Life Lessons Horseback
Horses have always kept me out of trouble. If anything has ever made me walk down the straight and narrow, it’s a horse. They’ve taught me some valuable life lessons, not the least of which is to know your posse. Know who you’re riding with. You can’t lie to someone who knows the shadows and scars of your heart. And perhaps above all, just when you think you’ve got your secrets covered and guarded, that’s just when they’re the most obvious.
The times when I’ve battled fear, uncertainty, negativity, and self-consciousness, I’ve gone to the horse to look deeper at myself. I read once that a horse is the reflection of the human soul. If you want to know who you are, bond with a horse. Just like a mirror, they will project back at you your truest self, good or bad. It is true. When I’ve accepted what I see in my horses and used it to better myself, I watched as the horses also got better.
If you love and trust someone, don’t give up on them over one bad day. Be willing to try and start over. Jesus taught this. Forgive your brother seven times seventy. I don’t know how many times I’ve wrecked the proverbial cart with a horse, come back the next day determined to do better as a horseman, and found them ready and willing to make amends. The number of times I’ve been forgiven on my journey to better my own skills is a mystery to me.
Don’t be something you’re not. If you’re thirteen hands and twelve-hundred pounds, don’t bother trying to fit in at the steeple chase. God made us to be something specific. If you’re passionate about toting kids around at the junior rodeo, don’t let anyone convince you to try for the NFR. When we find our purpose, no amount of earthly accolades will replace that feeling you get when you do what you’re created for.
I’ve been miles from home before and fallen off. For one reason or another, I’ve lost my seat and hit the dirt. You’ll know who your friends are when that happens. They’ll be the ones still standing there while you get up and dust yourself off. Sure, they might have a little twinkle in their eye you’ll swear is amusement, but they’ll wait for you to get back on again.
Most importantly, I think, is gratitude. If you want to accomplish anything, you better be grateful to those who help you get there. I want to be a better horseman. I have lots of horses that help me get closer to that goal daily. Oh, the mistakes they put up with. The iniquities they overlook. I know these things about myself, and I always do my best to offer the horse gratitude. They know where I need work and it’ll be miserable bringing up baby to get me there. But they do it anyway because they know that’s where I want to go.
Just like my loved ones. My husband, my kids. Especially God. I’m not perfect, but thankfully, they support me in saddling up each day and trying anyway.
Saddle up, friend. Keep going even though I know it’s a struggle. I’m struggling, too. You’re in good company.
Lyn