In Reflection ~ But…I Want to Ride

Pride.

Ego.

Impatience.

Stubbornness.

These characteristics got me in trouble on April 13, 2006. I paid the price in pain, humiliation, embarrassment.

Upon arriving at the barn, I jumped out of the car as soon as Tony parked.

I want to ride.

From the beginning, signs of trouble were plentiful and clear. I chose to ignore them.

I’m going to ride.

I went to the pasture to get Reecie. Cheyenne was in a bug-bitten tizzy, covered with gnats and biting flies. Reecie follows Cheyenne, so she was being difficult to catch with her pasture mate in such an emotional state. Reecie wasn’t willing to come with me, but I ignored it. When I finally got her haltered, I led her to the barn for grooming and saddling.

I really want to ride.

Reecie spooked in the barn when her butt hit the saddle rack in the aisle. She was jumpy, more than usual. But I ignored it.

I really want to ride.

After I had her saddled, we went to the round pen for some groundwork where things didn’t go smoothly either. She bucked in the round pen, but I ignored that too.

Impatient, eager to ride, I cut the groundwork short and moved to the mounting block in the main arena.

As I prepared to mount, she spooked and darted away at the sight of the hay ring being rolled across the pasture by people relocating it. Again, I ignored that she was frightened.

I REALLY want to ride.

Finally, Reecie stood still at the mounting block long enough for me to place my left foot in the stirrup and swing my right leg over the saddle. I settled into the saddle and did my warm-up stretches, reaching forward over her neck and reaching back toward her tail, on either side.

We started our ride. Yay! Finally.

But…Reecie’s mind was on the pasture, returning to her friends, DINNERTIME! I ignored all of these things.

There wasn’t any way to ignore what followed.

Reecie pulled on her bridle and sped up. Heading toward the pasture.

Crap! She’s headed to the pasture, going too fast. I need to stop her, what if…?

My brain lost all focus, my legs clenched. Tightened in the saddle my body hunched over, almost in a fetal position. I tried to steer with my reins, but my hands pulled too hard when turning her back toward the barn. Reecie, now in horse self-defense mode, bucked!

She bucked across the arena. Crow-hopping back toward the barn, she launched herself into the air to get rid of the screaming “monster” on her back.

Image by Debora Delaney from Pixabay

Yes, I screamed, “Help! Help!” As if that was going to do any good….

Off I went.

Onto my face.

In the sand.

Ugghh, sand tastes terrible. At least I’m still alive and nothing is broken.

But…I feel so stupid.

It certainly wasn’t the ride I’d wanted, expected.

Tony caught Reecie, stripped off her saddle and put her back in the pasture.

In Reflection –

Things to do differently when I want to ride. Respect the mood of my horse. Help my horse to relax. Be patient. Take lessons so I learn not to pull too hard on the reins. Do more groundwork. Don’t let pride, ego, impatience, or stubbornness rule over common sense and intelligence.

There are so many ways that pride, ego, impatience, and stubbornness get us into trouble. Think of what to do differently to stay out of trouble. God gives us great warning in His word.

“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall,” Proverbs 16:18 (NIV).

In Reflection ~ A Committed Relationship

Slap!

I swatted Reecie’s behind.

“You’re not allowed to kick at me! I don’t care what your reasons might be. It’s unacceptable.”

Reecie had struck out with that right hind leg again. Not waiting for me to be in the proper position to clean that hoof.

Oh boy! The look of disbelief on her face at being slapped for her “unwanted” behavior almost made me laugh. I hid my grin, knowing that I’d made my point I went back to cleaning the hoof. This time she allowed me to take her foot when I was ready.

All of a sudden, the brain gremlins start in, the “what if?” thoughts, the fear — I’m not sure how this is going to go today. Shallow mouth breathing, fluttery feeling in the pit of my stomach, should I continue with my plans or call this ride off today? Agghh, Lord, please take this fear away from me. I don’t even know why it comes….

