Never Say Neigh

Never Say Neigh

(posted for the A to Z Challenge)

N is for Neigh.

Do you have naysayers at your barn?

 

Perhaps every equestrian facility has them. Naysayers seem to congregate wherever people gather for community of any sort.

You know the type.

Naysayers point out single puffs of cloud in a clear blue sky. They decry dust that gathers on their leather boots. Such finicky folks complain about completing less-than-perfect rides or receiving red ribbons, rather than blue ones.

Mostly, however, naysayers gripe about other people.

Horses may nicker and neigh, but they are by no means naysayers. If a horse becomes annoyed  irritated at his herd mates, he might bite or kick or swish his tail. A mare might pin her ears and squeal to express her discontent.

But then it’s over. Equines don’t bear grudges or harbor ill will.

What lessons our horses can teach us!

Image:

Nose-to-Nose photo

by Jon Hurd

Creative Commons Licensing

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Down with Drama

Down with Drama

(posted for the A to Z Challenge)

D is for Drama ... and Dummy.

Not long ago, a horse-loving friend was looking for a creative way to introduce her horse to the idea of carrying a rider. This green horse, rescued from abuse and started at a more advanced age than most, had planted the seasoned trainer in the arena footing more than once.

Along came Mustang Sally (see photo), the tailor-made acrobatic equestrian crash dummy. (Look closely. This well-dressed mannequin is wearing Ariat cowboy boots.)

Sally has seen plenty of drama at the stables. In fact, Sally has created a fair amount of drama too, especially when unsuspecting horses first encountered her in the barn aisle.

But Mustang Sally’s drama has been short-lived. Most of us, both horses and humans, no longer give Sally a second glance. She scares us not at all.

Other barn drama, on the other hand, can be downright daunting.

Are you tired of barn drama?

Perhaps it is impossible to gather equine enthusiasts (or any kind of enthusiasts, for that matter) regularly in any spot without drama developing.

Conflict may arise about personal possessions, juicy gossip and more. Occasionally, drama may arise from actual offenses, such as illicit liaisons. Most often, though, rifts seem to come from miscommunication or misinterpretation of seemingly trivial expressions.

Recently, I was pleased to be reunited with a dear friend after such a sad rift over a total misunderstanding. Our disagreement lasted less than a day. Then we talked it over and hugged it out. We were both relieved. Who needs to be saddled with guilt over a silly spat?

Sadly, in other instances, drama may last much longer. Perhaps it depends upon the power of the emotional ammunition folks may carry when they enter the barn.

Why do we have horses, anyway? Sure, a small percentage of horse owners aspire to join the equestrian elite and earn awards at top levels. Most of us, however, may simply adore equines and view our horses as endearing companions that help us to de-stress and de-compress from real-life concerns.

Enter barn drama. There goes the de-stressing and de-compression. Even the horses know the difference.

What’s your most frustrating barn drama story? (Wait! Don’t share that! It wouldn’t be prudent.)

Barn drama may also come from certain creatures. A stomping stud may suddenly erupt, sending humans flying. A frisky filly may swish her tail and stir up trouble in the herd. A nasty nag may snort up a storm and rile the rest.

Um, are we still talking about horses here?

Image:

Mustang Sally

Photo copyrighted by Linda Ann Nickerson

-          Nickers and Ink

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"R" is for . . . Relaxing from Rigors

Posted for a variety of prompts:

ABC Wednesday (“R is for . . . “)

Camera Critters (photo/s)

Easy Street Prompts (“naïve”)

Heads or Tails (“Share an Autumn Memory”)

One Single Impression (“courage”)

Read – Write – Poem (“fear”)

Scenic Sunday (photo/s)

Seek the Lord Sunday (“How has God touched your heart?”)

Simply Snickers (“horizon,” “hover” and “human””)

Slice of Life Sunday (“crossing boundaries”)

Sunday Scribblings (“stranger”)

Totally Optional Prompts (“sound”)

Weekend Snapshot (photo/s)

Word-Filled Wednesday (“the wise man”)

Wordless Wednesday – Everyday (photo/s)

“R” is for . . . Relaxing from Rigors

photos c2008 by Nickers and Ink

Detangling with Delight –

Rhyming Lots on Losing Knots

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine

and puts them into practice is like a wise man

who built his house on the rock.”

Matthew 7:24

A feral foal will stand at rest –

Allowing grooming, no protest.

Though burrs be tangled in his mane,

His energies he may contain.

He’ll hover there for human care,

With equine heart a-beating fair.

No stranger may approach him thus,

But those who bend to earn his trust.

Such high horizons beckon all,

Where courage may send fear a-fall.

These interactions school the soul,

Eliminating crowd’s control.

We need to bridle burning pasts

To build a legacy that lasts.

For saddled with concerns untamed

We merely march in meter, maimed.

The wisest man knows how to live;

To temper stress, one must forgive.

May sound a bit naïve, but true,

That crossing boundaries lifts view.

Love poetry? Check out Simply Snickers, a brand-new weekly poetry prompt. Try your hand with weekly prompts! Or, look into The Meme Express for daily blogging prompts.

Click here to visit Linda Ann Nickerson’s poetry and humor blog, Nickers and Ink.

Click here to subscribe to an RSS feed for this writer's helpful Helium content. If you wish, click here for a free subscription to this author's online AC content, so you won't miss a single post!

