The Five Horses We Meet in Life
1. The Intro Horse.
We each came into horses in our own way, but it was always with a horse leading us. This might have been a friend’s first pony, or perhaps it was a draft horse on a farm you once visited It might have been a real-life meeting, or an imaginary one. I was escorted to the party by The Black, Walter Farley’s star horse in The Black Stallion series…
Mine was the old gelding in the pasture behind my great-grandmother's house in Morrilton, AR. My dad took me out there and put me up on his back bareback in the pasture - all he did was creak around at a walk but I might as well had been galloping across the fields, I was in heaven.
2. The Experimental Horse
Once you had crossed the line between “Darn, they’re big!” and “Wow! Can I try that?” you found yourself face-to-face with the horse that would suffer through your early attempts at figuring out the whole horse experience … wherever this horse came from, he probably didn’t benefit from the encounter as much as you did…
I had two - the first horse I rode in lessons was Spunky. He was a 20 year old QH when I started riding him he took me through x-rails and short stirrup. By the way - he is still around, snug as bug wandering around Maumelle doing as he pleases - he loves retired life!
The second one was my first horse Jouster. He never stopped at a thing and never put up a fight just forged ahead and took care of me - even going super fast on cross country!! RIP 11/5/2000
3. The Connected Horse
The first horses we meet don’t really connect with us, nor do we with them. Those are experiences in survival and tests of endurance. The Connected Horse is the first horse you truly bond with. This is the horse that sounds a chord that lives so deep in you that you might never have heard it otherwise…
Onyx. He got me through the hardest time in my life. If it wasn't for that I horse I seriously wonder if I would have made it through my sister's death. He will always be my horse and I hope to get him back for retirement after his tenure at Randolph Macon college is finished.
4. The Challenger
Into each horseperson’s life, a little challenge must fall. You’ll have read that one final training book, bought yourself a clicker and heading rope, and there you’ll stand, arms crossed, assessing the situation as if you actually knew what the situation was. It might be difficult to believe, as you are flying down the aisleway on the losing end of a braided cotton line, but you actually need this horse in your life…
The Coaster for sure. I've been ready to sell this horse for a penny multiple times. He is so talented and mega-athletic but spends all of his thought process (which unfortunately he has a lot more than anybody would guess) on how to a.) not work and b.) make his rider/handler work harder than him. He has taught me so much and teaches me everytime I throw a leg over his back.
5. Your Deepest Heart
There will come a time when you will look at yourself with a cold, appraising eye, and you’ll have to be honest about your continued ability to deal with The Challenger and other difficult horses. At that point, you’ll seek out the horse that will be your soul mate forever… You’ll have bought him the most comfortable, best fitting equipment… Maybe you’ll still go to shows and ride – brilliantly or barely – in the Alzheimer’s class. Maybe you’ll just stay home. Whatever you do, one day you’ll realize that after all the money you spent on animal communicators and trainers, you only had to stop and listen and you would have clearly heard your horse’s thoughts and desires…
I will have him one day.
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