If you will just give each of the dogs a piece of hoof they will get 
out   from under the horse and quit fighting.

As much as you charge, I should get to use that truck too.

If you get that done in 30 minutes, you'll be making $160. per hour.

That's not the way they did it on that horseshoeing show.

I see who makes all the money in horses - farriers!

My last farrier couldn't finish - they gave me your name and number.

You don't mind if I feed the other horses, do you?

Are you sure you have them on the correct foot?

If he didn't kick like that, I'd trim him myself.

Would you mind trimming my new BLM mustang?

Can we shoe him in the arena? If he rears in the barn, he hits his 

head.

You sure earned your money on that one!

I forgot you were coming; I just turned all the horses out.

Can you make it after six, or on Sunday, I have to work.

I just cannot believe that he bit you.

I read all about the Natural Way to trim on the internet, and you're

supposed to...

Did that hurt?

I know that he is difficult to shoe, but he is so good on the trails.

It doesn't look like he's leaning from here.

Good morning - glad you're here - can we reschedule? I have a lot 

going on today.

It's so cool that he can balance on just two feet.

Can you shoe him so that he doesn't paw?

Don't tell my husband that I used the grocery money.

Most times when he kicks, he misses!

Just do the hinds - I'll do the fronts.

I left the checkbook in the car, and my wife/husband just left - can 

you bill me?

I'm sure glad you don't mind working on muddy feet.

Does it mean my horses have some sort of deficiency when they chew 

the paint off your truck like that?

This horse does forge, also interferes, and sometimes hits his 

knees....

we need to keep the price down on this bill.

I got a bargain on these shoes at a rummage sale, could you use them 

instead and save me some money?

Oops! Wrong horse.

I know I said just a trim, but can we shoe 'em as well?

My weanling colt needs a trim, and I figured you could halter break 

him at the same time.

I've got a new horse whose feet are in pretty bad shape. The 

previous owners said their farrier wouldn't work on him.

I know it's been a long day for you; that's why I saved the worst 

one for last.

If my other farrier's ribs weren't broken, he'd be able to get shoes 

on this horse.

It's a good thing you're slow today, or he'd have had shoes on when 

he kicked your truck.

My grandpa used to shoe horses like you, only he used a sledge and a 

corn knife.

I don't understand why the shoes didn't stay on. I just had them 

done 12weeks ago.

1. Ensure that you have an audience. There is absolutely no point in 

being decked by your horse unless there are, oh, say a hundred 

people around to watch. This way, you will have made them feel 

better about their own inadequacies, and you won't have to go into 

tedious detail explaining to everyone you know exactly how it 

happened. It is considered good form if at least one of the audience 

members is either: 

A. Someone you admire and want to impress; or 

B. Someone you despise and don't want to give any ammo to; or 

C. Someone you have the hots for and want to impress; or 

D. Your best friend, who will have no compunction in falling over, 

laughing and pointing. 

2. Try to be spectacular. I mean, anyone can just get bucked off and 

land on their backside, can't they? You want to try to make 

this "the decking to end all deckings." The Titanic of bucks. You 

get the picture. Now, for this you will need the following: An 

extremely acrobatic horse - you want one of those twisty-turny 

jobbies last seen at the National Rodeo Championships; a supple 

back - you should practice somersaults, pirouettes and handstands at 

home; a hat- see, I can be sensible!!! 

3. It is best if this buck comes at a time when everyone is watching 

you, but no-one is prepared for what is to come. During a dressage 

test is good. Your horse should be working nicely, giving no 

indication that you are about to become "the person who learned to 

fly." Of course, experts at this will point to the tail swishing, 

the ears twitching back, and the tension around the nostrils, but 

they are show-offs and should be ignored. To the uninitiated, this 

will look like a dramatic performance which you and your horse have 

practiced at home. 

4. When the horse leaves the ground, and launches you into the air 

like a cannon ball, it is far more gratifying for the crowd if you 

can let out a blood-curdling yell. Kind of like William Wallace when 

they cut his, um, thingies off. Practice this at home. When the 

local rangers knock on your door, asking if you are keeping a wild 

cougar in your back yard, you will know you have it right. 

