"Do you have a Golden Horse"

Horse listening posted this today:


http://horselistening.com/2014/04/06/why-everyone-needs-a-golden-horse-a-poem/


 


“Do you have a Golden Horse? You can spot him from a mile away.


He is “golden” because of his heart of gold. This is the horse that takes care of you even more than you take care of him. You know you can rely on him to not spook, not get unnerved and let you enjoy what it was you set out to do. In fact, it seem that he  enjoys his job even more than you do! 


If you have a Golden Horse, you will soon realize how lucky you are. You will never want to part with him. Because as you learn and grow through his graciousness, you realize how much you are benefiting from him, and how much he is giving you. Every ride becomes a gift and every workout is easy because of his willing nature. You become the rider of your dreams because he lets you!


Although that calm generosity can be learned by good training, upkeep and handling, some horses are just “born that way.” So, for all the Golden Horses out there, here is a poem of gratitude.”


 


(by the Horse Listener)


The Golden Horse


 


Interested ears forward pricked,


patiently waiting through soft velvety nose-kisses,


the Golden Horse 


loves the grooming attention;


two hours of brushing, polishing and wiping


with nary a fuss but more like a sweet relaxation


reminiscent of a day at the spa.


 


Solidly standing for the mount,


quietly ambling the first strides


into 100% effort.


Team player to the point


Of two becoming one.


 


Reciprocal listening, flickering ears back and forth,


gives and takes and loose flowing backs,


seamless communication seemingly telepathic,


mindreading  aids and signals, snorts and strides,


bounces and swings -


there is no better synergy 


than when two combine.


 


Patiently waiting through your confusion,


Kindly caring through less-than-perfect risk-taking,


he is the ultimate teacher


in your quest to grow.


 


One of a kind.

OK… now granted… not every horse acts this way with his owner… but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a connection. If you ride your horse, and care for your horse, there is a connection!

My Golden Horses.... when I was a child, I had Jennifer, my welsh cross pony for many years. 18 years ago, Starlet was one of my first foals I raised. 7 years ago, Finny was my 1st competition horse. Last year, Bonita bonded with me as I rode her. Now I have Allie who I feel a strong connection with.” 

This poem struck a nerve.

I've had a few "Heart" horses during different times of my life.... my youth, one of the first foals I raised, my first horse I rode a lot after the kids got done showing, now during my competition years. I think we need to share our heart with many horses... to get over "horse ache". I could only get over Finny after I knew I had to share my heart with another horse.... and Rushcreek Allie seems to be doing that with her quiet and gentle way with me...

 “Caring” yes, I care for my horse…. And I know my horse cares enough for me to take care of both of us when times get tough.   

Yes, my horse is a teacher…. I learn so much from all my horses…. As they teach me to share my heart.  My “heart” horses teach me how unselfish they are.  They give willingly.   

“He is “golden” because of his heart of gold. This is the horse that takes care of you even more than you take care of him.”   

Finny was my horse that had a heart of gold.  I wished I could say they he still has a heart of gold, but he has been gone for 4 years now.  He took care of me more than I took care of him, as he completed a CTR then went down with a fatal colic the minute I stepped off of him, with no prior notice.  I will always be sad/sorry/angry/anguish/angry with myself/hurt/sadden/ and every emotion you can think you could have when your horse/best riding partner/the one who knows you/ and the one who you know… dies.  It is a very sad time of your life. It took me 2 years to get over him, and another year to understand it, and another year to realize this happens to a lot of horses… BUT I will never understand why this tragic death had to happen to Finny.  He was a wonderful horse and would have gone on to teach a lot of kids how to ride.  I’ll always be sad about the way he had to die.  That makes me so sad.  And it always will.

But I came to the realization that I couldn’t keep the love of horses buried.  I needed to keep the love alive.  What horse could I love?  Do I love all the horses I have equally?  Would that take too much of my energy?  My heart?

“One of a Kind”

There are many horses that are one of a kind.  Do they all become our heart horse No.  But the ones that do… they are one of a kind.

We live and breathe horses

Because horses are our lives!

