There is a word - yes one word that comes to mind each and every time a foal arrives safe and sound. That word is a simple word, yet profound - "GRATEFUL"
A FEW WORDS TO ENCOURAGE YOU.....
Most of you reading this are aware of my love of the horse. I love everything about this animal – yes even mucking out the paddocks. Actually, I find cleaning up the manure therapeutic – but then again, I find most everything “equine” therapeutic. With that in mind, God must think I need a lot of therapy, seeing I look after 25 horses.
Not only do Judi and I rescue, re-train and re-home horses along with our Equine Retirement Program (Retiring With Dignity), we raise Foundation Quarter Horses. I confess I am addicted to foals. I’ve witnessed dozens of births and I have no problem telling you, I get moved at each and every birth.
Since moving to our ranch in the Sidley Mountain area, we have met some wonderful horse breeders. Cliff and Yvonne LaBounty have been very supportive, bailing us out of situations way above our scope of knowledge. And Art and Nora Harfman, not only did they help us learn, 13 years ago they gave us an incredible stallion, “Palmer Mountain” to use. Working with Palmer and a few rescued mares, did it….I was hooked.
My office window over looks our 40 acre pasture and I have had the perfect vantage point to watch our stallions and mares through all four seasons. I hope one day to write a book on stallion behavior, but I fear the average person wouldn’t believe what I have witnessed first hand. The way horses interact and communicate is incredible.
Over these past fifteen years, the Lord has used this magnificent creature to teach me a lot – mostly a lot about myself. Several horse whispers say the horse is a mirror, but I’m not sure that is an adequate description. I have found that my horses respond to whatever is going on with me, so I never take anger or frustration into the round pen.
I have several horses that sense when I am down and they actually try to lift me out of my slump. I have witnessed a horse leave the herd and approach us, then placed her head on the shoulder of a complete stranger, a young man suffering from PTSD. It was spiritual, breath taking and a move towards his healing.
Over the years we have been awarded horses from some top horse people’s estates. Our present stallion Jazz, and several brood mares came from the estate of the late Bob Owens. Recently, we were given two horses from the estate of a man killed in a traffic accident. When I picked up Shadow and Shorty, I was offered their owner’s glove or jacket (carrying his scent) to calm the distressed horses. The horses had not eaten for two days, somehow knowing Lyndsey was not coming back. I declined their offer and went into the pen and simply talked with them. I spoke calmly and kindly to Shorty and after placing the halter on him, I went to attach the lead line, but he stepped toward me – looked right at me and laid his chin on my shoulder. It seemed we both let out a little sigh. He followed me without hesitation to Shadow and then we all simply walked into my trailer.
I believe that horses (as with people) respond to our emotions, thoughts our feelings. I believe, as with many people, one must be honest with your horse if you are to gain trust.
Mary Twelve Ponies wrote a book called “No Problem Horses, Just Problem Riders”.
Strange how most horse people are blind to what their horse’s behavior may be telling them about themselves. Most horse problems almost always turn out to be people problems. It’s so easy to blame the horse when things don’t go as we planned.
Because God is more interested in our character than in our comfort, He insists we get to work on ourselves. But we can get so defensive and some of us are there now. It is difficult to really confront your own issues. And just when you think nothing else in your character needs attention, another eye opener about yourself comes around the corner.
That is how grace revelations work.
This means being brutally honest with yourself.
Psalm 145:18 “The Lord is close to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.”
God wants you to come to Him with everything ….The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
Several weeks ago a few of us were playing with the horses in the arena where I had set up poles and a bridge obstacle. Our objective was in hand trust games. I tried something with Shorty. I put his halter on and took a lead line. I walked him through the pole serpentine and then across the bridge. He did great, stayed right at my shoulder. What a good boy.
Then I said to our friend Donna, (she was working with her horse), “Hey watch this!”
I took the lead line and halter off and tried again. Shorty didn’t miss a beat! He stayed right at my shoulder, through the serpentine and even over the bridge….no lead line….no halter.
Then I tried the poles again. This time as we were walking through, I slowed down and whispered “Slow down”….and he did!
Then I whispered, “Back up” as I took several steps backward….and he did!
Donna and I actually laughed out loud. This was awesome.
