer friend's fields,

Watching his crop grow and what it yields.

There are sections set aside to be wild,

The geese, ducks and deer have their child.

I was born in Ireland across the sea,

Not much I say about what happened to me.

Horses used to be treasured and held up high,

Now too many suffer terribly and die.

The problems are not just one person making,

It's a global issue human greed is baking.

The equine industry created the perfect storm,

Traditional thinking and riding is the norm.

Into the mix add marketing riding for pleasure,

Plus overbreeding with no thinking or measure.

Throw away culture, unethical quick fix training,

Broken we are seen as useless and draining.

I was broken then passed on for money,

Put in a box with a pony called Honey.

We travelled to England to a dealer to be sold,

The truth well hidden and never to be told.

Here Vicki and Steve found me in a stable,

Sold to them as a riding horse and very able.

Steve and Vicki knew I found riding hard,

So the best physiotherapist came to the yard.

The local vets, lots of visits and tests galore,

Then to Newmarket Equine Hospital a bore.

Home with diagnosis and I cannot be ridden,

My humans love me so much it's not hidden.

Non ridden is not a wasted or worthless horse,

We have so much love in our hearts of course.

Non ridden gifts are not taught at grass roots,

Mainstream equestrianism is all riding boots.

A world geared for riding it's hard to be heard,

Reality is marginalized and judged our word.

Out of the shaddows the dirty secret no more,

The non ridden equines are knocking the door.

Until the original Non Ridden Equine Facebook group there was nothing out there for people who choose not to ride or own non ridden equines to come together to share their stories and good practice.

With Kez it took time to see the diagnosis through,

And our riding dreams will never come true.

I sold Kez's saddle and all our riding tack, 

As we will never sit on his damaged back.

Kez's health conditions means riding will never be right,

To get the answers a huge vet bill to scare and fright.

Kez went to Newmarket Equine Hospital to be seen by the best,

He was there a week while they did every single test.

We love Kez unconditionally and way more than riding,

Our bond, connection and partnership is not hiding.

With Kez all what makes life amazing is there I believe, 

Riding is gone, but what really matters will never leave.

Tables got turned I ended up in hospital oh so sick,

Kez never abandoned me; his love packs a powerful kick.

Both Kez and I may struggle it is true,

But there is so much for non ridden to do.

Healer and warrior wrapped up in an Irish cob,

Kez certainly has an impressive and important job.