Sometimes, those of us that are in the horse business, get out of the horse business because it is hard, physical work, and we go find a job that may be easier. But then we find that it is not easy on our souls. We need horses in our lives, and we need horses more than just to own and ride them. Horses need to be what we are all about. That's not saying that horses don't mean as much to people who don't have a horse business, because I know they do. I think we ALL would be depressed if we couldn't be doing something with horses.

I know I have tried to leave the horse business, and every time, I get drawn back to it. I think that I’m tired and that I want to do something easier. But as I sit inside a building, I miss being outside. I can’t wait to be outside, even on those hot, those hot days that are so humid that you have sweat running down your back as soon as you start walking to the barn, days and those cold, bone chilling cold, days, days where you can‘t wait to come inside and bundle up in a sweater and lounge on the couch with a fluffy afghan.

I know that I had to have been born with a love for horses. I know horses are imbedded in my soul. I grew up with ponies and horses all around me, and I’m the only one out of 5 siblings that still has horses. I read horse books. I drew horses. I couldn’t wait to ride the hills during the summer. And I missed my horse once I went to college and sold him the 2nd summer. Then I was too poor, newly married, within a year and a half, with a child. And living in residential areas over the next 5 years, with 2 young children, wasn’t helping me.

I haven’t been dreaming much about horses lately, and I need to start going to sleep thinking about my horses, and maybe I will start that tonight. I have been dreaming, but dreaming those strange dreams that make no sense. And I’m awake a lot (darn menopausal symptoms, waking up warm, throwing covers off, then an hour later, waking up cold, covering back up. And the cycle repeats itself every night, at least 2 more times).

So the question is, how do we survive? I know the heat and humidity this summer has worn a lot of my friends down. Who wants to come home after work and try to ride in 90 degree weather, or even low 80’s, with 70-80% humidity! It is terrible most afternoons and evenings. It’s miserable at 8 in the morning. By noon, I’m dragging, and then I drag all day. I know that I’m counting down to when there are days with NO humidity. But I still want a fall, with nice weather, not freezing, not raining, not overly windy. I know, I’m not asking for much. I’m only asking for about a month of perfect 10 days, maybe 2 months! Now, working with horses outside sounds heavenly, doesn’t it, if we get a few perfect days?

How do we survive when we don’t get much horse time? Not as much riding time either? I ride early in the morning. Some people ride in the evening. Then, after the sun goes down, you fight mosquitoes. But earlier in the day, you fight those big black flies. I have never seen as many as I have seen this summer! I try to take a few trail rides early on Saturday mornings. I just can’t do any horsey time when it is so hot and sticky that the horses are standing around, and sweating just standing still!

We need to do more than survive. We need to be revived! I know I try to revive myself every day when I come in from the barn, and just sit down for a few minutes. I try to have a good lunch. I take my Woman’s One a Day with Iron multivitamin. I read that if you get the afternoon blahs and are tired by 2 or 3 pm, take a multivitamin and that will perk you up. And you know what? It works! I started doing this Monday of last week, and every day, about noon or 1 since, I’ve taken my vitamin, along with a glucosamine supplement ( you know, for old, creaky joints). I haven’t had a tired moment in the last 2 weeks. Before that, when this heat and humidity hit, I was about to nap every day when I came inside. That darn humidity just wipes me out!

How else do we get revived? I always said August was a month when I didn’t do much, because of the heat. County Fair was always the first week, then youth world. Kids were going back to school so lessons were not scheduled. This year, I am going on a horse camping trip to SD with friends. Otherwise, if I was home, I would just do what I wanted to do. Ride horses when I wanted to. Maybe get a house decorating job done. Maybe read some books. Maybe lounge at the pool.

I give myself permission to not do much! How about that? I think that may surprise a few people. But you need down time. My hubby has a stressful job, and because of that, I feel like I need more down time. I hope that doesn’t seem selfish, as I know my hubby really needs that extra down time. But how do I take care of him, the house, the animals, my kids and grandkids, and myself, without some time of just doing nothing?

So I give you permission to do absolutely nothing! Nada! Zilch! Zero! Nothing. If you need to do nothing to get revived, then do nothing.

Otherwise, figure out HOW to revive yourself, even just a little bit, then do it!
Give yourself permission. And don’t feel guilty! We need to take care of ourselves.

