Horse Magic: What Lights you up?
Remember that one special thing from childhood that you loved, I mean REALLY loved. It would lit you up; you'd eat all your veggies, clean up whatever toys, do ALL the chores, get straight As, whatever it took to be allowed to do that one thing that lit up your life. Remember?
I'm sure you'll be shocked but I was an active kid with lots of 'loves'. Only one thing really lit me up though, horses.
To make things really interesting I was a sickly kid, suffering from asthma and horrendous allergies. Guess what my number one allergy was, HORSES! If you know me, even severe illness wasn't standing in the way of my deep love of these animals.
There is something about the smell of horse hair and hay that takes me back to my Grandparent's farm in the Summer. I still remember the incredible adventures my Dad's childhood horse, Red took us on. We went everywhere. There wasn't anywhere that Red wouldn't go! He galloped through fields, walked across paved roads where the sounds of his hooves were crystal clear and swam with us across the river. He was larger than life in my mind.
It wasn't until sophomore year in college that I decided I had 'outgrown' my allergy and was going to ride. Of course, because that made perfect sense for a college student who knew EVERYTHING!
Oddly enough, eventually my plan worked. Loads of Benadryl, eye drops, inhalers and prayers later I could tolerate a full ride without having to stop to use my supplies and my heart was full! I Riding for me is like flying & I wasn't going to miss out on that feeling!
You see you can't lie to a horse. A horse is a prey animal and they know immediately who you are. Not who you want to be, but who you are at your core. They just know. If you want to know about someone, watch them with horses. They'll reveal it all to you without even trying. These big, powerful animals are some of the most intuitive beings you will ever encounter.
My Dad and I went to horse shows together so it seemed only natural that when he was ready to buy a horse of his own I would get to go! We looked at several different horses and he didn't feel like he connected with any of them, I now know the power of connection between a horse and a rider. The day we found Dad's horse we weren't even there to see him, we actually didn't even know he was there.
Dad was busy talking with the stable owners, learning the history of their program and enjoying their beautiful ranch. I was busy wandering around looking at their beautiful horses. Then I saw him... all black, HUGE and in his eyes there was something, a kindness. I learned what Dad meant about connecting, those first 5 seconds with him. Dad rode him and felt the same. We named him Solomon, he's been with us ever since.
What I know now about that horse magic I felt as a child is the connection my Dad was explaining between a horse and it's rider. There's nothing more powerful. This immense animal is responsible for you and you entrust them with your life. Together you are a team, you rely on each other. Sol and my Dad had one of the best partnerships I have ever seen. They had wet saddle blankets and loads of adventure, they were best friends.
When Dad went to heaven, Sol came to live with us in Texas. We both couldn't be without our best friend; so we stick together, me and Sol.
We have learned to trust each other and gotten to know each other's quirks. Sol has taught me how to be fully present in the moment and the power of unconditional trust. Every time I'm with him it takes me back to that feeling of childhood. Time stands still and I feel that connection that Dad was trying to explain. I feel it with both of them.
What lights you up? I'd love to learn about it in the comments.