5. You should try to stay elevated as long as possible. The longer 

the better. If your arms and legs fly in impossible directions, as 

if you were a rag doll, you will achieve additional marks for 

artistic impression. 

6. When you land, try to do so with a thud! The kind of dull kind 

that you hear when you drop a melon from a great height. Try not to 

go "splat" - it puts the audience off their hamburgers. 

7. Lie immobile for a while, as your horse runs off into the 

distance. After a suitable time, raise your head and groan : "you 

b****d".

Hi Folks at Whinny, I just wanted to let you know I have just made my 3rd purchase that I have found on Whinny.  I have purchased a wonderful pony from Saratoga county that I never would have found without Whinny,  and excellent buy on a trailer from western NY that I never would have found without Whinny and now a great saddle from Gabriels.  I have met some very nice horseman and woman and I want you to know that everything was as advertised.  The conditions were stated honestly,  nothing was over stated and I think this is a credit to you that should be acknowledged.  I appreciate your site very much and visit it every day. Thanks, Joan (Thank YOU Joan! You made our day!)

Note: I hope the owners of this "gelding from Montana" aren't too disappointed when this quiet stud has no offspring? This is an actual ad. The names have been changed to protect the confused.  Printed with permission (and good humor) of the owner.   "{Nice Horse}"  is a registered AQHA gelding from {Out West}, 10 year old stud, being stood in 2005 at {Local Farm and Training}. This is a double Doc Bar working stud. Extremely quiet, he works cattle, ropes, pleasure, trail rides. He stands 14.3 hands, bay, pasture or hand breeding. Don't pass up this bloodline, we stand his bloodlines against any performance horse in the {state}!

When I am an Old Horsewoman   When I am an old Horsewoman I shall wear turquoise and diamonds, and a straw hat that doesn't suit me.   And I shall spend my social security on red wine and carrots, And sit in my alley-way of my barn And listen to my horses breathe.   I will sneak out in the middle of a summer night And ride the old bay gelding, Across the moonstruck meadow If my old bones will allow.   And when people come to call, I will smile and nod As I walk past the gardens to the barn and show instead the flowers growing inside stalls fresh-lined with straw. I will shovel and sweat and wear hay in my hair as if it were a jewel.   And I will be an embarrassment to all, Who will not yet have found the peace in being free to have a horse as a best friend, A friend who waits at midnight hour With muzzle and nicker and patient eyes For the kind of woman I will be When I am old.     Author Unknown ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Another version:     When I am old   I will wear soft gray sweatshirts And a bandana over my silver hair And I will spend my social security checks on wine and my Horses I will sit on my porch in my well-worn chair And watch my horses grazing. I will sneak out in the middle of a warm summer night And go for a horseback ride, if my old bones will allow When people come to call, I will smile and nod As I show them my horses&ldots;&ldots; And talk of them and about them The ones so beloved of the past And the ones so beloved of today I will still work hard cleaning up after them Feeding them and whispering their names In a soft loving way I will wear the gleaming sweat on my brow Like a jewel, and I will be an embarrassment to all Especially my family Who have not yet found the peace in being free To have your horses as your best friends These friends who always wait, at any hour, for your call And eagerly run to the fence when they hear your car To greet you as if you were God With warm eyes full of adoring love and hope That you will always stay I’ll hug their big strong necks I’ll kiss their dear sweet noses And they'll love me in their special way I look in the mirror and see I am getting old This is the kind of person I am And have always been Loving horses is easy; they are a part of me Please accept me for who I am My horses appreciate my presence in their lives They love my presence in their lives When I am old this will be important to me You will understand when you are old If you have horses to love too Author Unknown

CHEROKEE WISDOM A Cherokee Indian elder was teaching his grandchildren about life.  He said to them, "A fight is going on inside me... it is a terrible fight  and it is between two wolves.  One wolf represents fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance,  self- pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority,  and ego.  The other stands for joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity, humility,  kindness, benevolence, friendship, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion,  and faith.  This same fight is going on inside of you, and inside every other person, too."  The children thought about it for a minute and then one child asked his  grandfather, "Which wolf will win?    The old Cherokee elder replied simply ... "The one you feed."

