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Most of us know at least one old horse. They are recognized often by grey hair on the forehead and magnificent wise eyes. When you look into them, you often find both wisdom, experience and stories of a lifetime. The old horses have a way of spellbinding us and finding an easy way into our hearts.
Elderly horses have of course lived a long life, and often together with their owners. The bond between a horse and its owner cannot be replaced by anything else and is very often not understood by the outside world. It can only be described a something very special. Because both human and horse have followed each other through thick and thin and ups and downs. Exactly like married people when the have been together for a long time.
Photographer Mille Berger is known for taking pictures of elderly horses and is often booked to do the last photoshoot, when it is time to say goodbye to a dear four-legged friend. She is very fascinated with the old horses.
“A lot of my passion is centred around horses with a life experience. Some horses have been with many people, others only with one owner through their entire life. But one thing is common for the old soles: They are very clear in their signals and extemly good at understanding humans. And that is what draws me to them,” Mille explains.
What has really made an impression on Mille is that she believes it takes a special person to take care of an old horse.
“Today it seems like it is more common to have an old horse put down rather than to take care of it mentally and financially,” she says.
Mille believes that if the horse is functioning and happy, it still has a lot to offer. They have lived their lives and taught others about life. What gives us the right to determine when they are too old to be here? When Mille investigated the matter, she encountered this tendency for older horses to be put down and replaced by younger ones.
Mille decided to make a book about old horses – she wanted to find the older horses in Denmark. Those who were still in use and in good health. The planning started and Mille thought to herself: “If only I find about 10 owners with elderly horses then I can show a world where they have a great life.”
Mille was surprised. More than 200 owners replied from all over the country. Also, people from Sweden and England texted her about her project.
“I wanted to get to know these old horses, their journey through life - and their ups and downs. All the people I visited described their old horse similar. They are part of our lives because that is what they should be.
The following horses are some of which Mille Berger visited during her project.
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Mulle’s story is beautiful and warm hearted. She opened her heart to a young girl who needed a friend. Mulle and Isabella met in September 2005 when Isabella was 10 years old and Mulle was 9.
Isabella writes: “I was a child who spend a lot of time by myself. I guess I was a bit different than most children. I had trouble finding friends. Mulle took me in and I just loved her instantly. I would never be the person I am today without Mulle.”
During the summer 2016 Mulle was brought to the vet with colitis and soon after she was put down. It was very hard for Isabella because everything happened so fast.
“It was so painful when I lost her. Today I have some of her hair, and we put flowers at her favourite spot in the forrest. She is still very much with me in my heart.”
Mr. Plet, originally named Mighty Cause, was a beautiful Appaloosa pony born in Holland in July 1993. Mr. Plet started at a family were the daughter competed on a high level and together they achieved a lot of success. Suddenly Mr. Plet was diagnosed with lameness and he had to be put down. The owner says about him: “Mr. Plet died with his dignity intact. He was very sporty to the end of his day. He did not die as an old, worn out horse. He was so beautiful and until his last day he was still a naughty one.”
Ghita and Ringo was introduced in 1986 when Ghita bought him. Ringo was 10 months old at the time.
Ringo ended up having a long and stunning career as a showjumper and was also participating in hunting. When he was eight years old in 1993, he won the famous Danish hunt Hubertusjagten and an easter hunt. Ringo participated in hunting until he was 22 years old and only had to stop because of allergies. The last years of his life he was ridden minimum 2 days a week in nature.
Ringo had a very beautiful and moving funeral with a personal letter from Ghita to take with him into the grave. Ghita has put up a memorial, and she is convinced he is still with her.
“I often visit his grave. I always stand at the exact same place where we said our final goodbye,” Ghita says.
Horsemanship was the way for Helene and Izar. Helene learned through Izar that the relationship between a horse and its rider can be so much more than what she had imagined.
All the knowledge Izar has given Helene she has taken with her and learned from so that their relationship could be the best possible. Helene writes: “Izar is my heart and my mentor. I am grateful to have him in my life and the journey we have been on - and still is on.
The result of Mille Bergers project was the book “Old Souls”. It contains a great number of beautiful pictures and touching stories about the lives and memories of older horses. The book only exists in a small number of publications. You can check it out on Mille's Facebook page.
