We Don't Deserve Horses

 

Horses are awesome.

We don't deserve horses. There's a lot we don't deserve, I guess, in this world but two things this weekend made me realize just how much we don't deserve them and just how amazing they truly are. So settle in and listen to the stories of two horses who proved this weekend what I already knew - they are angels.

Choo and his student

Okay, so meet Choo. He's a big ole' guy with a heart of gold who can give pony rides to campers or teach cantering to an advanced student. His hooves are the size of dinner plates and are only matched by his heart. He's pictured here with one of my students who fell in love with him upon first meeting him. But who can blame her?

Anyway, to get to the story of Choo's amazingness. Saturday night, I was teaching a lesson to a pair of siblings - 5 and 3 years old. It was their second lesson. Last week, they rode Lady (our sweet little black pony) and so I got Lady out for them again. I was the only teacher giving a lesson at that hour so it was just us in the freezing wind. Lady is a great pony but she's a little older and sore in her hips sometimes and the wind probably wasn't helping so she kicked a time or two during the grooming session, just to show her discomfort so we made sure to groom her lightly. We tacked her up and took her to the arena.

The three year old got up and we began our laps around the arena. Lady walked along nicely but she had a few moments where she got irritable and kicked out her back leg. I asked an instructor who was leaving what she thought and she said it was probably the cold and that Lady would be fine. But a few more kicks and I knew the wind and cold was bothering Lady.

So I took her to the middle of the arena and got the little girl off. I asked Mom and the two kids to stay in the middle of the arena and that I was going to do a horse change. Mom said sure and so I dashed off to swap Lady out. It was cold and it was getting dark but the little boy still needed his time on the horse.

I snapped Lady's reins off, undid her girth, pulled off her saddle, and tossed it all on the ground behind me (knowing it wouldn't be in the way because I was the only one still teaching). I took her back to her stall and ran to the tack room to grab a bigger girth for Choo (since he's about 3x her size). I dashed to Choo's stall and grabbed his halter.

As I opened the stall door to get Choo, I asked him, "Choo, I know you're done and I know it's cold and you're tired but can you please help me out and give the rest of this lesson because Lady just can't do it and so please help me out, Choo." I led him out and quickly tacked him up (shedding my gloves and coat as I raced back to the tack room for a bigger girth - the cold no longer registering). 

I took Choo back to the arena and got the little boy up in the saddle (he loved being so tall) and began the ride. And, as I knew he would be, Choo was a rock star. There wasn't much time left so I had the five year old "work on" looking where he wanted the horse to go. He'd look left, I'd lead Choo left (because the horse goes where you look), he'd look right and I'd lead Choo right. Choo zig-zagged his way all across that ring in the freezing cold, with the boy's laughter echoing in the night. He stepped up and took care of that little boy, allowed him to finish his lesson on a good note, and helped me have a successful lesson. Choo is an amazing horse and a true lesson horse and I love him and we don't deserve him but he is there for us each.and.every.lesson. 

That's Choo's story. Here's Pepper's.

Me and my very best girl.

Today, I gave a lesson at 1 and then I was done. I talked with another instructor some and that was really fun and then I tacked Pepper up and we headed to the ring. I wanted to get in some riding time because A) I love riding and B) it wasn't freezing cold and windy like it was yesterday. There were three students having lessons so Pepper and I just wandered around the ring. We walked, we did some lateral work, and we just enjoyed being in the sun.

Then I went to dismount and, somehow, I didn't do it right. My left foot got caught in the stirrup and twisted as I dismounted (which I'm not graceful at anyway but this hadn't happened before). So I landed on the ground with my right foot, left foot stuck in the stirrup and bent to the left, saddle slipping down Pepper's side. Pain shot through my left knee, shin, and foot. My foot was stuck. Pepper jumped a bit when the saddle started sliding and then she.stood.still. 

Now, let me tell you, that one of my biggest horseback riding fears (especially since I started riding Western) has been that Pepper will spook, I will fall off, my foot will get stuck in the stirrup, which will cause Pepper to panic even more and she will run off and I will be dragged because my foot is stuck in the stirrup. No lie, this morning I was looking at Western safety stirrups online because of that very fear (and I will now be buying some). Because Pepper in the old days? Pepper when I first met her? Pepper even six months ago? That Pepper, when she felt the saddle slipping and awkward weight in her saddle, she would have flipped the heck out. She would have started freaking, jumping sideways, trying to get away. I mean, I can't say that is 100% what would have happened but I'm pretty sure I'm right.

But not today. Today, when I was off balance and struggling and trying not to panic but to stay calm, Pepper was.my.rock. Pepper startled but then, I swear, she realized I was in trouble, and she did not move. She didn't move as I tried to wiggle my foot out. She didn't move when I asked Emma (my other savior today) to come hold her so I could get free. She didn't move as I stood on my right tiptoes and managed to free my foot. She didn't move as I leaned against her side, waiting for my foot to stop throbbing so I could walk.

She didn't move.

Pepper and I have a bond and it gets stronger all the time. Today was proof of that bond of the trust we've built up between us. I don't deserve the amazing creature that is Pepper but I truly believe that today would have been much worse if I didn't have that bond with her. Today, one of my biggest fears came true (praise God it was just when I was dismounting and not when we were moving because the outcome may not have been the same) and my horse got me through it. 

This weekend, I am grateful for all the horses in my life, for all my Bramblewood equines, but most especially this weekend, I'm grateful for Choo and for Pepper. We don't deserve them but they show up for us every single day.

And now I'm off to buy Western safety stirrups. ;)