Dear Horse Owners,     Are you experiencing too many second and third finishes behind inferior   horses at horse shows? During a trail ride, does your horse forget   everything he was bred to do?   Well, this simple chain letter is meant to bring relief and happiness   to you. Unlike most chain letters, it doesn't cost any money.   Simply send a copy to six other horse owners who are dissatisfied with   the way that their horse is behaving. Also, bundle up your horse and   send him/her to the horse owner at the top of list, and add your name to the     bottom of the list. Do not use a return address or the post office may   try to contact you.   In one week you should receive 16,436 horses, and at least one of them   should be a keeper.   Have faith in this. Do not break the chain. One owner broke the chain   and got his own horse back.

Dear Whinny,

           My sorrel mare, Kiwi, is the sassiest little thing. I was hugging her nose(hard not too)on her left side, and she took her right hoof and deliberately crossed it in front of her left one and rested it on my toe without putting the slightest bit of weight on it.

Sincerely,

Veronica

1. What is the fear of horses called?
A. Hippophobia
B. Riddiophobia
C. Sadlophobia
D. Equiphobia

2. Which is NOT a form of horse racing?
A. Flat racing
B. Harness racing
C. Steeplechasing
D. Hop-scotching

3. Which is NOT a breed of American saddle horse?
A. Tennessee Walker
B. Morgan
C. Quarter Horse
D. Kentucky Sprinter

4. How many horses have been Triple Crown winners?
A. 11
B. 21
C. 31
D. 13

5. The horse's single toe on each of its four feet is its most marked 
anatomical characteristic and makes it a perissodactyl or odd-toed ungulate.  The horse shares this trait with which other animal?
A. Rhinoceros
B. Tapir
C. Elephant
D. Cow
E. A and B>

 Trivia One Answers
1. What is the fear of horses called? A. Hippophobia
FTO: Hey, you know we dosn't make this stuff up, right?!?

2. Which is NOT a form of horse racing? D. Hop-scotching
FTO: Did you know that horse racing may well be the oldest sport?  By the 
time humans began recording history it was already well established.  Does 
that mean that book making may really be the oldest profession?

3. Which is NOT a breed of American saddle horse?D. Kentucky Sprinter
FTO: Although, it could be an unofficial breed!

4. How many horses have been Triple Crown winners? A. 11
FTO: They are Sir Barton, Gallant Fox, Omaha, War Admiral, Whirlaway, Count Fleet, Assault, Citation, Secretariat, Seattle Slew, and Affirmed.  The last one was in 1978.

5. The horse's single toe on each of its four feet is its most marked anatomical characteristic and makes it a perissodactyl or odd-toed ungulate.  The horse shares this trait with which other animal?E. A and B        FTO: Very curious, indeed.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

6. Which is NOT one of the three classic American races that make up the Triple Crown?
A. The Bluegrass Stakes
B. The Belmont Stakes
C. The Preakness Stakes
D. The Kentucky Derby

7. The horse is the common name for hoofed, herbivorous mammals that 
include the domestic horse and three groups of undomesticated species.  These do NOT include which of the following?
A. The Zebra
B. The Ass
C. Przewalski's Wild Horse
D. Mule

8. Which is NOT one of the three Arabian subbreeds?
A. Turks from European Turkey and Asian Minor.
B. Arabians from the regions between Damascus and the Euphrates River.
C. Barbs from the Barbary states of northern Africa.
D. Zulus from South Africa.

9. Which is NOT a breed of horse developed in the ancient world?
A. Egyptian and Babylonian horses were the forerunners of the swift Arabian.
B. Europe's domesticated horse was heavier and slower, but more powerful 
     than the desert breeds, and were the predecessors to modern draft horses.
C. An ancestral strain found in the British Isles was the antecedent of 
     various breeds of modern ponies.
D. The Amazonians carefully bred a line of mules whose blood lines still remain true       
     today.

10. How were horses introduced to the Americas?
A. They were brought by Spanish Conquistadors and explorers in the 16th century.
B. They crossed the land bridge with early man.
C. They were always there.
D. Leif Eriksson and his Viking crew brought them.
>=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

 Trivia Two Answers

6. Which is NOT one of the three classic American races that make up the Triple Crown?A. The Bluegrass Stakes

7. The horse is the common name for hoofed, herbivorous mammals that include the domestic horse and three groups of undomesticated species.  These do NOT include which of the following? D. Mule  FTO: The mule is actually a cross of the ass and the horse.

