Karla, I have a running iron horse very similar to yours. Mine is very heavy and mounted on an ugly wooden board...my DH inheritted it from a great aunt...type of person who knew he loved horses. It must be hung with toggles and I don't have room for it in the house right now...but I still like it.
I really really like the picture of the 2 horses... I love the poem by Walt Whitman. It does sound just like you actually!