He was a tall, distinguished man. He drove to the barn in a beautiful European sports car. He was impeccably dressed and he insisted on hiring grooms to handle his horses. He had five. He loved to fox hunt and he would drive to the location of the hunt and someone would be there to meet him with the horse of his choosing.
That’s why I was shocked to see him at the barn at six o’clock in the morning. He had khaki’s and a polo shirt. He had pulled a cap on his head and I hardly recognized him. He came to the ring and was watching me ride. A perpetual early bird, riding first thing in the morning is always the best way to start off any day. He stood at the rail and watched me riding. I pulled up and we exchanged pleasantries. He told me that he had bought yet another horse. I was surprised. He shared that he would like to have that special relationship that he saw so many of the riders had with their horses. He then said that watching me ride made him envious, it seemed that we were one with each other.
Fearful that I would offend him, I offered my observations about what he was looking for. He was searching for a relationship with his horses. That every good horse person I understands that it is only established through the good, bad, hard, easy, enlightening, frustrating rides on a horse. It is grooming your horse and handing over carrots with their tops on, peeled apples, and molasses drizzled on ginger snaps. It is riding with persistence and determination to be a team, a partner with the horse, and that anything short of that hard work will never lead to a relationship that will be unlike any other.
He looked at me quizzically. It was an epiphany. No one had explained it to him like that. A horse was like one of his cars. Boredom or lack of a connection lead him to exchange horses. He asked if I would help him to understand horses better.
Are you on the verge of giving up on a project, horse, friend, relationship, horse, pony, etc.? Consider the lessons missed, the relationship building, and a deeper character being formed.
Be inspired, full of hope, claim your prize- Believe. I believe and know that you are an overcomer. Trust not in yourself, but in God Almighty. Ask Him to show the lessons that need to be learned and most importantly ask that you are always willing to do what is hard- change.
Check out Raise Your Dreams Farm Facebook. See our special children riding, overcoming, and becoming empowered on a horse.
Want to help more special children and adults? Please post your unwanted tack, riding apparel, horse related items, etc. Selling a horse or a pony? Consider posting on http://www.anythingforhorseandrider.com.
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Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth Proverbs 10:4
Anything For Horse And Rider 
Woww inspiring!!
The horses are the ones that are inspiring, I just like to write about them. Do you ride?
Yes I’ve had my own horse since I was 9 years old, I ride him together with my sister! There are a couple of posts about horses on my blog, even a couple with some pictures of me and my horse 🙂
yes, I see it in my daughter and wife when they ride — there is a communication – almost like ESP that happens when horse and rider are aligned.
The horse is so intuitive that they can almost anticipate actions of their familiar rider. Much like we can almost finish the sentence of our spouse. The difference is that the horse is so in tune that we are convinced we are doing nothing different. They are just “reading” their partner. It is an awesome relationship to have with a horse. It makes you feel like you have an extension of yourself. I think that’s why they are so good with special needs children.
I was never so good as my kids and wife. Although one time we were riding down by a stream and Chief got all trembly and didn’t want to cross — he might have smelled another animal, moose, bear, mountain lion, I had to talk to him, pat his neck, and urge him through. A couple days later he bucked someone off at that same place. I dodged a bullet there 🙂
You are making me laugh! You did dodge a bullet there! I had a horse named Raise Your Dreams and he was so smart. If I put a friend on him who did not know how to ride, he would just stop in the middle of the ring and stare at me and refuse to move no matter what the rider did. It was as if he was saying I will not be humbled by some poor old soul who does not know how to ride. He would whinny or “herd” me if I tried to get another horse from the field. As a horse trainer, I would find myself listening to him holler with disgust as I rode another horse. It was as if his heart was broken if I chose another horse over him. He was a good sport though, he always forgave me. I think he walked a little prouder when he was carrying me. He was a horse that I will never forget for he taught me so many lessons about life, living, and character. He was a class act!
great words!
You are definitely teaching this to your kids! When you write about the kids knowing something is “off” with one of the horses, you know they are in tuen with each other.