I feel better when I am planning something. You know, always keeping busy with something. Maybe planning the next vacation. Maybe planning a craft or hobby project. Maybe planning a trail ride. Maybe planning an evening out with a friend and go to a wine tasting!

So plan something fun. Give yourself some time off. Get rested. Get revived. And you have survived!

Look forward to your journey.

“Embrace the journey!”

A NATRC's rider sad news today

A NATRC rider just posted that she had to put her horse down, due to a broken leg he received in his lot. Once again, thoughts are on Finny. Here was my words to her:

"I am so sorry to hear this. I know how you feel, as it just about ripped my heart out when I had to put my horse down last Oct due to colic. I was sad for a very long time. I couldn't ride where I rode him. Every time I thought I was over the hurt, something would happen and I would start hurting again. I feel better now, and not as sad as I used to be. I will always miss him. But I have a lump in my throat now. So I try to think of something that makes me happy about him, or a ride we had. That took a long time to be able to do.

If you ever need to just express how you are feeling on any different day, just email me. It does still help to have someone send me a special saying, or think about me, or just ask. I miss my horse dearly, as I know you do.

It does take time. I felt guilty for a long time. Don't go there. We all do the best we can with the circumstances that we have at the time. Would I do things different now? yes, we all would. But now we take that knowledge and move on.

hugs,
Brenda

When I think things are better, news like this make me feel very sad all over again. Friends have told me that years later, they still ache for that special horse that was in their life. Now that Finny is gone, I must say he had to have been very special to me, without my realizing it, until he was gone.

Isn't life like that sometimes? We need to see what is truly important and appreciate it. A friend's post to me said what I always believe, "Things happen for a reason".

After Finny was gone, I couldn't ride. I think I only rode 3 times in 6 months. Then I started to hurt less, and I started looking at Shaggy. I have always liked how he looked. Now he is the horse I have as I continue my Centered Riding journey. This feels right.

I had looked at some gaited horses over the last 8 1/2 months, but there wasn't one that seemed quite right. I looked at Savannah, and even though she was only 4, I liked the way she stood quiet. I liked the way that the rider rode her. And I liked how I knew the breeder and knew how well the breeder took care of her horses. I didn't hesitate and Savannah came home with me that day to start a trail riding/CTR career with me. This feels right also.

I have one more big decision to make and it is about my stud. I know what I want to do. I think I am just waiting on timing. We bred 2 mares, and I'll see if they are in foal. Or maybe I need to wait until they are on the ground and rebreed. Then I would like Duke to be my horse that I will take dressage/English lessons on. I have always heard, and believed, that dressage principles can be applied to any style of riding. Centered Riding wants us to work on our own education, and I can't think of any better horse I want to ride than Duke. For those who have heard me talk of him, I have been thinking of gelding him for many years. He is the horse to continue my education on and to work on dressage. I think the time has come and this feels right.

I didn't think I would type so much. But when something happens in your life that makes you think, then you better stop and think. The death of another good horse that has someone hurting as much as I hurt is sad. But it makes me realize what I do have in my life. Shaggy was here and I probably wouldn't be at where I am with him if Finny hadn't died. I may not have bought Savannah, but bought a different horse last fall. I may continue to put Duke on the back burner.

We all can say that when we hear of death, we appreciate what we have even better. Every day I work with horses, I need to remember this. I can share the love I had of riding Finny, and for Finny, with many other horses. Every day I work with horses, I want to tell myself that God has given me a gift and I need to use it to the best of my ability. He has given many of us this gift. Our love of horses.

Horses are our Lives. I'll blog more about this on my blog,
http://myblog-horsesareourlives.blogspot.com/

Become a friend.

"Embrace the Journey!"
Brenda

Final Goodbye Tribute to Finny

NOT GOODBYE, BUT SO LONG...



I’ll end the year with a final goodbye tribute to my wonderful riding partner of 5 years, Finny. I always want to remember the good times that I had with him. I didn’t know it until he died, but he was as much a part of me as my heart is. We were bonding really well together. I knew what he felt and I tried to give him what he needed when we rode. When he died, part of my heart died. Now the memories are healing my sorrowed heart. More importantly, Finny’s memories are helping me to love horses again, for what they can be in our lives.



