JumpingTheRailing
Scientific research into the bond between humans and horses focuses on communication, temperament, and welfare: horse girl horse sex link
Two competitive riders who hate each other on the circuit but find mutual respect (and love) through their shared devotion to their animals. He has carried the bratty teenagers
He is the 22-year-old schoolmaster. He has done the Grand Prix. He has carried the bratty teenagers. He is dead broke and kind of bored. The Romantic Plot: She thinks she wants the flashy youngster, but then she gets on the old boy. He takes care of her. He lowers his head to fit under the tree branch. He pins his ears at the other horses to protect her. The Vibe: “I am tired, but I would carry you one more mile.” (This is the MMC who is emotionally unavailable on paper but does acts of service. He oils her saddle without being asked. Swoon.) He takes care of her
Consequently, when a human romantic interest is introduced (e.g., in later Heartland seasons), it is often on the condition that he accepts the primacy of the horse. The boyfriend must become a “second rider”—someone who respects the existing partnership. The horse thus acts as a pre-emptive filter for romantic partners.