Applying the Lessons I've Learned

I learned there is an adequate way and an excellent way to halter your horse.

My summer internship has improved my skills and confidence. Thanks to the horsemen and women on the ranch, I have better feel, timing, and problem solving abilities. Thanks to the God who created horses, I don't have to fear failure. 

I don't think I shared the story of how I found Avalon. After Gambler died, I didn't have a horse for several months. I checked out a few horses. None of them felt right. I remember sitting at the fire pit behind my University Center building and writing a prayer. I told God I desperately wanted a horse, but only if that was what He wanted for me. If He wanted me to have a horse He had to bring the right horse to me. 

Practicing a new forequarter yield cue I learned in Oregon.

An ad on Dreamhorse.com caught my eye. I scrolled down to the owner's contact information to discover the filly belonged to an old friend, the same friend who sold Gambler to me. When I contacted her, she told me she had just heard of Gamby's passing that week from a mutual friend. We agreed that the timing was a complete God thing. I visited the barn to check Ava out and we clicked immediately. 

Ava stepped forward after crossing her front legs, so I backed her up a few steps.

Skip ahead to the beginning of this year. I completely lost my confidence in my ability. Maybe it was because I was turned down from the colt starting class because I wasn't good enough at riding. Maybe it was memories from when everyone I knew was better at riding than I was. Maybe it was from breaking my finger last October. Most likely, it was never horse specific. My closest family and friends know me as someone who is constantly indecisive and unsure of herself. I saw so many sides and I wanted so desperately to get everything right the first time that I never actually tried the first time. 

What you do on one side, you do on the other side.

Indecisive insecurity is in my past. My life and my decisions are no longer my own and as a result, I am under no pressure. I'm following where God leads me, no matter how crazy it looks. I may fail, I hope that I fail, because that is how I learn. I believe 100% that I am supposed to have and train this horse. If God tells me otherwise, I'll sell her, or send her to a trainer. Until then, I'm all in. 

There are kittens at the barn again! They haven't climbed onto the horse's backs yet. . .but they still might!

Playing the touch-it game

I put my new saddling skills to the test. 

Although Avalon has worn this saddle many times, she put up a huge fuss as soon as she felt the cinch on her belly. I didn't even pull the latigo through before she started swishing her tail and kicking with her hind legs. I was surprised by the intensity. It goes to show how a lil cinchyness can escalate when ignored. I held the cinch until she stopped fussing, then removed the saddle. 

I used this exercise with Gambler way back when, but I had forgotten about it until one of the trainers at CPYR used it in a demonstration.

All the tail swishing and foot stomping.

Caught in the act: Ava tried to bite my hand and "accidentally" bonked her mouth on my hand. She didn't try it again.

After a few minutes of playing with the lead rope in the cinch/girth area, Avalon replaced her kicking and biting with chewing and yawning. I returned to the saddling process. 

Found an itchy spot!

She didn't react to the cinch at all.

I was able to tighten the cinch without a problem. The saddle still doesn't fit, in case anyone was wondering. 

We ended this session with a little bridling reminder. She started chewing on the lead out of curiosity, so I took the opportunity and "bridled" her with a loop in the rope. 

 I'm so thankful for all the things I have learned this summer. Avalon and I are gonna have so much fun. 

Don't Follow a Chevy

Pictures of lovely ranch flowers since I don't have any photos to match this story. 

On July 8th, Kim and L (one of the staff members who oversees intern happenings) told the interns that they had a surprise in store for us. Half of us piled into Kim's black Dodge. The other half followed in L's vehicle. I was in the second vehicle. As we followed Kim, L joked playfully that she knew where we were going, but had no idea how Kim was getting there. 

As we navigated traffic, trying to keep an eye on the truck, someone mentioned that following Kim is like following the lead of the Holy Spirit. You have to keep your eyes on Him, because you have no idea where you are going! We laughed and discussed how important it is to stay focused. God often only gives us the next step. We can't skip ahead or take shortcuts or we'll get lost. We may know the end destination in some cases, but have no idea how we are going to get there. 

Suddenly, we turned back in the direction we had come from. There was a moment of confusion, and then everything made sense. The black truck we had been following for the last few minutes was a Chevy! We burst into laughter as we realized our mistake. There were three or four of us in the vehicle and none of us noticed that we were following the wrong truck. 

It was the perfect addition to our metaphor. When following God's plan for you life, it is important not to confuse his voice with our own, or the influences that surround us. Don't follow a Chevy, or you might get yourself turned around.