Originally Posted by
Wicked Dark
I think it's because it doesn't seem deliberate. A crop like that always makes me think the photographer goofed. If you're gonna crop, crop like you mean it. Seems to me the subject here is eyes and mane. go for it. Don't pussyfoot around. We don't need context for a shot like this.
As far as processing goes, I think the darker motif suits the real subject better. the hills, nice though they may be, are not what we're supposed to look at here - sorry M, don't mean to pick.
exposure wise I think you've got it and the horse has wonderful fur and a great gaze.