H Is for . . . Happy Horses

Posted for a variety of prompts:
ABC Wednesday (“H is for . . . “)
Heads or Tails (“box”)
Hump Day Humor (“oil”)
In Other Words (“Pressing Close to God”)
Matinee Muse (“rising above”)
Meme Express (“swap ideas”)
Pet Peeve Tuesday (“Do They Think We’re Stupid?”)
Totally Optional Prompt (“conversations”)
Wordless Wednesday (photo/s)

“H” Is for . . . Happy Horses

Photo c2007 by Nickers and Ink

Jump-Start on Smarts –
Pastoral Wisdom . . . From the Pasture

In conversations with a friend,
We swap ideas and comprehend
The truths of life,
An end to strife
And our opinions recommend.

We often think outside the box;
Press close to God – see, here He walks.
For smart are we,
Here in our glee.
With oil of wonder, our life rocks.

Love poetry? Check out Simply Snickers, a brand-new weekly poetry prompt. Try your hand with weekly prompts! Or, look into The Meme Express for daily blogging prompts.

Click here to visit Linda Ann Nickerson’s poetry and humor blog, Nickers and Ink.

Click here to subscribe to an RSS feed for this writer's helpful Helium content. If you wish, click here for a free subscription to this author's online AC content, so you won't miss a single post!

Falling Off Your Horse - Getting Over the Unscheduled Dismount

Back in the Saddle Again

Whoop-pi-ti-yi-yo
Rockin' to and fro
Back in the saddle again
Whoop-pi-ti-yi-yay
I go my own way
Back in the saddle again.
Gene Autry (The Singing Cowboy)

Falling Off Your Horse - Getting Over the Unscheduled Dismount

Have you been launched by your Lippizan? Pitched by your pony? Heaved by your Hanoverian? Thrown by your Thoroughbred? Upended by your Appaloosa? Catapulted by your Quarterhorse? Abandoned by your Arabian? Sprung by your Selle Francais?

Ask any seasoned equestrian how many times he or she has fallen off a horse. An honest horseman will likely run out of fingers, just trying to count his or her landings. English and Western equestrians alike will claim that you haven't really become a rider until you have hit the dirt a few times.

One of the main appeals of horsemanship is the risk, the challenge, and the rush that comes from doing something daring. After all, we ride living creatures, about ten times our size, with wills of their own. When we can enlist their full cooperation, it is magic. When we can't, we can experience crash landings.

What's an equestrian to do? Click here for several practical steps to reestablish your own self confidence, the horse's trust and your solid seat in the saddle. Ride on!


Want to read more? Click here to see "Falling Off Your Horse - Getting Over the Unscheduled Dismount," or click here to subscribe to an RSS feed for this writer's helpful Helium content. Or click here for a free subscription to this author's online content, so you won't miss a single post!

A Yearling's Reminder

A Yearling's Reminder -
Learning Holiness from a Horse

"I will follow You wherever You go."
Luke 9:57b

Not long ago, I was working with a favorite little yearling colt, when he kicked me.

This little guy and I have been together for about a year now - ever since the day he was weaned from his momma. He trusts me, and I trust him. He will follow me anywhere - even into dark nooks and crannies of the barn - and even past loud, scary farm machinery.

However, on this occasion, somehow it was different. I was grooming him in a stall that was not his own home - when a scary old stallion stuck his head through the bars of the neighboring stall and snarled at him. The big stud just pinned his ears back and growled. (OK, I know horses don't really growl, but that's how it sounded.)

My little friend nearly jumped out of his skin. Usually, I can anticipate him quite well. Horses communicate largely through body language. But this time, I was leaning underneath him, brushing burrs off his belly. I didn't notice his eyes growing wide and surprised.

Frightened, he suddenly kicked out -- and my upper leg caught his reaction. I have a lovely colorful bruise - the size of a Major League baseball - to remember this occasion.

I did have to get after him a bit - to teach him not to repeat this dangerous behavior. Even so, within moments, I was brushing and hugging and speaking soothing words to him again. ("That's my good boy. Who's my handsome little horsey? What a special colt you are.") I can really be quite silly about this guy.

What does this have to do with faith?

The incident made me think about how God loves us. How many times - a day - do we suddenly get startled by something that happens to us and kick out, even at the One who protects us?

That night, I looked at the technicolor contusion, as it spread across my thigh. I thought about Jesus, who was bruised for our iniquities - our sins. The bruised stripes on His back led to our healing from the effects of sin and death. (See Isaiah 53:4-5.)

Even as we were bruising Him, He was calling out to His Father - our Father - on our behalf. "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing." (See Luke 23:34.)

How right He was!

Most of the time, we really don't know what we are doing.

My little horse will always be a horse. Sure, I can work with him - I can train him and teach him, and he will learn to trust and obey me. But he will still be a horse, and I must always remember that he could (at anytime) react just like a horse. He simply can't help it. It's his nature.

I carry a nature too - my human nature. Like Paul, I do not always do what I know I should do. (See Romans 7:7-25.) Instead, I sometimes revert to my old sin nature - the one that Jesus nailed to the cross. But, when I do fail Him, He calls me back, and He picks me up, and He reminds me that I still belong to Him. He reassures me and tells me again that He loves me and I can trust Him.

That's how God feels about me - and that's how He feels about you!

And when we let Him lead us - when we trust Him - He will lead us beside quiet waters and comfort and guide and feed and sustain us! (See Psalm 23.)

For He loves us with an everlasting love - He doesn't drag us along with a nasty rope, but He draws us with gentle cords of love. (See Jeremiah 31:3.)

We can cast all our cares upon Him, for He cares for us. (See 1 Peter 5:7.)

Looking back, I realized something. If this little paint colt could trust and follow me, with all my questions, then surely I should be able to trust the all-knowing Creator!

Want to read more? Click here for "A Yearling's Reminder - Learning Holiness from a Horse."