Derina Pyles
Horse Sense
“Hay-Woman, quick, get over here with my alfalfa. My belly button is starting to gnaw on my backbone.”
Shaking my head, I turned toward my dappled grey friend. “Traveler, you don’t have a belly button so that’s not even theoretically possible.”
“Well, if I did have one, I’m sure it would feel like my stomach does right now.” We both giggled as I served up his usual portion. I lingered in his stall, enjoying the sound of him munching on the sweet hay.
“Did you see that new roan horse that your neighbor has in for training?” he asked between bites. “She looks handier than a shirt pocket. And what about that other bay horse of his? He knows more about a cow than a bull does.”
“Oh geez, Traveler, you have obviously been spending way too much time around those cowboys next door. How many more one-liners ya got? Go ahead and get them all out.”
“I think that’s all for now,” he said proudly. He abruptly changed the subject, knowing I would limit his turnout time in the pasture that boarded my neighbor’s ranch if the one-liners kept coming. “Remember a few years ago when your neighbor had that nice cutting mare?”
“I do remember, she was a beautiful, talented horse. She won a lot of money in the show pen.”
“Do you remember she foaled a filly one spring that looked just like her? I loved seeing them together frolicking in the pasture.” Travelers eyes softened. “That little filly would just kick up her heels at that mama, jump on her, run around her all day long. You know, I never saw the mama get angry with her. She would just gently nudge her away. The only time I ever saw her get riled up at that baby was when she was too close to the electric fence. That baby couldn’t resist the sweet grass on the other side.
I wanted to warn that little filly, but heard your voice in my head telling me not to stick my nose in. One day, after about a week of trying to keep her away from the fence, I saw that mama simply watch as she pranced over and stuck her head, once again, under the fence. Well, wouldn’t you know it, she got too close and BAM! She got shocked She must have jumped twenty feet sideways, hollering the whole time, till she got back to her mama. The mama stood there and wrapped her head around that baby until she settled back down. I never knew why that mama let her hurt herself, but I never saw her do it again. Funny, about a month later, the filly was gone. I’ve always wondered what happened. Do you think it was because of that accident?”
Somewhat surprised at this memory, I carefully explained. “Oh no, Traveler, not at all. That filly went off to train to be a show horse herself. That’s why she left the ranch. I’m sure it was hard on the mama, and she didn’t want her baby to be hurt, but after being warned time and again, she had to let her figure it out herself. Unfortunately, that meant a lesson with a few tears. That mare was an excellent mother, nurturing her child without coddling her.”
“That is such a relief Hay-Woman.” Pondering his next question carefully, he said, “Do you think Jesus was taught lessons like this by his mother, Mary?”
“When I think of Mary, I always remember the verse Luke 2:19, ‘But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.’ I believe all mothers worry if they are making the right decisions for their children. The only path is to keep Jesus’ teachings in mind and follow our hearts.”
He looked content and lowered his head to the ground. Sticking out his lips, he began to search for any scraps of hay he may have missed earlier.
“I always enjoy our heart-to-hearts, Traveler…and it beats listening to anymore of your cowboy one-liners.”
