Maybe young women love horses because they can relate. Because they can be safe with each other, and ride together with wind in their manes, collaborating to temporarily escape forced domesticity or worse. But think on this: the head of an equine herd in the wild is an older mare, not a stallion. The lead mare is unambiguous in her communication, has the trust of other members of the herd, and, while her behaviour may not always win her friends, she is always respected. You are horse kin.