God's Reins

(not sure who wrote it)

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. Or, perhaps it's because God wants to slide.

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.

Okay, 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 that you get dirty, 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 turn-out, 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.

If you weren't raised with horses, you can't know that they 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.

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. 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. 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.

Your horse may humble you completely. Or, you may find that sitting on his back is the closest you'll get to heaven. 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. 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, a case of colic, a decision to sustain a life or end it gently.

As horse people, we share the accelerated 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 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.

Does it matter? We're grateful God loaned us the horse in the first place. And so we pray:

Dear God,
After You've enjoyed a bit of riding, please give our fine horses the best of care. And, if it's not too much, might we have at least one more good gallop when we meet again?
Amen

With Great Sadness

My beautiful mustang, Mare, had a tragic accident this afternoon. She stumbled in the pasture and broke her neck. Wally who was closer to her and got there faster said she was gone before he got there. I had Mare for over ten years and am a loss to why this happened. I know that there was nothing I could have done differently. Sorry, but will write more later...

Everyday Life

So I have been lax on entries. I had finals week two weeks ago and then spring break(which is a week off for me). I managed two As and one B. I have yet to hear from my History of the Near Far East. I am very happy with those final grades.

Now I have started a new term and have two History classes(Art of MesoAmerica and US History(up to 1840), one math class and one geography class(Population). I have lots of writing to do again and also math work, which is more everyday math than specialized.

The boys did okay. Jacob passed all his classes with Cs or better for the semester and Kayvon got all his up except for English(although it is not a second language in our home). Both have been working hard to earn money. Jacob is again going to Band Camp and Kayvon lost his MP3 player a few weeks ago, and wants to replace it.

Mare went in for her vaccines and did very well this year. All the extra work on pinching her neck has paid off. We also did the PowerPac and after five days of worming she is much better about taking tube wormer. I have noticed that she does not look so bloated in the belly and I am hoping that she sheds fast this year. So much hair...

Jewel is also doing well. I have another appointment this Thursday to take her vaccines out to her and to hopefully ride. I am very excited and am looking forward to the summer months.

I did not get to ride at all during spring break. I did get most of the posts set in our ongoing fencing project. Maybe after eight years I will have the fence done. LOL

Wally is hanging in still. Had a few interviews and sending lots of application. He has started to look outside of town again(last time he had several offers, but we could not leave our home). We love it here. Like the small town feeling, less traffic and we have a home and land here. SO if we do not get something soon, then we might have to take an out of town job. Still praying that one will come available here. For right now the unenjoyment(as Wally calls it) is still there, and helps a great bit. Not nearly as bad as if we had no funds.

As for my job, still not sure. The school districts did not merge, but did realign. Which is good for the students, but we lost a high school in my district and those staff can bump us that do not have the time in. I know there is a list on who is where on time, but I did not look as I felt it might just stress me out. I should know something next week. Either way, I am okay with it. I love my job and would prefer to stay here, but if I am jobless in September, I will just take extra college classes and get my degree faster.

Overall a good month. Lots of blessing and things to be thankful for. I know we will not starve. Have savings that will do us a bit. God always seems to take care of us, although I would like it with winning the powerball..LOL

Till next time,
Me