Hazel McKay's "Horse" is a short, simple portrait of a horse and the person who rides her. In the first lines we see the horse from the outside: she holds her neck high, trots along the trail, and winnies softly to the other horses. The word "proudly" makes her seem confident, almost like she knows how good she looks.
Then the poem shifts to the speaker. After the ride, they get down, give the horse a carrot, and stroke her neck. These are small, caring gestures, and they show a bond between rider and animal. The poem ends with a question: "How can there be a prettier creature than this?" The speaker doesn't really expect an answer. It's a way of saying that, to them, nothing could be lovelier.
The mood is warm, gentle, and affectionate. The plain language and short lines match the calm of the ride and the speaker's easy, genuine delight.