My plan was to ride Reecie in the round pen after some groundwork, but…

Some of the other girls who boarded here at Willow Springs were having a pony-themed birthday party, loud laughter, giggles, and joyous shrieks filled the arena in front of the barn. The round pen was right there. Next to the barn. Near the noise.

I can’t always allow the actions of others to determine my purpose.

You’re right Lord, I have to choose to continue in spite of the fear.

Just as I’d anticipated, the excitement and activity just outside the round pen captured the bulk of Reecie’s attention. But I’d already saddled her in the barn and decided to at least continue on with our groundwork. See what happens, how I feel. If I CAN continue.

Agghh another attack of the “what if” thinking — What if she spooked at the bright colors, loud noises? What if she bolted into the fence?

Shut up brain, I have a good horse. Just keep YOUR mind focused.

Even as my heart throbbed with gut-wrenching fear, with anticipation of some unknown disaster, she did everything I asked during our groundwork, although I did have to be a little more assertive when I asked her. To keep her mind on me, instead of out there…with the party. Ah, who was I kidding, it was ME that needed to stay focused and committed to our work.

Shoving down my what if thoughts, I positioned Reecie next to the mounting block, “Well, Reecie let’s give this a try. Stand please.”

When she stood perfectly still for mounting and continued to stand while I turned my stirrup to slide my foot in, after settling in the saddle, I reached forward and hugged her. “Thank you, Reecie.”

Taking a deep breath, I whispered a quiet prayer – Lord, thank You for giving me such an amazing horse.

We rode for about 15 minutes or so, practicing turns, halts, and moving off at a walk again. Staying focused on each other.

Party? What party?

In Reflection ~

The time Reecie and I spent together in the saddle, on the ground, establishing rules, developing a relationship, built our trust and reliance on each other. A dedicated pattern of loving, committed behavior.

Am I committed to God and trusting Him the way I want my horse to trust and commit to me? How is your relationship with Him? Are you committed to Christ? Trusting Him?

“And may your hearts be fully committed to the LORD our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time,” 1 Kings 8:61 (NIV).

Building a Firm Foundation

Too fast.

Too much.

Too soon.

My enthusiasm with “doing stuff” with Reecie overrode common sense. I became impatient, rushed, trying to train Reecie to do stuff she wasn’t ready to learn.

Winter passed into spring, she started to become resistant, pushing into me, balky. I became more impatient, not realizing what she needed from me.

Reecie, by her behavior, as well as Tony and a few other barn friends (using words) were suggesting that I needed to slow down, to get back to basics, stop hurrying, quit rushing her.

So, I returned to what we already knew – leading, ground tying, playing games, and build from there. Sometimes with a saddle on, sometimes not. But not skipping over stuff that she needs to know. Instead, I needed to provide her with a fair, kind, leader. To be that leader and teach things in an organized progression.

As part of this return to fill in the chinks, the holes, in her training – we worked on the principle of giving to pressure. Outside, doing groundwork while she wore a saddle, and when I had her in her stall, I placed my fingertips on various parts of her body to signal when to back up, when to move to the right, then to the left with her hips, and then with her shoulder. These tasks were incorporated with grooming in addition to reinforcing them as individual training sessions. She relaxed, became responsive, stopped resisting me.

In Reflection ~

Reecie showed me by her “bad” behavior that I was getting impatient and rushing her. That I needed to get back to the basics.

Often, in my Christian walk, it is vital to go back to the basics as well. Especially if I find myself resisting God, becoming “balky”.

Scripture reading, prayer, and fellowship with other believers, all help set the firm foundation. When we turn away from God, get pushy, or balky. Start over, go back to the basics. Build from there. Let God build from there.

“He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock, and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it because it had been well built,” Luke 6:48 (NASB).

In Reflection ~ Walking in Harmony

A valuable skill for a well-mannered horse is to walk beside the handler without pulling ahead or dragging behind. When a horse stops suddenly, or jerks ahead without warning, the person holding the lead rope could be yanked off their feet. At the very least, the painful rope-burn or forceful pull on a shoulder isn’t at all pleasant.

I set up various obstacles such as ground poles, a tarp, and barrels to help teach Reecie to walk with me, in harmony, at my pace. Holding her lead rope near her halter, but not too tightly, I walked over, around, or through these obstacles.