He lived a short 8 years, first as an orphan at 1 month, to a scrawny yearling, then on to those terrible 2’s. We made sure not to treat him as a pet and kept him in with the other mares and babies. Finny was friendly, but a little pistol when he wanted his own way. On the lunge line as a yearling and 2 year old, if he would act up and I pulled too hard on the line, he would almost fall over. As a 3 year old in the spring, he acted the same way with a saddle on while lunging. I put him away until fall, spent 30 more days lunging him, watching him act up, wondering if he was ever going to be good. Then 1 day, he acted great and I decided to step up on him. I rode him ever since that day.

Finny, this spring, fat and needing to get into condition!


As an orphan, I made sure to feed him well, supplementing with alfalfa and a youth grain. He grew from a 13 hand yearling, to a 14 hand 2 year old, to a 15 hand 3 year old, to mature out at 15.3. I rode him in the fields as a 4 year old, going through tree lines, over ditches, through water. He didn’t like to step down into small ditches or go through water. We worked on all the ditches in the field, and especially on 1 small ditch that he wanted to jump. It took a year, but we could finally walk through anything. He would always veer away from mucky ground if he could, knowing where he should step and where he shouldn‘t.



The water was another training time that went slowly for a year. Finny went from being scared of even putting feet into water to ears perked while he splashed around. The drains on the field’s terraces were a great training ground. One day, the fields dried up but there was a lot of water around the drains. We rode around one of the big water holes, circling the muddy edges, closing the distance between dry ground and muddy ground. After about 45 minutes, as he neared the very edge of the muddy water, he was relaxing and I turned him directly into the water. When he realized he was in the water, he splashed from end to end. I moved him onto dry ground, circling the muddy edges once again, but only after 2 circles, as I turned him toward the water, he went right in. We stayed longer in the water, moving back and forth. The following day, he went directly into the water. What an accomplishment for Finny!



I will always have the special memories of the last 2 years. Conditioning rides in the fields, long trotting in 2 point position to feel his every movement.


Tom and I spent part of a week at Ft Rob, NE with Finny and another horse.


Riding CTR’s for 2 years, being in competition with the mileage and obstacles.


And this year was the best, realizing, while riding Finny in the Centered Riding Clinics and in the Instructors Course, that I found what I wanted to do with him.


Our riding and understanding of each other clicked when there was no other pressure except riding centered.

Finny helped me to realize what I wanted to teach in my training program and what type of instructor I wanted to be.



Finny taught me how I should be training horses.

I will always be so grateful for having Finny in my life and what he showed me.



God Jumps
printed with written permission by Lauren Davis Baker

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 jump.

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 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 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. 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. 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.

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 oversaturated 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 jumping,
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



Only You Could Love Me This Way
Keith Urbom



Well I know there’s a reason,
And I know there’s a rhyme,
We were meant to be together,
That’s why



We can roll with the punches
We can stroll hand in hand
And while I say it’s forever
You understand…



That you’re always in my heart
You’re always on my mind
When it all becomes too much
You’re never far behind



And there’s no one
That comes close to you
Could ever take your place
Because only you could love me this way.



I could have turned a different corner,
I could have gone another place,
Then I’d never have this feeling
That I feel today.



That you’re always in my heart
You’re always on my mind
When it all becomes too much
You’re never far behind



And there’s no one
That comes close to you
Could ever take your place
Because only you could love me this way.



That you’re always in my heart,
Always on my mind,
When it becomes too much,
You’re never far behind



And there’s no one
That comes close to you
Could ever take your place



Only you could love me this way.



Only you could love me this way.



I love you, Finny. I love your heart, your enthusiasm, your patience, your understanding.



I will always love you!



So long, not Goodbye, my friend, as I'll ride you again in Heaven.

I have slowed down...some

I have slowed down. I seem to want to take my time. I feel more relaxed.

I don’t rush as much when I drive. That is when I first noticed it. I drive at the speed limit. I started not pushing the limit by going 5 over. As I watch cars fly by me, I wonder why they are in such a hurry. I wondered why I was always in such a hurry.

I just feel like I want to take my time. I’m tired of doing so much at one time. I’m tired of rushing. I’m tired of trying to do 1 more thing before I leave. I’m tired of being late. And I’m really tired of what is happening recently - waking up at night, feeling very, very warm!

