"There is
something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a
man." - Winston Churchill
If you've spent much
time around horses, it is easy to understand their therapeutic value for
troubled youth and people with mental or physical disabilities. There are even
programs where inmates train Bureau of Land Management wild mustangs,
benefiting both the horses and the inmates. But you don't have to be in trouble
or handicapped for your life to be touched and made a little better by a horse.
My first horse,
Cherokee, was the answer to many dreams and prayers. He was the salvation for a
shy, teenage girl who had few friends. Cherokee and I would travel across the
state highway, beyond the factories and businesses, where we discovered trails
through fields, forests and atop riverbanks. It was secluded and peaceful. I
felt closer to God than in any church I had ever attended.
Through my horse, I
met my best friend, Merry. Riding horses replaced a social void in both our
lives, as we seemed to be short on whatever allure was required to attract
boys. My senior year in high school, a third girl, Diane, joined our little
riding club. She was new to the area and our mutual love of horses formed an
instant union between us all. We graduated from high school in 1973, eventually
moving away from our small home town. Although we now reside in different
states, Merry, Diane & I are remain friends to this day and keep in touch
through the Internet.
It has been almost 20
years since I last owned a horse. I was working full time and taking night
classes in order to obtain my Associate's Degree. I rode daily, for at least an
hour during the week and then trailered the horses to state land for long
Saturday rides, but between work and studies, there was no longer time for
them. It was with a heavy heart and not a few tears that they were sold, along
with a large amount of tack and an excellent horse trailer.
During my 20 year
hiatus of non-ownership, I managed to get in a few rides here and there. Most
of the time it was at a riding stable. These horses are generally ridden by so
many people for so many hours along the same trails, that you could probably
tie the reins in a knot and drop them onto the horses' necks and they would
still keep going. While you get the feel for riding, it just isn't the same as
venturing out on your own. My last riding stable experience was a year ago when
I had a few hours to kill between an airport delivery and pickup of loved ones.
During this ride, I got into trouble because the girl in front of me had no
experience and her horse slowed to a stop, picking at some brush. I passed her
by, and kept going, expecting that her horse wouldn't want to be left behind
and would soon follow. I was surprised when the guide crossly yelled back at
me, "What are you doing?" He proceeded to reprimand me for getting
out of my original position in line. So, the ride wasn't exactly what I had
longed for, but being around horses is always enjoyable and the desert scenery
was beautiful.
Around this same time
I had started checking into "horse leasing", where you pay a monthly
fee and the horse is yours to ride. It is one of those "win-win"
situations. The horse is getting some exercise and earning a little income for
its owner while remaining their legal property. The first two places I
contacted required the lessee to furnish their own tack. Being on the
"vertically challenged" side, (short), I decided getting my own
saddle and working on setting the stirrups made sense. Fond memories of riding
began to return when I opened the jar of saddle soap to clean my newly
purchased tack. Once the dirt was removed and oil applied to keep it supple, I
buffed to a soft shine. The whole process was very relaxing and took me back to
a simpler time. The smoldering embers of my love affair with horses was
rekindled.
With my saddle ready
to go and sitting on a brand new saddle stand, I fully enjoyed walking past the
room where it was stored and getting a whiff of freshly cleaned and oiled
leather. When my husband wasn't looking, I would admire my work and press my
nose to the leather and inhale deeply, savoring the smell and anticipating the
time when I would place it on a horse's back, ready to ride.
In the process of
searching for the perfect horse lease, I discovered that it wasn't just the
smell of clean tack that brought a smile to my face. The minute I stepped out
of my car and onto a horse facility I enjoyed the smells of fresh hay, horses,
and even their manure, (providing it wasn't an overpowering scent).
Being around horses
again tantalized almost all of my senses. Who doesn't appreciate the beauty of
watching a horse run? Even the slightest nod, twitch of ears or interactions
with each other was a sight to behold, like cooling water to a parched throat.
The sounds were mesmerizing; the swish of a tail, a snort, a stomping hoof and
a welcoming whinny. To say nothing of the sounds when you tack up a horse; from
the creak of the leather to the distinctive, soft sound that comes when the bit
is accepted and you set the headstall behind a horse's ears. Finally touch.
When I was a child I never forgot the feel of the soft fur at their nose,
between their nostrils. It reminded me of velvet. To rub my hand down a sleek
coat and feel the warmth of the sun radiating from it was a joy long forgotten.
When the paperwork
was signed on my lease horse, I never realized how much it would enhance my
life. It is calming just to brush a horse and get it ready to ride. With a
rubber curry comb in my right hand and a brush in my left, I work at removing
the dirt and loose hair, switching hands when working on the other side. I
constantly talk to the horse while I work and if no one is around to hear,
sometimes sing. It is very gratifying to stand back and see a beautiful animal
with a glossy coat and silky-looking mane and tail. I must confess that in the
process of cleaning out hooves, horses are the only animal I know where getting
their manure on my hands doesn't make me dash in a panic for the closest bottle
of hand sanitizer.
The pièce de
résistance is when you finally sit in the saddle, pick up the reins and ride.
Imagine being in a fine restaurant and finishing an elegant and satisfying
meal. You are totally content and thinking that things couldn't get any better,
and then out comes dessert. It's sort of like that.
My husband offered me
a bottle of very expensive perfume a while ago, which I declined. I honestly
didn't think I would ever wear it. A few days later, after being around my
lease horse and riding, I returned home and noticed that the "horse
smell" was still lingering on me. I asked my husband to take a wiff. I
told him I prefer that smell to any perfume I could ever own. Along those same
lines, I carried my freshly cleaned bridle over my shoulder the other day and
realized it was a better fit on me than a Louis Vuitton bag or a Coach purse.
Anything connected
with being around horses again made me realize that something vital had been
missing from my life. I almost lost a passion from long ago. It's back and is a
paramount part of who I am and what I love.
© 2013 Kristie
Allison
Rediscovering a joy
long forgotten, horses.
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