My goal was to have Reecie beside me for each step, or when necessary for tight maneuvers, for her to follow me. I wanted her to follow me closely enough that she remained mentally connected with me, as well as having the physical connection of the rope. But I also didn’t want her to dart ahead, run over me, pull away sideways, or stop suddenly.

As I led Reecie over ground poles, sometimes I would hear a “clack” as her hind foot clipped the pole. To keep her attention on me, I would change direction, speed up, or slow down. When she began to pay attention better our steps became synchronized as she walked beside me. With our focus on forward, and not the pole, she was able to clear it with ease.

We walked throughout the arena, making turns to the left and right, stopping, backing up, moving forward again until she understood where I wanted her to walk in relation to my position.

At another time, at another barn, I watched as my granddaughter, Tiffany, walked in harmonious unity with our other two horses. My heart smiled, if such a thing is possible.

In Reflection:

Reecie needed to learn to adjust to the speed and length of my steps. Pulling ahead, or lagging behind, made for an uncomfortable experience as the lead rope and halter applied pressure to her head. When she stayed in the best positions, either at my side, or following where I led, our walks became more pleasant and we could enjoy each other’s company.

God sets the pace for His followers. He determines the direction, and speed, of the steps of our life as we walk in His ways. His pace is perfectly timed and does not change to match mine. For a more pleasant fellowship with Him, I must adjust myself, to walk beside or follow Him.

How is your walk with Jesus? Are you in step, keeping pace with the Lord?

Let’s position ourselves to walk in harmony with Him. And with each other.

“My steps have held fast to Your paths. My feet have not slipped,” Psalm 17:5 (NASB1995).

In Reflection ~ The Comforts of Home

December 10, 2005, I waited with the excitement of a kid at Christmas for Reecie to arrive.

I spent part of the day getting a vacant stall prepped and bedded with a thick layer of pine shavings. Hay lay waiting, fluffed up in the corner, fresh buckets of water hung on the hooks inside the stall. The comforts of home.

My saddle, halter, brushes, and other horse tack were already stored in a tidy, organized manner inside one of the lockers in the tack room.

After a long day of preparation and activity, for Jan, getting Reecie ready to travel and the drive down from her foster home, and for me to receive her, the trailer pulls into the barnyard well after nightfall. The lights from the barn, and the arena, cast shadows from the trees, the buildings, and the horse trailer.

Reecie stepped off the trailer, looked around her, head high, whinnied, probably wondering where she was and where her friends were. The answers to that — “this is your new home with new friends.” Jan and I walked her around the barnyard for a few minutes to loosen up after the long trailer ride and to allow her the opportunity to begin to sort out her new surroundings.

Reecie in her comfortable stall

In the stall, I brushed her until I felt she’d adjusted well enough to being confined in the stall. When she lowered her head to eat the hay, I knew it would be okay to leave so I gave her a final pat for the night. Stepping out of the stall, I slid the door into place and latched it closed.

At the barn entryway, I flipped the light switch on my way to the car and paused, breathing in the fragrance of horse barn (my favorite aroma) – the smells of warm horse, hay, pine shavings, leather. The soft, comforting sounds of horses shuffling in the shavings and the grinding of hay as they chewed, caused me to linger a moment longer in the darkened doorway. I too, viewed this as the comforts of home. Still do.

The next day, a Sunday, Reecie and I played for a couple of hours, doing games she already understood — leading over poles, and around objects. Practicing the words “walk” and “whoa” with her beside me, my hands on the lead rope attached to her halter. Brushing her coat.

Next it was time to meet the new friends. Since horses hold a particular hierarchy in their herd dynamics, Susan suggested putting both Reecie and the other horse my husband started fostering, ChaCha, into the herd pasture at the same time. Putting in two new horses together would reduce any “get acquainted” stress, as the herd had their attention divided while trying to sort out who was going to be the boss.

Reecie spent her days in the pasture with ChaCha and the rest of the herd, but during the winter nights she was taken into her stall in the barn. I even bought her a blanket to add to her comfort level during the colder months of January and February.

