Except for Monday by Lori Morgan made an excellent teaching guide to the days of the week for my children. It brings laughter every time we sing.
Kristen Howard
I could hear the gravel turning underneath the tires as we pulled out of Dry Run Road from Pierre, SD. It had been the place that I called home for many years. I created a picture in my mind as we drove away; the house, the corrals, and last out of sight was the arena.
My family built our entire home place. Mom and Dad would keep cultivating and adding on as the years passed. The arena was built last, post by post. The kids would ride the post-hole digger so Dad could get a little more depth. We thought it was so much fun until we cleaned the dirt from each hole so Dad could set the posts.
Crossing the Pierre/Fort Pierre bridge, I knew we were setting out on a great new adventure. I had excitement inside me that continued to build the further we drove away from Pierre, but familiar beckoned me to stay. Course, as a teenager, there was nothing I could do. We were moving far away, and I had to go. I couldn’t understand at the time and probably wasn’t supposed to. I had to trust my parents knew best and keep moving forward.
Purchase both Home Sweet Home Books I and II personally from me or locally at the Book Inn, Heaven’s Nectar or on Amazon!
New places didn’t prove easy at first, but over time, we adjusted. We no longer needed mud boots or coveralls, so those things slowly found their way to the goodwill pile, along with the smell of horses and hay that had seemed to embed itself in the materials. Without much thought, I just assumed the country way of life was over and that I needed to adjust to asphalt and street shoes.
Although the years steered away from what I had known growing up, it was at the root of my family. All of us had memory markers we would keep around to remind us of those years.
Watching my girls gain a love for horses has been a pure pleasure. It has brought back so many wonderful childhood memories that I thought were gone. Yet, God always has a wink and a smile in His back pocket. Don’t ever count yourself out if God is on your side.
A few weeks ago, we were out at the barn watching Eva during her riding lesson that a friend offered. It has proven very beneficial while getting situated for our horses. Charlotte found her time is best spent pouring dirt into her hair and boots. Although she also loves to walk up to the stalled horses and hand them little handfuls of hay, she pats their noses as if to assure them she will be back. On Charlotte’s first horse ride, I was concerned she might be a little scared, so I stayed close. She looked down at me and said, “Get back, Ma,” as if she had been riding her whole life.
Learning to gain control of the reins while trotting circles and keeping your seat can be very challenging for a seven-year-old just learning. I could have explained this concept blindfolded to Eva, but it would have meant nothing until she had to do it herself.
While trotting circles, Eva’s horse kept breaking the pattern to head for the gate. Eva’s instructor, Kendall, walked up to Eva, placed her hands on the saddle, and spoke, “I know this is hard for you. You have soft hands and a quiet temperament. Those are great qualities for a cowgirl, but now it’s time to get a hold of those reins and make him mind you. I can’t do that for you. If riding were easy, everyone would do it. You have to show him who is in control. Riding is all about circles. If you can learn this principle, everything else will fall into place.”
As what typically happens to me, I drifted back to Dry Run Road. I loved to sit out by the arena in the summer evenings and watch my sister practice barrels. Dad would instruct her, and she would keep practicing on Mr. Ed. I can see Dad walk up beside Brittney in the same manner I watched Eva’s instructor do. Dad was teaching her about the ride- low hands, low head. She was so little for such a big horse, it seemed. It turns out Ed wasn’t as tall as I had thought as a kid. Yet, a few months ago, Dad reminisced, “That yellow gelding would lower his head so Brittney could reach his ears.”
I asked Dad how he knew Mr. Ed would be so gentle. “Ed had the pedigree for greatness, but he didn’t have the heart. You don’t buy horses like that. It’s not on their papers. It shows up during the training. They have an old soul. It’s a gem that has to be discovered.”
Eva’s riding instructor turned and looked at me and said, “I need everyone to leave the arena. Before Eva leaves today, I need her to conquer this circle. If not, the horse wins; next time, it will be even harder.” I left with a herd of kids, yet I could see Eva from the alleyway. I rested along the gate, watched as she gained control, and made the circle without allowing the horse to break the pattern. It wasn’t perfect, but she won.
Life is about circles. If we never complete the circle, we break the pattern. Learning to turn brought me full circle so that I could return to the arena. But I didn’t enter alone. Now, I have brought my family.
Upon Eva’s next riding lesson, she was ready. Her confidence and assurance were high. She had set a precedent that she was in charge. Not once did her horse break the circle. That’s not to say she will never have to deal with this again. However, she learned who was in charge.
Leaving the arena proved harder than I thought all those years ago; I didn’t realize at the time what had been rooted so deeply inside of me. But can I tell you, the arena has been dusty upon my return, and that has been just lovely.
We put bits in horses’ mouths to make them obey us, and we turn their whole body. James 3:3