8. Which is NOT one of the three Arabian subbreeds?D. Zulus from South Africa.

9. Which is NOT a breed of horse developed in the ancient world?
    D. The Amazonians carefully bred a line of mules whose blood lines still remain true         
     today.  FTO: Mules cannot be bred!  They are sterile.

10. How were horses introduced to the Americas?A. They were brought by Spanish  
     Conquistadors and explorers in the 16th century.

      [author and location of sales lot unknown] 

RH: Very close to it. Writers are allowed to use "creative license" you know. But, if you believe in mysterious things - and most animal lovers do - it's not that much of a stretch. Is it?

Just recently, after years of research, I have finally been able to give a name to what my wife and I have been living with for years.

It's an affliction, for sure, which when undiagnosed and misunderstood can devastate and literally tear a family apart.  Very little is known about O.C.E.A.N. Syndrome. But it is my hope this article will generate interest from researchers involved in the equine and psychological sciences. You will, no doubt, begin to identify similar symptoms in your own family and hopefully now be able to cope.

OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE EQUINE ATTACHMENT NEUROSIS SYNDROME O.C.E.A.N.S) is usually found in the female and can manifest itself anytime from birth to the golden years. Symptoms may appear any time and may even go dormant in the late teens, but the syndrome frequently re-emerges in later years.

Symptoms vary widely in both number and degree of severity. Allow me to share some examples which are most prominent in our home.

The afflicted individual: 

1. Can smell moldy hay at ten paces, but can't tell whether milk has gone bad until it turns chunky.

2. Finds the occasional "Buck and Fart" session hugely entertaining, but severely chastises her husband for similar antics.

3. Will spend hours cleaning and conditioning her tack, but wants to eat on paper plates so there are no dishes.

4. Considers equine gaseous excretions a fragrance. 

5. Enjoys mucking out four stalls twice a day, but insists on having a housekeeper mop the kitchen floor once a week.

6. Will spend an hour combing and trimming an equine mane, but wears a baseball cap so she doesn't waste time brushing her own hair.

7. Will dig through manure piles daily looking for worms, but does not fish. 

8. Will not hesitate to administer a rectal exam up to her shoulder, but finds cleaning out the Thanksgiving turkey cavity for dressing quite repulsive.

9. By memory can mix eight different supplements in the correct proportions, but can't make macaroni and cheese that isn't soupy.

10. Twice a week will spend an hour scrubbing algae from the water tanks, but has a problem cleaning lasagna out of the casserole dish.

11. Will pick a horse's nose, and call it cleaning, but becomes verbally violent when her husband picks his.

12. Can sit through a four-hour session of a ground work clinic, but unable to make it through a half-hour episode of Cops.

The spouse of an afflicted victim: 

1. Must come to terms with the fact there is no cure, and only slightly effective treatments. The syndrome may be genetic or caused by the inhaling of manure particles which, I propose, have an adverse effect on female hormones.

2. Must adjust the family budget to include equine items - hay,veterinarian services, farrier services, riding boots and clothes, supplements, tack, equine masseuse and acupuncturist - as well as the (mandatory) equine spiritual guide, etc. Once you have identified a monthly figure, never look at it again. Doing so will cause tightness in your chest, nausea and occasional diarrhea.

3. Must realize that your spouse has no control over this affliction. More often than not, she will deny a problem even exists as denial is common.

4. Must form a support group. You need to know you're not alone - and there's no shame in admitting your wife has a problem. My support group, for instance, involves men who truly enjoy Harley Davidsons, four-day weekends and lots of scotch. Most times, she is unaware that I am even gone, until the precise moment she needs help getting a 50-pound bag of grain out of the truck.

As a writer, I am always searching for information; always gathering news and observing trends related to horse lovers. This isn't limited to breeding, raising, feeding and showing. It goes much further than that. Today, horse lovers have broadened into psychology, fashion, legislation and all manner of discoveries, coming at us in a bombardment of information like never before.