Our relationship grew, developed, and became more consistent through these early weeks. Because of the weather, and my job, we spent only about an hour together several times a week. Susan, a knowledgeable horsewoman, had people who shared feeding duties (including my husband and me), so I knew Reecie was well cared for during my absence. Enjoying the comforts of home.

In Reflection ~

The stall with its thick bed, the hay, clean water, new companions, a warm blanket, playing games, brushing her — all served to demonstrate my love and care for Reecie.

Consider the many ways the Lord shows His love and care for us — through places, people, experiences . . . the beauty of a smile, a sunset, the sounds of birdsong, a soft summer rain, even the fragrances we enjoy. His creation displays His tender mercies. In His presence we feel the comforts of Home.

“You, Lord, will not withhold Your compassion from me; Your mercy and Your truth will continually watch over me, ” Psalm 40:11 (NASB).

“Because of the tender mercy of our God …,” Luke 1:78 (NASB).

In Reflection ~ Please, Stand Still!

Sandy’s ride in early November

It was November 27, 2005, a couple of weeks after Sandy’s ride.

A blustery wind and the farm owners trimming shrubs near their garage presented me with “tummy butterflies.” At first, a bit hesitant about riding, I chose to continue with my plans. Well, mine and Sandy’s … Reecie wasn’t so sure.

We did some grooming and groundwork first. Used this time to check in with Reecie and see how well she listened, responded. With Sandy’s tutelage, I’ve learned to understand the basics of Horse speak and Reecie “told” me that today would be a good day for our first ride since she listened well to all my instructions — from the ground.

I brought a borrowed (trying before buying) western saddle. It was heavier, covered more of her back, and took a different pad than Sandy’s English saddle, so I let Reecie check it out before putting it on. Then I asked Reecie to move while wearing it so she could feel it. She behaved as if she’d worn this saddle all her life. No big deal. Good thing too, because, yes, I did buy the saddle.

The mounting block, however, was a different story. Instead of standing next to it, giving me the chance to put my foot into the stirrup, she turned to face me — more than once. Now her language said, “I’m confused.”

I lined her up, stepped up on the block, she turned, she backed up, she moved sideways.

Each time, I stepped down to sort out our position.

Finally, she stood still long enough for me to step into the stirrup and swing my leg over her back.

I rode Reecie for the first time!

Yes, I was nervous.

Yes, I had trouble trying to manipulate the long lead line with the same finesse that Sandy used. No, I couldn’t quite get it right and ended up slapping myself, and Reecie, with it as I tried to flip it over her neck to change direction.

We were both unbalanced, trying to get used to this new stage of our relationship, and me trying my best to ignore the outside distractions of wind and weed eaters. But the most important thing — I rode Reecie for the first time!

Our Very First Ride Together

Thank you, Sandy, for teaching her the words, “Walk” and “Whoa.”

Thank You, God for giving me this fine little mare.

In Reflection ~

Reecie “danced” around the mounting block, moving, turning, even backing away, instead of standing still.

How many times do I find myself moving, resisting, turning away from God? Am I confused, not trusting God’s intention, not sure of what He’s asking…?

Just as I wanted Reecie to stand still at the mounting block, and trust me, trust my plans, so too God wants us to

“Be still and know that I am God,” Psalm 46:10 (NIV).

In Reflection ~ Reecie’s “New Normal”

In recent years, with the pandemic, the words “new normal” developed a negative aspect. But this is about Reecie, her early start under saddle, HER “new normal” as a riding horse.

On the November visit (see In Reflection ~ Listening) Sandy worked Reecie at a walk and trot around the arena first while Reecie was still at liberty (unsaddled and without a rider, or even a leadrope) to determine how well she was listening. The saddle, pad, and mounting block sat in the middle of the arena. Since horses are often fearful of the unknown, or the identified, this gave Reecie the opportunity to see these objects were harmless.

As they worked Sandy explained, “Some of what I’m doing is a classical training approach, but it’s mixed with a more modern style of natural horsemanship. I use this work to communicate with the horse, to get a feel for her attitude and willingness.”