As I shared this Sunday morning at the Fair, it dawned on me, that this was exactly what God wants - our trust. Not to be led around, but to freely walk beside Him, listening to His quiet instruction. Bless ya!
Not only do Judi and I rescue, re-train and re-home horses along with our Equine Retirement Program (Retiring With Dignity), we raise Foundation Quarter Horses. I confess I am addicted to foals. I’ve witnessed dozens of births and I have no problem telling you, I get moved at each and every birth.
Since moving to our ranch in the Sidley Mountain area, we have met some wonderful horse breeders. Cliff and Yvonne LaBounty have been very supportive, bailing us out of situations way above our scope of knowledge. And Art and Nora Harfman, not only did they help us learn, 13 years ago they gave us an incredible stallion, “Palmer Mountain” to use. Working with Palmer and a few rescued mares, did it….I was hooked.
My office window over looks our 40 acre pasture and I have had the perfect vantage point to watch our stallions and mares through all four seasons. I hope one day to write a book on stallion behavior, but I fear the average person wouldn’t believe what I have witnessed first hand. The way horses interact and communicate is incredible.
Over these past fifteen years, the Lord has used this magnificent creature to teach me a lot – mostly a lot about myself. Several horse whispers say the horse is a mirror, but I’m not sure that is an adequate description. I have found that my horses respond to whatever is going on with me, so I never take anger or frustration into the round pen.
I have several horses that sense when I am down and they actually try to lift me out of my slump. I have witnessed a horse leave the herd and approach us, then placed her head on the shoulder of a complete stranger, a young man suffering from PTSD. It was spiritual, breath taking and a move towards his healing.
Over the years we have been awarded horses from some top horse people’s estates. Our present stallion Jazz, and several brood mares came from the estate of the late Bob Owens. Recently, we were given two horses from the estate of a man killed in a traffic accident. When I picked up Shadow and Shorty, I was offered their owner’s glove or jacket (carrying his scent) to calm the distressed horses. The horses had not eaten for two days, somehow knowing Lyndsey was not coming back. I declined their offer and went into the pen and simply talked with them. I spoke calmly and kindly to Shorty and after placing the halter on him, I went to attach the lead line, but he stepped toward me – looked right at me and laid his chin on my shoulder. It seemed we both let out a little sigh. He followed me without hesitation to Shadow and then we all simply walked into my trailer.
I believe that horses (as with people) respond to our emotions, thoughts our feelings. I believe, as with many people, one must be honest with your horse if you are to gain trust.
Mary Twelve Ponies wrote a book called “No Problem Horses, Just Problem Riders”.
Strange how most horse people are blind to what their horse’s behavior may be telling them about themselves. Most horse problems almost always turn out to be people problems. It’s so easy to blame the horse when things don’t go as we planned.
Because God is more interested in our character than in our comfort, He insists we get to work on ourselves. But we can get so defensive and some of us are there now. It is difficult to really confront your own issues. And just when you think nothing else in your character needs attention, another eye opener about yourself comes around the corner.
That is how grace revelations work.
This means being brutally honest with yourself.
Psalm 145:18 “The Lord is close to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.”
God wants you to come to Him with everything ….The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
Several weeks ago a few of us were playing with the horses in the arena where I had set up poles and a bridge obstacle. Our objective was in hand trust games. I tried something with Shorty. I put his halter on and took a lead line. I walked him through the pole serpentine and then across the bridge. He did great, stayed right at my shoulder. What a good boy.
Then I said to our friend Donna, (she was working with her horse), “Hey watch this!”
I took the lead line and halter off and tried again. Shorty didn’t miss a beat! He stayed right at my shoulder, through the serpentine and even over the bridge….no lead line….no halter.
Then I tried the poles again. This time as we were walking through, I slowed down and whispered “Slow down”….and he did!
Then I whispered, “Back up” as I took several steps backward….and he did!
Donna and I actually laughed out loud. This was awesome.
As I shared this Sunday morning at the Fair, it dawned on me, that this was exactly what God wants - our trust. Not to be led around, but to freely walk beside Him, listening to His quiet instruction. Bless ya!
April 8, 2017 Tough Day ......
Tough morning..... I had to put up with this bunch as I did chores. It is a hard job, but somebody had do it....