Like all of us, I find this information on TV, in magazines, papers, newsletters, radio, Internet, at seminars, conventions, lectures and in the movies. And, like many of us, I wonder why more of it isn't on the sports pages of my local newspaper.

Recently, an editorial in one of the foremost horse magazines illustrated the scope of this question. I've been observing the writings of this editor for a while now, because very few minds in animal husbandry dare to say out loud what he is expressing. This particular editorial caught my attention as if it was written in bold print.

What was he saying that "hit the mark?" He was telling it like it is. 

He was saying that, as a kid, he knew the make of a gun better than he knew anything about horses. Put into today's perspective, kids know guns, cars and drugs better than they know horses. Why is this?

With all the media we have at our disposal, where are horses while these kids are growing up? Have they just evaporated into thin air?

For an answer, I went to a place where I so often do my best thinking. I went to a horse show. I looked around at all the people. I studied the artists and vendors at their booths. I felt the sense of excitement and the pulsing murmur of voices. It was good. It was creative.

It was inspired by the love of horses. 

But, was the local newspaper covering this gathering of people? An estimated twenty-thousand people walked through the gates of that show in two days. Did reporters cover the event? I didn't see any.

So, I asked myself: Why not? I asked myself why so many people must stumble into our world of horses instead of knowing about it as well as they know about baseball, or football or golf? And, just like the magazine editor I mentioned at the beginning of this article, I knew the power to change this was in our own hands.

But, how do we make such changes? Actually, it's as simple as taking a piece of clay in my studio and shaping it into whatever you want it to be. The clay can be compared to "Life." And you, as the artist, can transform that clay into whatever you want it to be.

I guess, after a lifetime of working with clay and paints, I do make it sound easier than what it is. But, not really. You see, making a sculpture in clay -- or a painting, a book, a song or anything creative -- is a matter of making the right choices and decisions leading up to the objective you hold in mind. If the objective is to raise the profile of our horses in the public eye, it means reaching out to decision-makers who speak to the public.

Every horse show, every dog show, every pet expo is a public event. It's news in the town, county and state in which it happens. It's news when thousands of people attend a special event.

Spreading this news isn't just up to the "powers that be." It's up to the players, themselves, too. If your horse wins a class, or your dog show business has something new to offer, these things are of interest to the general public. It doesn't hurt to type them up as a brief report and send them to a newspaper editor.

If enough horse lovers send reports of their victories to their local newspapers, radio stations and TV stations, these places will report them. If not, then ask why. Do whatever you must to make your stories interesting enough -- important enough -- for news coverage. That's how public opinion is shaped: just like a piece of clay. And this kind of clay is in the hands of horse lovers like you.

COMMENTS & QUESTIONS

How do you write something for the newspaper? 

When something like this is written for the paper, or radio or TV, it's called a 'press release.' There isn't really a special format for press releases, except that they include certain basic information. Be sure your press release is typewritten, that it includes the name of the organization holding the event, the person a reporter should contact for more information and a concise report of what happened (or what is going to happen). Brief and to the point is best when it comes to these things. And make sure everything is spelled correctly!

How do we know if an editor is going to run our story?

You don't. All you can be sure of, is that the editor (or someone in the newsroom) has seen your story ... they might run it or they might not. But, you can count on them noticing if you submit another story on down the line. And, eventually, they could very well start publishing your reports. Especially if other horse lovers in your area are doing the same thing. That kind of activity catches their attention.

Any other advice?

s. A lot of horse lovers are afraid of sending out press releases. Yet the more publicity horse lovers get, the stronger our numbers will be. This will have an impact on everything affecting horses in our town, our state and our whole country. Most important, it means those kids we talked about will see how their love of horses can be the ticket to a whole new world.

Dear Editor: 

Thank you for your interest in my column, "On With The Show." Response to last month's article, "In Your Own Hands" was the strongest ever. Clearly, it was important to readers.

Most of the notes and phone calls were from readers wanting to expand and grow in the public media. They are proud of their wins, excited by their shows and they love their animal-related activities. Other readers expressed fear of criticism by angry animal rights organizations or local law-enforcers -- and this was alarming. "Now" isn't the time for anyone in the world of purebred animals to hide.

