My daughter Maddy, has had a LONG history of loving horses. And my BFF, Shelli, who I have been friends with since middle school, has also had a LONG history of loving, riding, and working with horses. So When Maddy showed an interest in horses, Shelli thought she should take a few lessons. So we signed her up, with a wonderful instructor, Maple Smith. Maddy rode every horse in Maples barn at some point during her lessons, and was even fortunate enough to show one of them, Kelly. Unfortunately, Kelly was pretty old and had such bad cataracts she was practically blind. So they only showed once, but Maddy loved that horse.
Life got busy for Maddy with school and Volleyball and she stopped taking lessons for several years, but her love of horses remained!! She had an opportunity to show a friends horse at fair one summer and then was done for another couple of years. Last Summer, Maddy was given the ultimate offer, to ride a horse named Chip. Maddy has known his family, and watched them show at fair, so she was familiar with Chip. His girl, Katie, was too old to show anymore and was off at College, so Chip was just hanging out, doing nothing. They only live just a few miles away from us. Chip hadn't been ridden for a couple of years, so they had a lot of work to do and a very short time to do it in ~since she started working with him the beginning of June and fair was the end of July!! Shelli was happy to jump on board and be the show mom! SO THANKFUL for that!!!! They worked hard and Maddy took very good care of Chip. She did everthing she could to learn, as fast as she could, how best to care for an older show horse, who may have had a few injuries. She is now TOTALLY in love with this horse!!! And this has been the greatest experience she could have ever been given. I will never be able to repay the gifts people have offered Maddy!!! At the end of season, his owners told Maddy she was welcome to show him again this year. She was thrilled!!! At this point I was still not the worlds biggest fan of horses, but watching their relationship evolve had been wonderful and I've come to have a greater appreciation for the horses!! Now this story really is going somewhere, I promise.
I've been going out to the barn a lot in the last few months, with Maddy. Recently Chips owners were off on vacation for Spring Break. Normally Maddy handles feeding and stuff while they are gone, but becuz she was at college and busy with some other stuff, I offered to handle the morning feedings for her. Crazy!! I know!! I've fed before, once or twice, here and there. BUT I've never been in a barn alone for more that 5-10 minutes. I cleaned Magics stall for Maddy, cuz I knew she was just tooo busy to be able to handle everything. This was a very eye opening experience for me. I have learned some things at the barn. I can see where "horse people" find the barn to be an enjoyable, peaceful experience. I think if you shared a special bond with a horse it would be even greater, but I kind of get it. I don't LOVE shoveling shit! Maddy makes it look way easier than it is, and she even looks like she enjoys it. I HATE stupid ass pigeons, they are messy and shit everywhere!! And I will NEVER love listening to country music, and I swear that you can NOT get any other radio channels in ANY barn!! If I ever owned a barn, for what ever reason, I would put a giant satelite on top of that thing so I could get some good music!!! Seriously!!!!! But I will admit that it's nice being out there on a sunny morning, enjoying nature.
During this time, Maddy was feeling so guilty about not getting out there as often as she'd like, but seriously, I do believe that Chip has such a strong bond with her that he realizes that, at this exact moment in time, he is THE SINGLE most important thing in her life, and that if she can't be there, there is a reason for it. HE knows that while she sits in class, she is thinking how she would rather be sitting on him. HE knows that while she is running, she is trying to do her part, to be fit, to be the best rider she can be. He knows that when she is at work, she is earning enough money to buy his new boots, to help him feel better. HE KNOWS!! How does he know??? Well, here are some other interesting things I've learned at the barn, over time...
It's hard to express with words {cuz, while I can talk fast and furious, I'm just not that eloquent} what I see happening between her and this horse, BUT I swear that there is that moment when they are together, just enjoying each others company, that their souls actually share a common space. There is an electrical charge in the air, that surrounds only them, that you could feel if you could get close enough to reach out and feel for it. And that is how he is able to KNOW, so completely, that she loves him, becuz he has seen into her heart and soul. I can tell you that it's truly magical and that he is the BEST thing that has ever happened to her. He gives her a great gift. When she is with him, she glows. He brings out the best in her. When they are together you can see the stress of her days, slip slowly away from her. It's like he says to her, "Maddy you just ride, I posses the ability to make everything else disappear, even for a just a little while. While the wind blows through your hair, your cares will blow away!" And you can see it, the all encompassing joy that she feels, when they are together. With him, she can truly be FREE. He allows her to be herself, he brings no judgements. He doesn't care if she is silly, or sings off key.
I'm convinced that what makes this bond special is that He can also see the love she feels for him in the way she cares for him, the way she checks, checks, and rechecks his legs for swelling, the way she cares for his thrush sensitive hooves, the way she grooms him, the way she talks to him. She tries to repay everything he has given her, in the only way she can, by caring for him.
If you have never witnessed such a thing, or you are NOT a "horse person" you may believe I am crazy. But I have witnessed it with my own eyes. I have gained so much perspective about horses just from watching Maddy and Chip. Horses are truly the MOST magical creatures I've ever seen. Before this I had no idea, just how intuitive horses were. How they each have their own, powerful personalities. How incredibly intelligent they are. If you are ever lucky enough to have a horse choose you to be their rider {and I now believe there is a difference between allowing and choosing!} to allow your soul to share a space with their souls, to be part of their herd, to have a horse look into your heart and let you look into his~ consider yourself the luckiest person on the planet. I've not ever been "chosen" and that's okay!! But I've been allowed to see it, and still consider myself lucky!!! I am thankful to Chip and even Magic for letting me witness such a thing, and for giving my daughter such a wonderful gift.
Now, I'll share a pile of pics ~I only wish my camera could capture the feeling that I speak of...
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| This one is me and Magic, she likes to share my cereal while we watch Maddy and Chip ride!! |
I've learned a lot at the barn...
I appreciate all the people who have helped Maddy out and continue to help her.
I appreciate Chip and the Great Gift he has given to Maddy
You can all continue to think I'm a bit on the crazy side!!!!
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