I was so dead tired 2 nights ago that I finally slept through the night! I don’t know if my body warmed up or not, because I was too tired to wake up to find out! I felt like a new mother with a young child who didn’t wake her up for the first time!

I think that, since I haven’t slept well lately, this is the start of me not rushing - because I’m tired! I sit and relax more. I want to sit and relax! I want to take the time to sit and relax! I enjoy sitting down and relaxing! What a treat to take a cup of coffee to the lunge chair and just sit there, sipping. Listening to the birds. Watching the horses. Not thinking about anything!

We all need to re-energize ourselves. When the kids were home, and we were showing, my down times have always been mid-late August, after coming back from AQHYA World in Ft Worth, Texas. The other time has been January, after the busy holidays and before we really started back to riding. When the kids were really showing and preparing for qualifying classes for Youth World, we would ride all year long. All those cold, dark afternoons in January and February. The barn was ½ full in those days, so I kept busy with stalls, and riding, and training. I didn’t seem to notice the short daylight days. Then! I sure notice them now. And I really don’t want to be in the barn with chores when it is 0 degrees out! Brrr. You can’t ride then anyways, so why have chores? The horses are outside during these months.

Now, I’m re-energizing myself by taking time for me. Especially when the days and weeks are busy. I find a time to sit and enjoy that cup or coffee or glass of wine. It may only be for 10 minutes when I get home from the store and have that cup of coffee, or ice tea, before going to do chores. But I’ve sat down and just regrouped. Or it could be after the shower and have that glass of wine while watching a mindless show. I really do enjoy sitting and doing nothing!

But I enjoy the horses and the training and competitiveness of CTR’s. Now I just make sure I have the time for myself to enjoy doing what I want to do. I got to the point where I didn’t want to ride for pleasure and I didn’t like that. I want to enjoy my horses. I just needed the time to re-energize.

It has been a year now since I started the re-energizing process. Looking back over the last year, I see that now. I still give lessons, but not as many. I stopped being a 4-H instructor after 15 years, plus. That was a hard decision, and one that I had been thinking about and talking about for more than a year. Finally, the time seemed right. I’m doing more riding for the sport that I am enjoying. I have taken my rides back to the fields, but only in the spring before planting and in the fall after harvest.

I have slowed down…some! I’m enjoying smelling the roses! Literally. I planted some and they are starting to bloom. I hear how quiet it is when I am quiet! I’m taking time to lay on the lounge chair! I love that!

Maybe this process made sense to me, and I realize that it is happening, since I started the Centered Riding Instructor’s Course in May and June. I seem like this summer has been a more relaxed summer for me. And more on the CR course, as I am in Colorado this week, completing the 2nd half of the Level 1 certification.

I have re-energized and I am ready to go! TAKE SOME TIME FOR YOURSELF. Get revived and come along on the ride with me! I’m looking forward to riding when I get home!

Horses are part of our Dreams!

When we are excited about something, then we should try to do it. Sure, we have to take into consideration time, money, and ability. But why is it that, when we are excited about doing something, some people are along on the ride and other people see the negatives of what we are trying to do? Why would you want to ride all day? Why work in the barn that late? Why get up so early to go to a show? Why ride in that heat?

We should try to indulge our dreams. Definitely! We need to have something to work for and to work towards. But we can’t always be working, we need to work on achieving that dream. I’ve talked before about goals, and maybe that is what our dreams have turned into. Dream and set goals!

Our choices do change our lives. Sometimes, we do need to change what we are doing and go on a different course for our lives. Or maybe the same course, just a different route. I will always be on a course with horses, but I will let life change that course for me. Anyways, that will add some excitement! Look forward to change!

Horses definitely direct the paths that we take. Our decisions are based on what we need to do with our horses. I’ve told lots of non-horse friends and family that I’ll have to check my calendar to see what I’m doing with the horses! That was so true when the kids were home and we showed all spring, summer, fall, and part of winter!

Do we need to make it big to fill fulfilled? I used to think that, but I don’t think so anymore. We are fulfilled when we truly enjoy what we are doing! I now feel, or at least I’m starting to feel, more fulfilled than I have for a lot of years. Busy does not make us fulfilled. Enjoying what we are doing makes us fulfilled. Accomplishing something makes us fulfilled. Being happy and content makes up fulfilled.