As a writer, I'm familiar with controversy. My column centers on people raising purebred animals and my novel, 'High Stakes' is probably the only book in print that includes a 20-year documentation of international crimes committed by a violent animal 'rights' movement. Believe me, criticism in the press isn't something to be afraid of. It can turn out to be a great way to give your point of view. 

Horse shows, Dog shows, Cat shows, Races, Agility events, Pet Expos, Circuses, Rodeos, County Fairs - these are healthy, fun events for the whole family. I say, let's out-number, out-talk and out-savvy anybody who criticizes our way of life. It's imperative that we re-image ourselves and expand our visibility in the mainstream media. Nothing should be more important to us right now than this. Thank you for supporting my column.

On With The Show!

Ron Hevener

www.ronhevener.com

·         Quarter Horses: Definitely jocks. Strutting around flexing those muscles, showing off their butts...definitely jocks.

·         Thoroughbreds: Preppies. Sometimes athletes, never 'jocks'. Monogrammed blankets, leather halters, Nike eventer shoes, the latest custom trailer and tack. They are the "new money" rich.

·         Appaloosas: Could only be the stoners. They like to trip acid so they can watch their spots move.

·         Arabians: RAH! RAH! SIS BOOM BAH! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO TEAM!! (need I say more?)

·         Shetland Ponies: Frightening, spiky hairdos, snotty attitudes and any color of the rainbow .... Gotta be PUNKS. Some even sport tattoos.

·         Friesians: Big, buff, and always in black, they are the biker clique. Cigs hanging out of the corner of their mouths, dangerous glint in the eyes, daring anyone to cross their path.

·         Morgans: They're the nerdy teacher's pets, running around doing everything from yearbook to decorating the gym and ratting out the bikers, stoners and jocks. They have perpetual wedgies.

·         Drafts (all breeds): No real clique, they're just the big guys who sit in the back of the room and fart a lot (and then laugh). Who's going to STOP them?

·         Icelandics and Paso Finos: They're the little squirrely geeks who flit around a dance trying to fit in and fail miserably. The kind who wear Toughskins jeans from Sears (or would that be rip off WeathaBeetas??).

·         Ahkle Tekl (Akle Takl? Ackle Tackle....!! Akhal Teke!!): Foreign exchange student(s). And no one can spell their names either.

·         Hackney Ponies: A breed this manic would have to be a band geek. Marching along with their knees and heads held high.....even going to the bathroom.

·         Warmbloods: Old Money Preppies, as opposed to the TBs who are new money preppies. All their tack is imported from Europe, they drink Perrier water and eat only organically grown feed. They look down on everyone and talk amongst themselves about summer in Paris and skiing in Gstad and wasn't it dreadful how provincial Spruce Meadows has become? 

by Lauren Davis Baker 

God gives us horses and compels some of us to love them. Yet why does the horse, an animal with such a big heart, live such a short life? Perhaps it's because if our horses lived any longer, we couldn't be able to bear losing them. Or, perhaps it's because God wants to jump.

Perhaps God looks down on the fine horses we raise and decides when it's His turn to ride. He gives us a few good years to care for and learn from them, but when the time is right; it's up to us to see them off gracefully.

O.K., perhaps not gracefully. Blowing into a Kleenex is rarely graceful. But we can be grateful.

To have a horse in your life is a gift. In the matter of a few short years, a horse can teach a girl courage, if she chooses to grab mane and hang on for dear life. Even the smallest of ponies is mightier than the tallest of girls. To conquer the fear of falling off, having one's toes crushed, or being publicly humiliated at a horse show is an admirable feat f or any child. For that, we can be grateful.

Horses teach us responsibility. Unlike a bicycle—or a computer–a horse needs regular care and most of it requires that you get dirty and smelly and up off the couch. Choosing to leave your cozy kitchen to break the crust of ice off the water buckets is to choose responsibility. When our horses dip their noses and drink heartily, we know we've made the right choice.

Learning to care for a horse is both an art and a science. Some are easy keepers, requiring little more than regular turn-out, a flake of hay, and a trough of clean water. Others will test you—you'll

struggle to keep them from being too fat or too thin. You'll have their feet shod regularly only to find shoes gone missing. Some are so accident-prone you'll swear they're intentionally finding new ways to injure themselves.