As I watched her work with Reecie, she told me about her way of teaching certain words. Words like walk, trot, canter, and most importantly — whoa. Sandy explained, “These words will reinforce my leg and seat cues until she better understands them. Just as we learn her language, she needs to learn ours.”

Sandy moved Reecie to the pile of equipment (tack) and further explained, “As a riding horse, these become part of her “new normal.” Sandy placed the pad on Reecie’s back, then the saddle, while Reecie stood still, accepting her new normal. Headgear was the rope halter and long lead rope that Reecie was already accustomed to wearing while working. Bridle and bit would come much later.

Stepping onto the mounting block, it took several attempts before Sandy could get mounted. Reecie moved, walked off, or turned her hips away, all of which prevented a safe step up into the saddle. Sandy said, “Since this is all still new to her, I’m allowing her to move so she doesn’t feel trapped.”

After several tries, Reecie stood still long enough to allow Sandy to put her foot in the stirrup and settle into the saddle. Once mounted, they meandered around for a few minutes, with Sandy even allowing Reecie to graze before asking her to move on command, into a walk, then a trot, and even a few strides of canter. After bringing Reecie back down from the canter, Sandy said, “That was too uncontrolled and unbalanced.”

Another person at the barn, also watching, said, “At least she didn’t try to buck.” Sandy replied, “She did tighten her back but that felt more like she was trying to get her balance and find her feet.”

Sandy worked for a few more minutes, riding in large circles, mostly at the walk, before dismounting. After Sandy unsaddled Reecie, she turned the lead rope over to me, and I spent some time brushing her before returning her to the pasture.

In Reflection ~

Reecie’s life changed to include carrying a saddle, a rider, listening to instruction, learning new things, following commands. Her “new normal.”

When we become followers of Christ our lives change too. We listen to the instructions and follow the commands in the Scriptures. We learn new things, we support each other, we have a “new normal.”

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature, the old things passed away, behold new things have come,” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB1995).

In Reflection ~ Listening

In mid-November 2005, I arrived for another scheduled visit with Reecie, followed shortly by Sandy, who pulled a saddle and helmet out of her car.

Sandy started her under saddle!

A smile spread across my face because of my excitement and anticipation to not only use Reecie’s new black, nylon halter (with matching lead rope), but also to watch Sandy ride her.

I rushed toward the pasture. But…

Sandy stopped me and said, “be patient, keep calm, wait within the horse’s timeframe. Remember horses read moods and react accordingly.”

We sat in the pasture, watching Reecie graze, for several minutes. During this time Sandy continued to teach me, “Wait until the horse gives permission by signaling. Approaching you is the easiest to read signal, but sometimes it could be a bend in her body, the tilt of an ear, a softness in her gaze. This is the language of horses.”

Following Sandy’s instructions, we waited until Reecie looked toward us before I approached and haltered her.

The three of us walked up to the barn where we spent thirty minutes doing groundwork, leading Reecie through and around various obstacles, “listening” to her body language, again waiting until she gave signs that it would be safe to saddle up and ride.

Previously, Sandy had closed off the corners of the small pasture, as well as the sides and back of the barn, with orange, webbed, construction fence, creating a small riding arena. Plastic bags tied to the posts of the main fence helped keep Reecie away from the fence wires.

In Reflection —

Sandy taught me about listening to my horse in order to stay safe while enjoying my time with her. And she had placed the plastic bags to discourage Reecie from getting too close in order to keep both of them safe, and not tangled up in the fencing.

Just like the plastic bags were there to prevent Reecie from hurting herself, or her rider, God’s commandments and instructions are provided to prevent us from hurting ourselves or getting tangled up in sin. But we have to choose to listen.

“But he who listens to me shall live securely and will be at ease from the dread of evil” Proverbs 1:33 (NASB).

In Reflection ~ What are you Thinking?

On another visit with Reecie, during the early months of our relationship, I brought her up to the barn for grooming while we waited for Sandy, the trainer, to arrive for our lesson.

