10-18-05
I was injured at a non-natural horsemanship
clinic last May (memorial day weekend). I went to a natural horsemanship training camp in July
with my bicep totally torn away from my
shoulder and a severe rotator cuff tear. It was a cowgirl up moment
and quite a painful but glorious week. After I got back I had
surgery. It has been 3 months now, and my Doctor says that I still
can't ride for another month. But what do they know about us horse
lovers. That story leads me to my BSEG!
OK I know that you have all guessed it already. YES! I rode today!
On Monday I coached a student through her assessments tasks and
video taped it for her. She had forgotten how to mount
correctly and so I had to show her. When I swung that leg over “Array”
I knew that there was no turning back. I couldn't wait to get home
and ride today. I rode for 3 hours after doing an hour of ground
play with Cisco. Yes my butt is a little sore tonight after not
riding for 3 months.
I feel so blessed, because Cisco was, “shall we say perfect!”
Of course we all have the perfect horse, don't we?
He was so soft; I never had to do more than squeeze my cheeks to get
any gait that I asked for with my energy. I never had to use more
than one finger for a turn or a back up with my halter. We galloped
collected around the pasture, and did so much more. He never gave
one indication that he wanted to go back to the herd or the barn. I
guess that he missed me as much as I have missed him, even though we
have been playing the ground games. We were together in another
dimension today, and for that I could not be more thankful.
I have been thinking a lot about the healing power of horses.
Through my observations and personal experience I have noticed that
a lot of horse lovers carry a lot of emotional pain or maybe even abuse somewhere in our lives.
Our horses reach that spot that no human can, because we have not
allowed any human into that space in our heart.
Our horses fill in a gap or crack in our hearts that only we can
understand.
There is a string attached from our heart to our horses and
sometimes it becomes our lifeline.
When we recognize this we realize that horses are for more than just
riding.
They support us,
teach us,
build our confidence,
create leaders,
help us overcome difficulties,
change our character,
mold our attitudes,
help us discover strategies to solve problems,
gives us an outlet for nurturing,
develop our potentials,
exercise our mind, emotions, and our physical being,
encourage us to be lifelong learners,
and most of all they heal our broken hearts.
We owe it to them to preserve their dignity, allow their curiosity,
and protect their nature.
I guess my beloved horse Cisco inspired the above statements
today as I lay on his neck thanking the Lord for my life and his.
May you all be as blessed as I am.
Happy Trails,
Sherry
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