I have never had hoof beats in my head, but I have felt the heartache when I haven’t had horses. I have felt that heartache when my dad was going to sell my pony. I have felt that heartache when I just wanted to give up and sell all my horses. Who wanted to work that hard anyways? To train, ride, give lessons for 12 hours or more a day, not have time for your own horses, and do it in all types of weather, from below zero to humid 100’s. But when I thought of the alternative, I had a heartache, knowing that if I did what I was thinking, I would be sad for a long time.

Passion? Yes, to do all of this, you must have passion. Something that is actually hard to put into words. A burning desire. A need. To give yourself to an animal that will love you back unconditionally. Give of yourself to an animal that you need to care 100% for. Something that fulfills you and makes you who you are. Without horses in our lives, who would we be? Who would care for the horses that are part of my life? Would they have existed without me?

I am who I am because of horses. I can’t help it. And I won’t make allowances for it anymore. People can just accept me for who I am and get along with me or they don’t need to be part of my life.

Horses have shaped me and have molded my mind. They control my thoughts. My feelings. My decisions. Horses have taught me to think and react the way that they do. Horses have taught me to be true and honest. Horses have taught me to show how it is! No grey areas. Horses have taught me to bite and kick when something is irritating, yet nuzzle withers with their best friend.
What would I be like and who would I be without horses? Would my life be fulfilled? I don’t think so, as it makes me sad and depressed to think about selling everything, get a 9-5 job, and not have horses. I might enjoy not having chores for awhile, but what would I do when I come home? What would I do with free time? Now, that is a thought!

Horses are a part of my life as much as anything can be. I couldn’t breath without knowing that I could look out my window and see the horses. I don’t need to do something with them at that moment, but I need to know that they are there.

To keep horses in my life, I did stay home and raise 3 kids. I taught riding lessons, I trained, I raised some colts, and I took my kids to shows. I was extremely busy spring and summer, slowed down in the fall, and just about had winters off. I took the days off that I had to, and then I rode weekends, and Sundays (but very few) when I had to. I did kept Sundays as family day, and did no lessons that day. I tried not to show horses that were for sale on Sundays either. I needed a day for me.

I set my own schedule, I worked hard when I had to, I rode horses all day. I guess you don’t know what you have until you don’t have it anymore! But I thing that I just realized is that I stayed home so that I could ride, train, and give lessons.

But now my life is taking a different course. I want to always have horses in my life. But I don’t want to work as hard. I want to come home and have time for my horses. I don’t want to be in the barn until 9 every night. I want to still teach riding to those who want to learn from me, but I don’t want to have every night filled with lessons. I want to have time to sit back and relax and enjoy my horses. I want to ride my young horses and make them better. I want to trail ride more. And I want to share my love of horses with my young grandchildren.

Life is definitely on a different course for me. I am excited to ride on that trail! I‘m dreaming a different dream! My goals have changed. I’m taking more time for what is important!
Come along on the ride with me! Let’s dream together!

Valentine's Day is over, but the love lingers...

Valentine’s Day is over, but the memory lingers. This day is a day for remembering why we love the people that we love.

Valentine’s Day is a day of flowers, chocolate, cards, and kisses. But love doesn’t have to be shown in the form of gifts. This is a day to tell your loved ones that you love them. It could be a kiss hello or goodbye. It could be a special look. It could be just saying the right thing at the right time.

Love could be spending time with your loved one. And wanting to! Love could be giving of yourself, because you love the other person that much. Love could be doing something special for the other person. Love could be doing what the other person wants to do. Doing something that you wouldn’t necessarily would want to do. But you would do this because that is what the other person would love.

I wonder who we love more, people or pets? Pets love us back unconditionally. Pets want us to be happy all the time. Pets do what makes us happy, all the time. Well, most of the time!

Are horses pets? I don’t think they make us happy all the time! But when they do, that happy time is a special moment. Sometimes we have that special bond with that special horse. A bond that forms a special friendship. A bond that has that horse following us around like a puppy dog!