After brushing, I tried, unsuccessfully, to put fly repellant on Reecie. She shied away from the spray and more of it ended up in the air than actually on her. After a couple more fruitless attempts, I set the bottle down and picked up the hoof pick to clean out her hooves. I began with her left front, then left hind, and moved to do her right hind. She had her foot part way up and gave a little thrust with it. Kicking? or helping? it was hard to guess her intentions.

Reecie, what are you thinking?

After Sandy arrived, my task turned to watching her work with Reecie. Sandy moved objects around, touched Reecie with ropes, a flag, and other small items, non-threatening, but potentially scary to a horse.

Sandy, what are you thinking?

As I watched, Sandy explained her teaching methods as well as her expectations of Reecie. Along with gaining Reecie’s trust, a goal of this lesson was to provide me with knowledge to continue Reecie’s training after she became fully mine, and I took her home with me.

Sandy’s expectations were that the activity would help Reecie adjust to carrying riding tack including a blanket, saddle, and bridle, as well as a rider. And to let her know that everything that moves isn’t out to kill her. Horses have a very strong survival instinct, and to them pretty much everything must be identified or is considered deadly. There’s an old joke that says, “Horses are only afraid of two things, those that move, and those that don’t.”

Later, I reflected upon what I learned about Reecie during this visit. And I learned that I need to be patient with her when teaching new skills. Especially if it involves “scary” stuff like spray bottles. I need to be consistent when I ask her to lift her feet. I’ve already learned she does enjoy being brushed, and she’s taught me which spots she enjoys a vigorous scratching. We both need to learn how to get the flyspray on her, instead of just in the air.

During a follow up visit I discovered the little push with her right rear hoof was her way of saying, “here it is, hurry up and clean it.”

Aha! So that’s what you were thinking.

There wasn’t any threat or aggressiveness to this movement with her foot. She’s impatient when she thinks the human isn’t doing things quite right, e.g., her way. I’ve learned this in other ways over the years too.

In Reflection

How many times do I get impatient with God when I think He isn’t doing things in what I consider the right way or isn’t giving immediate answers to prayers?

God, what are You thinking?

Do I “kick out” to hurry Him along, do I move away from fearful situations, like Reecie moved away from the flyspray, or do I respond according to His expectations, the way Reecie responded to the patient instruction that Sandy offered.

We are limited in our thinking, not knowing what comes next. But Sandy knew what she wanted to teach Reecie. She knew what reaction she expected. And this time the goals were to teach Reecie to trust us, me to know how to build on this trust, and for both of us to be patient.

“‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord,” Isaiah 55:8 (NASB).

Lord, thank you for reminding us that Your ways are far greater than ours. Your patience teaches us to trust You and Your instruction.

What’s in a Name?

I worked in the shipping department of a printing plant. My supervisor, Jeff, lived for football season. Especially college football. Specifically, the University of South Carolina Gamecocks. None of that’s really important to Reecie’s story, except for the conversation that followed one day in October of 2005.

Jeff remarked, “Carolina plays Alabama tonight.”

“Crimson Tide Alabama?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“That’s a good name for a horse. But then people might think I’m an Alabama fan.” To set the record straight my heart for college football remains with my home state of Ohio. I’ll always be a Buckeye. I was born to it.

Since my thoughts, even at work, were with Reecie, even though I hadn’t brought her home yet, I pondered my choice of a formal name for Reecie. The rescue organization listed her as an Alabama Racking Horse, so it made sense to incorporate at least part of the Crimson Tide name. Most of her markings are splashes of white.

It clicked in my head, a formal name for her, so “Reecie” around the barn became “Crimson Splash” in the show arena. It didn’t matter to her, after all, she works for cookies. 😉 But I thought it was cool, and “A good name is to be more desired than great wealth…” Proverbs 22:1 (NASB).

In Reflection:

Several days later , my ponderings drifted to how the blood of Christ must have made a crimson splash on the ground beneath the cross. Even my horse’s name keeps me close to my Savior and Lord.

“But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out,” John 19:34 (NASB).