Dec. 13 is the National Day of the Horse, and we’re celebrating the day with some of our favorite quotes about the animals that bring us so much joy. For more equine wisdom, check out last year's list.

“I believe that horses bring out the best in us. They demand standards of behavior and levels of kindness that we, as humans, then strive to maintain.” — Clare Balding

“The racehorse, by virtue of his awesome physical gifts, freed the jockey from himself. When a horse and a jockey flew over the track together, there were moments in which the man's mind wedded itself to the animal's body to form something greater than the sum of both parts.” ― Laura Hillenbrand, “Seabiscuit: An American Legend”

“God forbid that I should go to any heaven in which there are no horses."  — R.B. Cunninghame Graham

“Horses are the dolphins of the plains, the spirits of the wind; yet we sit astride them for the sake of being well-groomed, whereas they could have all the desire in the world to bolt, but instead, they adjust their speed and grace, only to please us, never to displease.” — Lauren Salerno

“Machines have about as much warmth as a cube of ice. And that is why the horse is still part of our lives and will live on. He was here millions of years before man came upon the earth, and if the cycle is completed, he may still be thundering across the world long after man has vanished.” — Marguerite Henry

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“No philosophers so thoroughly comprehend us as dogs and horses.” — Herman Melville

“In the end, we don't know what horses can do. We only know that when, over the past thousands of years, we have asked something more of them, at least some of them have readily supplied it.” — Jane Smiley

“The horse. Here is nobility without conceit, friendship without envy, beauty without vanity. A willing servant, yet never a slave.” — Ronald Duncan

“There is no secret so close as that between a rider and his horse.” — R.S. Surtees

“Wherever man has left his footprints in the long ascent from barbarism to civilization, we find the hoofprint of a horse beside it.” — John Trotwood Moore

“No one ever came to grief—except honourable grief—through riding horses. No hour of life is lost that is spent in the — Winston Churchill

“The essential joy of being with horses is that it brings us in contact with the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit and freedom.” — Sharon Ralls Lemon

“In riding a horse, we borrow freedom.” - Helen Thompson

“A horse is a thing of beauty ... none will tire of looking at him as long as he displays himself in his splendor.” —  Xenophon

“There are only two emotions that belong in the saddle; one is a sense of humor and the other is patience.” — John Lyons

“They say princes learn no art truly, but the art of horsemanship. The reason is, the brave beast is no flatterer. He will throw a prince as soon as his groom.” — Ben Johnson

"Horses change lives. They give our young people confidence and self-esteem. They provide peace and tranquility to troubled souls. They give us hope!" — Toni Robinson

“The essential joy of being with horses is that it brings us in contact with the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit and freedom.” — Sharon Ralls Lemon

"Horses lend us the wings we lack." — Pam Brown

"On the back of a horse you will find paradise." — Stella A. Walker