Do we tell our horses that we love them? What do we do that is special to our special horse? I think when we step back from riding and training, and just spend time with our horse, the horse knows that we love him or her. Love could be grooming, or feeding, or giving a special treat. Love could be going into the field to hug on our horse. To give our special friend a special hug.

How can we tell that our horses love us? Does our horse whinny when they see us? I love it when my horse whinnies to me softly, like a mare talking to her foal. Does our horse come up to us and lay their head low, to be petted in that special spot between the eyes? Does our horse stand still in the pasture, letting us rub them all over? I love it when the horses crowd around me, wanting me to pick them to rub on.

Sometimes we just need to spend time together. Doing nothing. That not only applies to our human loved ones, but to our four legged friends. A warm muzzle. A long neck to caress. A large belly to hug. A friend who will hang their head and accept us for who we are.

That is what love is all about. A horse to love. To love unconditionally. To want to spend time with me. To follow me around. To say spend time with me.

My next ride will be to hang out with my horse friend and just mosey around on the ride, enjoying each other‘s company! I just want to hang out for awhile! I want to make this a special ride for my friend, because I think that is what he would want! Come along on the ride with me!

Thankful for Horses

Brenda, Tom, Sara, Jacob & Micah

Fall, 1995

Thanksgiving is over. We are thankful for many things, and one of those is horses.

Why do I love horses so much? I love horses because they are honest and sincere and truthful with their actions. They are a good friend! Horses let you know exactly how they feel. I love their horsey smell, the musty smell as they are shedding their winter coat or the sweaty smell after a hard workout. I love how a mare nickers to her young foal and I love that similar sound when they nicker for their hay. I love riding a collected lope. I love sitting down deep and feeling the horse stop. I love loping in the fields and watching the horse perk his/her ears, anticipating a run. I love the feel of the muscles as they stretch. I love it when my horse walks up to me and wants me to rub its head, right between the eyes. I am thankful that they want me in their life as much as I want them to be in my life.

I asked a question. Why do you love horses? Why are you thankful? You told me how much horses mean to you. You told me how horses have offered you a peaceful solution when life gets hard. You told me that you can’t imagine horses not a part of your life. Some of the answers that I received have given me more time to reflect on why I am thankful for horses.



My friend, Gretchen, has just moved away. She is an equestrian coordinator for a youth camp, and she just loves it. It is so obvious that she loves her job, loves her work, loves working with kids, and loves her horses! Did I say that she loves her horses? This love just oozes out of her. Gretchen is a neat person and I am so lucky to have her as a friend and confidant. We talk to each other, talk things out, and find solutions. We both try to figure out the horse. All of this because of a friendship that developed from Gretchen having the desire to ride better. She knows and understands horses, and she rides with a renewed confidence. She is truly a good friend to her horses! I think the horses she own and the horses she care for are thankful that she is in their life!

Gretchen loves horses so much that what she wrote, what could have been, and should be, a poem. I put it into a poem for her. Here is my version of Gretchen’s poem. Enjoy it as much as I have!

“I Love Horses Because…”
Horses teach me so much!
I never stop learning from them.
Horses make me laugh, and they make me cry.
On my worst days, my horses know it.
They come over and drop their heads in my lap to offer comfort.
On my best days, my horses take me for the ride of my life.
There is nothing better in life than a gallop across the bean field or a lope around the arena.
There is nothing better in life than the sound of a herd of happy horses eating.
There is nothing better in life than the smell of horses in the barn.
They are such incredible works of God's creation.
They are a mystery and a surprise.
They trust and forgive.

Gretchen thought that she could go on and on, but she thought that was enough. I could have read more! Thanks, Gretchen! Horses are indeed one of God's wonderful creations! This is good enough to be a poem, and now it is! Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me! You are thankful for horses and I am thankful for you. You give many older horses a fantastic retirement. You give many children a wonderful summer vacation. You give your friends a sense of the peace that horses need to feel. You give your horses a wonderful, peaceful life.

A few people have talked about how horses have saved them. I quote: “They are the sanity at the beginning and end of a very long day“. Horses offer a calmness after a long day at work. Whenever there is something upsetting in life, you can always go to the barn or to the pasture to find the horse you love with all of your life. Horses offer a calmness to one’s life, but you need to sit back and enjoy some quiet time with them. No structure, no purpose, just to be there. An existence unhampered by demands.

