The Love of a Horse

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 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 
James 3:3 

Part of my day to day life on the farm includes horses.  As a kid growing up I desired to have a horse, but my dad just wouldn't budge.  He felt that they never earned their keep and they weren't worth the time.  Fast forward to now and I have the ability to help others with the horses, but what people don't realize is how those horses have helped me too.  

As the Founder/Executive Director for Big Maple Farm's Natural Therapies, Inc., I get to interact with horses and individuals weekly.  It is truly something I feel God had called me to back in college and I am finally starting to see how he is blessing my life with the work that I do.  As I sit here at the end of another Sunday, I always look back on my week and reflect on the things I didn't get completed.  I find that there is so much I never got to and it makes me feel like I am not completing my daily chores, attending to the needs of my family, and just feeling run down before the new week even starts.  

Tonight is different, why?  Because as I was going through my past week of photos I caught this one in my photo roll again.  What you see is a horse running and honestly looking quite beautiful.  What I see is a memory of the day Shawna decided that she needed more than the field she was in! Now in her defense the gate was not latched properly and she happened to notice.  If you could have seen her in that moment, you would have seen how happy she was and just FREE! It reminded me that just six short years ago that horse didn't know this type of freedom. She didn't have the trust she has in people and she didn't have the lifestyle where she could just run.  Shawna is the barn favorite! She is the one with the most attitude, the one with the most spirit, and the one with the most needs.  She suffers from PTSD from her past, she struggles with change, and she certainly does not want to be bossed around BUT that horse is willing to do anything that is asked of her to the best of her ability.  I love watching her, interacting with her, and overall just talking to her.  I actually talk to them like people.  I tell them my worries, fears, and the what ifs.  I talk to them about EVERYTHING and it isn't just Shawna.  All six of my girls are like the friends I sometimes don't see on the weekend.  These horses have watched me cry, laugh, scream, and be overly excited for things.  They have watched me fail, succeed, and just overall carry on with my day.  

Shawna didn't need a bit in her mouth for us to control her that day she escaped.  She went back after she got her run on.  And I think she was better because of it.  She needed to get away just for a minute, I mean we all do. We all need that time to sit down and reflect on everything.   So as I reflect on my week behind me and the week ahead of me...I am already trying to find that time to just get away, because I know that I am better wife, mother, and friend when I have some time to reflect and run free in the wide open spaces.  I love that our horses can be controlled with out bits. I love that they trust us enough to take a run.  I love that they have a great life, they help people, and at the end of the day they are the favorite animal here at the farm.  I thank God daily for the life he has given me, the people who have crossed my path, and for the people who will cross my path.  I look forward to catching more pictures of the horses running free throughout the coming weeks as the pastures grow and they start grazing grass.  I look forward to the progress that many of the riders, volunteers, and horses will make throughout this season. And finally, I look forward to how God will bless the program and create opportunities. 

Farming with Faith & Family! 
God Bless 
Amanda


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