Favorite Photo: A Good Hand Around a Horse

Working hand, originally uploaded by loustinephoto.

Some photos are more effective because of what they don't show you.

You don't need to see this farrier's face. You know him just by looking at his hand.

Look at the size of this man's thumb and the breadth from thumb to forefinger. My thumb doesn't even reach the first knuckle on my forefinger; it is set low on my hand and can't grasp much. This man's thumb is extraordinary.

I believe that a horse understands the difference when a hand like this touches it. A horse recognizes a touch somewhere in its genetic memory.

Maybe there aren't many good horsemen left, as everyone is always lamenting. But there are still a few good hands. This is one of them.