Derina Pyles
Horse Sense
“Hay-Woman!”
Aw, my sweet boy missed me. He walked up to me and dropped his head to nuzzle my arm.
“No, hay-woman, I’m hungry and you’re late with my breakfast.”
“I’m sorry, Traveler, it’s been a stressful morning.”
“What is going on? Can I help?” he asked. “If I can help you avoid a potential catastrophe of being late with my hay, I’ll do anything necessary. Even if that means bustin’ out of this stall to make it happen.”
I chuckled. “You’ve always got my back when it comes to feeding your bottomless pit.”
“I’ve got your back and you ride on mine. I think I’m getting a bad deal here.”
“Do you want the hay or not?” I asked, teasing him.
“Yes, but why are you late?”
I saw the concern in his big soft-brown eyes. “Traveler, I have some huge decisions to make. Decisions that affect not only me, and our family, but the people that work for me and all their families.”
“Whoa! You’ve made plenty of decisions like that before. Why is this one different?”
I lowered my head and wrapped my arms around his strong neck, burying my face in his mane, which smelled minty from his recent bath. Good ole Traveler. Nothing comforts instantly like a horsey hug. “It’s not different. I’ve made plenty of decisions like this one.”
“Well … come out with it, hay-woman.”
Good ole Traveler, he never beats around the bush either. I stammered, “I … I … I’ve lost my confidence.”
Traveler stared at me for a few seconds, and I saw a look of gentleness sweep over his long grey face.
“Remember when I was a young colt, and you were training me to navigate obstacles? How frightened I was? Especially of the teeter-totter bridge?”
I added, “And pretty much every obstacle, in my recollection.”
He bobbed his head and rolled his eyes (as much as horses can roll their eyes). “I ran backward, around you, pulling and dragging you everywhere to avoid the obstacle I feared. What did you do?”
“I stayed calm and didn’t rush you. I reassured you by moving you all around that bridge. I got you comfortable being near it. Then I showed you it would not harm you before I asked you to cross it.”
“Right! You helped me build my confidence and look at me now.” He puffed his chest out proudly. “I’m a professional obstacle horse.”
“Well, I wouldn’t go that far. You haven’t competed or anything,” I mumbled.
“Details hay-woman, details.”
“I do remember,” I said, lovingly thinking back to that time. “It was amazing to see your confidence grow more every day. You were scared at times but didn’t quit.”
“It was hard work! As a young horse, my first reaction was to run away—we are prey animals as you very well know. I was sure that bridge was going to swallow me up like a great white shark!” We laughed at the thought.
“In all seriousness, you are a professional obstacle horse in my eyes, and that training helped you become the confident trail horse you are today. Thank you, my friend, you reminded me of a great Bible verse, ‘Cast not away therefore your confidence which has great recompense for reward’ (Hebrews 10:35 KJV).”
“That is a great verse,” Traveler agreed. “Now, get yourself together and make those decisions with the confidence I know is in you.” He nudged me toward the stall door.
“And don’t forget my hay, woman!”
