How we as a society treat our livestock is a precursor to how we will ultimately treat each other.

Farming today is less and less about individuality and personal quality of life, and more about numbers, data, and raw production. In the dairy world, we now live in an era where milking less than 2,000 cows is considered a “small” operation. Or, in industry terms - too big to fail, but too small to compete.

As it turns out, the two dairy farms that are able to compete in today’s market are the operations large enough to set prices - over 2,000 cows; and, the smaller-size operations that milk less than 100 cows and have captured direct-to-consumer niche markets. I saw this emerging trend back in 2017 and opted to pursue the latter. In 2018, we opened our doors to urban guests and began to charge a premium for people looking for an authentic and educational retreat to the countryside.

Due to the cultural allure of horses, it was quite natural to add an equestrian component to our farmstay repertoire. For the first time since my grandfather’s era, Wegmueller Farm would feature a herd of horses, side by side to our dairy operation.

If working with horses has taught me one thing, it is to slow down and allow yourself to be present in the moment. Working with horses is to be humble and vulnerable, yet empowered and in control. My proudest equestrian moment involved a trail ride experience just last summer, when I was approached by a client looking to sign up for a guided 3-mile horseback trail ride around the farm property.

She explained that as a young girl, she “lived” at the local equestrian center. She was the girl who spent weeknights and weekends mucking stalls, brushing horses, and riding carefree in the arena. She had her own horse, a beloved Arabian that she rode bareback and was training for events. Then, tragedy struck:

One afternoon, she was riding her horse like normal. On this day, something caught the horse off guard, and he unexpectedly sidestepped. She lost her balance, and in the process her foot got caught in the stirrup and the reins wrapped around her wrist. Instead of a clean dismount, she became entangled in the tack, and was dragged by her horse.

She explained, “I was nearly killed. I woke up in the hospital three days later and it took months for me to recover. I never got back on a horse. That was thirty years ago.”

For her birthday, she wanted to overcome her fear of riding and revisit her childhood love of horses. I had the perfect horse for her to ride, and we set out on a beautiful August afternoon. Naturally, I paired her with Chaz.

Chaz possesses an incredible awareness and connection to the capabilities of each individual rider. For our inexperienced clients looking to upgrade to a full-size horse and experience the thrill of trotting and cantering for the first time, Chaz transitions to each gait in the most fatherly manner, always slowing down at the slightest hint of insecurity. Yet, he exists on that fine line where he allows the rider to push beyond their comfort zone in a way that is empowering, rather than intimidating.

Chaz delivered this birthday ride at a relaxed, leisurely pace. I believe we trotted at one point in the ride, just to experience the thrill. Upon returning to the farm, there were tears in her eyes, “This was a really big deal for me. I haven’t ridden since I was a teenager, and I never once felt nervous. Chaz is such a good boy.”

Other guests to the farm have commented on the unique connection they feel in the presence of horses. One family in particular brought their very young daughter who, in her parents’ words, “Has an indescribable connection to horses.” Growing up in the Chicago suburbs, this family had no connection to farm animals, and certainly no relationship with horses.

As a baby, the daughter would become agitated and cry out, pointing to the horses on TV. Riding in her carseat, she would make a fuss anytime they drove past a pasture with horses. Her mom explained, “Her first recognizable sound was to neigh loudly, which she attributed to horses. I have no idea where this comes from - our family has never ridden or owned horses. Ever since she was born, she’s been fascinated by horses!”

Our farmstay bookings include a complimentary farm tour, where we talk about dairy farming, animal husbandry, and crop production. For the equine component of the tour, I walk Chaz out of the pasture, and use him to talk about horses with our guests. The daughter, aged roughly 18 months, squirmed in her mother’s arms and forcibly gestured toward Chaz. She reached out with her tiny arms as he leaned in, his head bigger than her entire body. She wrapped her arms around his nose, and they quietly embraced.

How we treat our animals is a precursor to how we will ultimately treat each other. If working with horses has taught me one thing, it is to slow down, be mindful, and live in the present.

— Dan Wegmueller is the owner of Wegmueller Farms and his column appears regularly in the Times. His website is https://www.farmforthought.org.