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@2001 Jennie Williams
All rights reserved
What It Means to Have a Horse
The following was sent to me in an email. I did not write it and I don't know who did, but it says it all. If you know who wrote this, I would love to give them credit as I think that person really hit the nail on the head with this one. Please enjoy and listen... it is so true.
God gives us horses and compels some of us to love
them.
Yet why does the horse, an animal with such a big heart, live such a short life?
Perhaps it's because if our horses lived any longer, we wouldn't be able to bear losing
them.
Yet why does the horse, an animal with such a big heart, live such a short life?
Perhaps it's because if our horses lived any longer, we wouldn't be able to bear losing
them.
Perhaps God looks down on the fine horses we raise and
decides when it's His turn to ride.
He gives us a few good years to care for and learn from
them, but when the time is right,
it's up to us to see them off gracefully... O.K.,
perhaps not gracefully.
Blowing into a Kleenex is rarely graceful.
But we can be grateful.
To have a horse in your life is a gift. In the matter of a few short years,
a horse can teach a girl courage, if she chooses to grab mane and hang on
for dear life. Even the smallest of ponies is mightier than the tallest of
girls. To conquer the fear of falling off, having one's toes crushed, or
being publicly humiliated at a horse show is an admirable feat for any
child. For that, we can be grateful.
Horses teach us responsibility. Unlike a bicycle-or a computer-a horse needs regular care and most of it requires
Blowing into a Kleenex is rarely graceful.
But we can be grateful.
To have a horse in your life is a gift. In the matter of a few short years,
a horse can teach a girl courage, if she chooses to grab mane and hang on
for dear life. Even the smallest of ponies is mightier than the tallest of
girls. To conquer the fear of falling off, having one's toes crushed, or
being publicly humiliated at a horse show is an admirable feat for any
child. For that, we can be grateful.
Horses teach us responsibility. Unlike a bicycle-or a computer-a horse needs regular care and most of it requires
that you get dirty and smelly and up off the
couch. Choosing to leave your cozy kitchen to break the crust of ice off the
water buckets
is to choose responsibility. When our horses dip their
noses and drink heartily, we know we've made the right choice.
Learning to care for a horse is both an art and a science. Some are easy
keepers, requiring little more than regular turnout, a flake of hay, and a
trough of clean water. Others will test you-you'll struggle to keep them
from being too fat or too thin. You'll have their feet shod regularly only
to find shoes gone missing. Some are so accident-prone you'll swear they're
Learning to care for a horse is both an art and a science. Some are easy
keepers, requiring little more than regular turnout, a flake of hay, and a
trough of clean water. Others will test you-you'll struggle to keep them
from being too fat or too thin. You'll have their feet shod regularly only
to find shoes gone missing. Some are so accident-prone you'll swear they're
intentionally finding new ways to injure themselves.
Horses have unique personalities. You'd expect this from dogs, but horses?
Horses have unique personalities. You'd expect this from dogs, but horses?
Indeed, there are clever horses, grumpy horses, and even
horses with a sense of humor.
Those prone to humor will test you by finding new ways to escape from the barn when you least expect it.
Those prone to humor will test you by finding new ways to escape from the barn when you least expect it.
I found one of ours on the front porch one morning,
eating the cornstalks I'd carefully arranged as Halloween decorations.
Horses can be timid or brave, lazy or athletic, obstinate or willing. You
will hit it off with some horses and others will elude you altogether.
There are as many "types" of horses as there are people-which makes the
whole partnership thing all the more interesting.
If you've never ridden a horse, you probably assume it's a simple thing you can learn in a weekend.
Horses can be timid or brave, lazy or athletic, obstinate or willing. You
will hit it off with some horses and others will elude you altogether.
There are as many "types" of horses as there are people-which makes the
whole partnership thing all the more interesting.
If you've never ridden a horse, you probably assume it's a simple thing you can learn in a weekend.
You can, in fact, learn the basics on a Sunday-but to
truly ride well takes a lifetime.
Working with a living being is far more complex than
turning a key in the ignition and putting the car in "drive."
In addition to listening to your instructor, your horse will have a few
things to say to you as well. On a good day, he'll be happy to go along with the program and tolerate your mistakes; on a bad day, you'll swear he's trying to kill you.
Perhaps he's naughty or perhaps he's fed up with how slowly you're learning his language.
In addition to listening to your instructor, your horse will have a few
things to say to you as well. On a good day, he'll be happy to go along with the program and tolerate your mistakes; on a bad day, you'll swear he's trying to kill you.
Perhaps he's naughty or perhaps he's fed up with how slowly you're learning his language.
Regardless, the horse will have an opinion.
He may choose to challenge you (which can ultimately make you a
better rider) or he may carefully carry you over fences---- if it suits him.
He may choose to challenge you (which can ultimately make you a
better rider) or he may carefully carry you over fences---- if it suits him.