If you weren't raised with horses, you can't know that they have unique personalities. You'd expect this from dogs, but horses? Indeed, there are clever horses, grumpy horses, and even horses with a sense of humor. Those prone to humor will test you by finding new ways to escape from the barn when you least expect it. I found one of ours on the front porch one morning, eating the cornstalks I'd carefully arranged as Halloween decorations.

Horses can be timid or brave, lazy or athletic, obstinate or willing. You will hit it off with some horses and others will elude you altogether. There are as many "types" of horses as there are people—which makes the whole partnership thing all the more interesting.

If you've never ridden a horse, you probably assume it's a simple thing you can learn in a weekend. You can, in fact, learn the basics on a Sunday—but to truly ride well takes a lifetime. Working with a living being is far more complex than turning a key in the ignition and putting the car in "drive."

In addition to listening to your instructor, your horse will have a few things to say to you as well. On a good day, he'll be happy to go along with the program and tolerate your mistakes; on a bad day, you'll swear he's trying to kill you. Perhaps he's naughty or perhaps he's fed up with how slowly you're learning his language. Regardless, the horse will have an opinion. He may choose to challenge you (which can ultimately make you a better rider) or he may carefully carry you over fences—if it suit s him. It all depends on the partnership—and partnership is what it's all about.

If you face your fears, swallow your pride, and are willing to work at it, you'll learn lessons in courage, commitment, and compassion in addition to basic survival skills. You'll discover just how hard you're willing to work toward a goal, how little you know, and how much you have to learn. And, while some people think the horse "does all the work", you'll be challenged physically as well as mentally. Your horse may humble you completely. Or, you may find that sitting on his back is the closest you'll get to heaven.

You can choose to intimidate your horse, but do you really want to? The results may come more quickly but will your work ever be as graceful as that gained through trust? The best partners choose to listen, as well as to tell. When it works, we experience a sweet sense of accomplishment brought about by smarts, hard work, and mutual understanding between horse and rider. These are the days when you know with absolute certainty that your horse is enjoying his work.

If we make it to adulthood with horses still in our lives, most of us have to squeeze riding into our oversaturated schedules; balancing our need for things equine with those of our households and employers. There is never enough time to ride, or to ride as well as we'd like. Hours in the barn are stolen pleasures.

If it is in your blood to love horses, you share your life with them. Our horses know our secrets; we braid our tears into their manes and whisper our hopes into their ears. A barn is a sanctuary in an unsettled world, a sheltered place where life's true priorities are clear: a warm place to sleep, someone who loves us, and the luxury of regular meals. Some of us need these reminders.

When you step back, it's not just about horses—it's about love, life, and learning. On any given day, a friend is celebrating the birth of a foal, a blue ribbon, or recovery from an illness. That same day, there is also loss: a broken limb, a case of colic, a decision to sustain a life or end it gently. As horse people, we share the accelerated life cycle of horses: the hurried rush of life, love, loss, and death that caring for these animals brings us. When our partners pass, it is more than a moment of sorrow.

We mark our loss with words of gratitude for the ways our lives have been blessed. Our memories are of joy, awe, and wonder. Absolute union. We honor our horses for their brave hearts, courage, and willingness to give. To those outside our circle, it must seem strange. To see us in our muddy boots, who would guess such poetry lives in our hearts? We celebrate our companions with praise worthy of heroes. Indeed, horses have the hearts of warriors and often carry us into and out of fields of battle.

Listen to stories of that once-in-a-lifetime horse; of journeys made and challenges met. The best of horses rise to the challenges we set before them, asking little in return. Those who know them understand how fully a horse can hold a human heart. Together, we share the pain of sudden loss and the lingering taste of long-term illness. We shoulder the burden of deciding when or whether to end the life of a true companion.

In the end, we're not certain if God entrusts us to our horses or our horses to us. Does it matter? We're grateful God loaned us the horse in the first place. And so we pray:

Dear God,

After You've enjoyed a bit of jumping, please give our fine horses the best of care. And, if it's not too much, might we have at least one more good gallop when we meet again?

Amen