Dog Is Man’s Best Friend?

Growing up with dogs, I always believed the saying “dogs are a man’s best friend.” I had an all black shepherd/lab mix named Bo. He was my mom’s best friend. My sisters and I were the first to say our mom would choose Bo over us (she wouldn’t really, but man it felt like it sometimes). Bo was mom’s eye in the hurricane— he always knew how to calm her down and make her smile. He was exactly what she needed in any situation— the epiphany of a best friend.

I always waited for the day I met a dog that was my best friend— my doggy soulmate.

I started riding horses when I was about 20 years old. I quickly learned that horses are just 1200 pound puppies. They have personalities of their own, they can sense human emotions, and they have the ability to understand what you’re going through and what they need to do to help. Horses can form connections with individuals much like you see a dog for with their owner.

A couple months after I started riding, I met Max. I bonded with him instantly. I trusted him 100 percent the very first time I sat on his back. I would have let this horse take me anywhere.

My Best Friend Max

I started spending a lot of time at my horse barn, even when I didn’t have a lesson, just to spend time with Max. Sitting in his stall to do homework were my most productive afternoons, and Max would just sit in there with me, showing me when I was getting frustrated and needed a break by begging for some peppermint. When I was having a rough day, he was always there to be a goofball, sticking his tongue out at me, and tripping over flat ground (which I must admit I’m known to do far too often). When I was feeling a little overconfident, or under motivated, he was there to push a little extra during my lesson to snap me back to reality. He was always there and knew exactly what I needed all the time. He was my best friend.

Max got injured at one point during his riding career, and I couldn’t ride him anymore. I was heartbroken, and I started riding other horses at the barn. I loved them all, but I just didn’t get that feeling I got with Max. I kept spending extra time at barn with Max, but I missed that connection I felt while riding him. I think at one point he started to miss it, too. He started running to the gate when I came to visit, and he gave me an attitude when I hadn’t come to see him in a few days. The connection was back, and I couldn’t have been happier. When I fell one lesson and broke my foot, I still found time to see Max while I was healing, and I swear he knew I was hurting, both from the broken bone and broken heart by missing my favorite thing. Seeing him made the healing go by so much faster.

I left my horse barn for a while to pursue a job opportunity. I haven’t seen Max in a really long time, but I’m confident that when I get home, our relationship will be exactly what it was when I left. Some days I get pretty stressed out, but I’ve got plenty of pictures of my handsome boy to make up for our time apart

Max became my definition of “a man’s best friend.” In my mind, he surpassed any dog I can ever have. He became the animal that set the standard for me. With him I learned that your best friend doesn’t have to have a voice to speak to you. Just one look in their eyes, and they can speak to your heart.

Max, In All His Glory