When tragedy strikes, in the form of a family member leaving home or in a death of a loved one, families became closer due to horses. Sometimes, sacrifices are made so that horses can remain part of the family. Horses understand love, and hurt, and let you be quiet, without questions. Families deal with loss by hugging a pet or smelling a horse’s neck, by walking or talking with their four legged friend, having a companion, and finding a soul mate. Horses remain quiet when you are quiet. They search you out to give you what you need. They remain close as you rub on them. They remain near until your anxieties and pain are less intense, then they move off quietly to graze.

Yes, I believe horses are great therapy! They listen without complaining. I think it is so peaceful to walk among them when you are bothered or upset about something. The horses seem to know when you are there, not to catch them, but to visit and wander. They come to you and let you pet them, and I find where they are almost too much in my face. They must sense when we need to be comforted. They blow their scent over you, covering you with a blanket of their smell, protecting you with their invisible layer of love and warmth.

With the love for a horse comes a connection. A special feeling that you belong with them. One friend wrote: “horses are my teachers, my therapist, and the mirror into my soul. It's hard to describe the hole that would be left if I couldn't spend time with horses - they're a part of me!” With a horse, you become more than what you are. Horses make the impossible possible. Horses make you a better person. Horses make you try to live your life to the fullest. You can achieve what you strive to achieve, and horses can help.

Oh, I love that. "Horses are the mirror into my soul!" Lovely! We see ourselves when we truly understand the horse, when we see him for what he is. If we search the horse’s soul, we would begin to understand them and see them as an individual horse instead of one of many. I wonder if the opposite is true? Does my horse see inside me as I try to see inside her? Does my horse understand what makes me tick and why I am the way that I am? Does my horse help me to make me a better horsewoman and rider? Does my horse help me to understand him or her better? I will slow down and watch for this as I continue my paths with my horses. How are my horses helping me?

Yes, I can’t imagine the emptiness that would follow without horses in my life. There was a time, after marriage, and when the babies came, that I didn’t have horses. But I knew that I would once again have horses, but the timing was not right at that moment. This is different than knowing that you could not have horses. I would be in agony. I need to know they are there when I need them. It doesn’t matter that I haven’t done anything with them in the last 2 weeks except feed them. They are still there and they are mine.

Even if I could never own horses again, horses would remain a part of my life. I would have to volunteer at a barn. I would have to drive by someone’s pasture every day. I would need to see them. That wouldn’t be good enough. I would need to touch them. I would need to smell them. I would have to wrap my life around them.

I love horses because horses have made me some wonderful horsey friends! Horses are my life because I love my horses! Thanks for coming along on this ride with me! Brenda

We Love Our Horses because...

Starlet and Duster, May 2008

There are many reasons that I love horses. I have a lot of memories. Life was slower and simplier when we were kids, so I think we had more time to play then kids today. I think my first memories were of my brother, sister, and friends riding our ponies. I remember racing my brother to a tree out in the field, around the tree, and then back to the barn. We did fine racing to the tree, around the tree, and back to the barn, UNTIL the ponies didn't stop. They made a sharp L turn on the gravel driveway, and headed to the barn. I fell off onto the gravel. Ouch! I rode my pony to ball practice. I rode my horse to deliver newspapers! My pony had a foal and I raised my first baby. I loved sitting in the manger and watching my pony eat. I loved riding my pony, and later, my first horse, to the trails. I remember riding by myself all the time, through the hills and trees. Today, I prefer riding in a hilly, forest area. I taught my 3 children and husband to ride. My children grew up with the responsibility of caring for their horses and riding and practicing for events. Now they are responsible adults because of horses in their lives.

Why do I love horses? I love horses because they are honest and they let you know exactly how they feel. I love their smell. I love how a mare nickers to her young foal. I love riding a collected lope. I love loping in the fields and watching the horse perk his/her ears, anticipating a run. I love it when the horse walks up to you and wants you to rub its head. And most important, I love horses since, because of horses, I have wonderful friends!

Riding with friends at Ft. Rob, NE June 2008

Why do you love horses?

Come along on this memory ride with me! Brenda