The Twins

A letter to my horse

Emma Simmons

(3/2021) Dear Wesley, will you be my Valentine?

I’m writing this letter to you on Valentine’s Day. I won’t be able to see you today because of this bad virus that is keeping so many loved ones apart. But I wanted to send you this letter so you know how I feel about you.

You are the best horse ever and I love you so much. We’ve known each other for about a year and a half. So I know you well by now and you know me. And I think I can say that I love everything about you. But to be honest, I knew I loved you from that first time I saw you. Love at first sight is what it’s called. It was late summer when my twin sister Sarah and I came out for our first ride with you. I have to admit that I was really nervous. You were the biggest horse I had ever seen. However, it didn’t take long for me to know that you were kind and gentle and that we would be best friends, that you would be my BHFF (Best Horse Friend Forever).

Let me tell you some things that I love most about you. I love the way you look, I love your amazing skills as a jumper, and I love your personality. All these characteristics together make you the perfect horse and they are why I want you to be my Valentine.

One of the things I first noticed about you when we met was how tall you are and how steady you are. Your coat and mane are the perfect colors. Bay horses have always been my favorite. Your eyes are bright and shiny, and I can see my reflection in them when I look at you. It’s almost like I can see you looking at me. Even though people say that you are such a big horse for a little girl like me, I think we are great together. And even if I’m still a little small, that gives me room to grow and still fit on you perfectly.

I also love your personality. You are a sweet and kind horse. You never get upset and run around bucking and kicking up your hind legs, like another horse we all know (Scotty). You always take care of me. You don’t trot away just as I’m getting on the saddle and leave me with my feet hanging loose desperately looking for those stirrups and grabbing for the reins. You always wait until I am safely on your back and ready to go before you start moving.

When we are jumping, which is our favorite thing to do, I know you try your best to clear the fence. Those times that you stopped right in front of the fence and refused to go over, I know that you had a good reason for doing this, like maybe there was a dangerous stick or big crow on the other side of the jump that you knew would make me fall.

And that one time I did fall, it was all my fault for not holding on to you like you told me to do. I remember how you stood so still when I fell so that you wouldn’t accidentally step on me. You were so great to take such good care of me.

After we finish riding, I love how you stand so still for me to groom you. A lot of other horses are fidgety when they are getting groomed and just want to get their dinner. But I think you enjoy that quiet time we have together because you stand so still as I’m giving you a bath and brushing you. And I know all those times that you pooped in the wash stall just after I had cleaned it, were just accidents. And, as we all know, accidents happen.

And I think that one of the things I love most about you is how you eat. First, when I give you an apple, you are so gentle as you take it from my hand, always careful not to nip my fingers. Then as you are munching on it, you squirt bits of apple and apple juice all over me. Some people may not like this, but I think you are making sure that I smell nice for the ride home. When I give you your dinner, you never push me and grab for the feed from me before I put it in your bucket. You are a gentleman horse and step back for me to serve the food. And the sounds that you make when you eat are so sweet. And when you spill your food all over the stall floor, I know it’s because you just lifted your head quickly to make sure you tell me thanks for the great ride before I have to leave for home.

Yes, Wesley, I do love you so much. Everything about you is just perfect.

To help show you how much I love you, I wrote a poem for you on this special day.

You are kind and you are brave
Bold and fast
You always amaze.

You keep me so safe and hold to me fast
Canter and gallop
You’re always steadfast.

You help me through hard training days
Strong and powerful
Encouraging with your neighs.

Oxers and Xs and verticals too
Higher and higher
You always come through.

You are my Wesley so this I must say
Will you be mine
This Valentine’s Day?


With much love,
Your girl Emma

PS: Do you mind if I ask my Dad to be my Valentine too?