It all depends on the partnership-and partnership
is what it's all about.
If you face your fears, swallow your pride, and are willing to work at it,
you'll learn lessons in courage, commitment, and compassion in addition to
basic survival skills.
You'll discover just how hard you're willing to work toward a goal, how
little you know, and how much you have to learn. And, while some people
think the horse "does all the work," you'll be challenged physically as well as mentally.
If you face your fears, swallow your pride, and are willing to work at it,
you'll learn lessons in courage, commitment, and compassion in addition to
basic survival skills.
You'll discover just how hard you're willing to work toward a goal, how
little you know, and how much you have to learn. And, while some people
think the horse "does all the work," you'll be challenged physically as well as mentally.
Your horse may humble you completely. Or, you may find
that sitting on his back is the closest you'll get to heaven.
You can choose to intimidate your horse, but do you really want to? The
results may come more quickly but will your work ever be as graceful as that gained through trust?
You can choose to intimidate your horse, but do you really want to? The
results may come more quickly but will your work ever be as graceful as that gained through trust?
The best partners choose to listen, as well as to tell.
When it works, we experience a sweet sense of accomplishment brought
about by smarts, hard work, and mutual understanding between horse and rider.
These are the days when you know with absolute certainty
that your horse is enjoying his work.
If we make it to adulthood with horses still in our lives, most of us have
to squeeze riding into our over saturated schedules; balancing our need for things equine
If we make it to adulthood with horses still in our lives, most of us have
to squeeze riding into our over saturated schedules; balancing our need for things equine
with those of our households and employers.
There is never enough time to ride, or to ride as well as we'd like. Hours
in the barn are stolen pleasures.
If it is in your blood to love horses, you share your life with them.
Our horses know our secrets; we braid our tears into their manes and whisper our hopes into their ears.
There is never enough time to ride, or to ride as well as we'd like. Hours
in the barn are stolen pleasures.
If it is in your blood to love horses, you share your life with them.
Our horses know our secrets; we braid our tears into their manes and whisper our hopes into their ears.
A barn is a sanctuary in an unsettled world, a sheltered
place where life's true priorities are clear:
a warm place to sleep, someone who loves us, and the
luxury of regular meals. Some of us need these reminders.
When you step back, it's not just about horses-it's about love, life, and
learning. On any given day, a friend is celebrating the birth of a foal, a
blue ribbon, or recovery from an illness. That same day, there is also loss: a broken limb,
When you step back, it's not just about horses-it's about love, life, and
learning. On any given day, a friend is celebrating the birth of a foal, a
blue ribbon, or recovery from an illness. That same day, there is also loss: a broken limb,
a case of colic, a decision to sustain a life or
end it gently.
As horse people, we share the celebrated life cycle of horses: the hurried rush of life, love, loss, and death that caring for these animals brings us. When our partners pass, it is more than a moment of sorrow.
We mark our loss with words of gratitude for the ways our lives have been blessed.
As horse people, we share the celebrated life cycle of horses: the hurried rush of life, love, loss, and death that caring for these animals brings us. When our partners pass, it is more than a moment of sorrow.
We mark our loss with words of gratitude for the ways our lives have been blessed.
Our memories are of joy, awe, and wonder. Absolute
union. We honor our horses for their brave hearts, courage,
and willingness to give.
To those outside our circle, it must seem strange. To see us in our muddy
boots, who would guess such poetry lives in our hearts? We celebrate our
companions with praise worthy of heroes. Indeed, horses have the hearts of warriors
To those outside our circle, it must seem strange. To see us in our muddy
boots, who would guess such poetry lives in our hearts? We celebrate our
companions with praise worthy of heroes. Indeed, horses have the hearts of warriors
and often carry us into and out of fields of battle.
Listen to stories of that once-in-a-lifetime horse; of journeys made and
challenges met. The best of horses rise to the challenges we set before
them, asking little in return.
Those who know them understand how fully a horse can hold a human heart.
Together, we share the pain of sudden loss and the lingering taste of
long-term illness. We shoulder the burden of deciding when or whether to end
the life of a true companion.
In the end, we're not certain if God entrusts us to our horses or our horses to us.
Listen to stories of that once-in-a-lifetime horse; of journeys made and
challenges met. The best of horses rise to the challenges we set before
them, asking little in return.
Those who know them understand how fully a horse can hold a human heart.
Together, we share the pain of sudden loss and the lingering taste of
long-term illness. We shoulder the burden of deciding when or whether to end
the life of a true companion.
In the end, we're not certain if God entrusts us to our horses or our horses to us.
Does it matter? We're grateful God loaned us the horse
in the first place.
And, if it's not too much, we might have at least one more good
gallop when we meet again............
"Hold a true friend with both hands"
And, if it's not too much, we might have at least one more good
gallop when we meet again............
"Hold a true friend with both hands"
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