Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself… Yesterday Jen and I went to our friends farm out in Sanborn to ride their three horses. We met this family through one of our youth group teens who I knew owned horses. Originally I had just intended to suprise Jen with a nice trail ride for her birthday, but the timing wasn’t good and we didn’t end up getting out there until weeks afterward.

Fortunately, Gail the owner was actually looking for riding partners to work the three horses she owns so even though I missed the opportunity as a gift, we have since been to her house twice and enjoyed nice long afternoons out in the country. If you know me, you know I’m a country boy at heart and it has been tough to find an excuse to get outside in the middle of Williamsville. Gail is a God send.

Yesterday we arrived later than usual at 6o’clock and she already had Gage, Taylor and Apollo ready. We just needed to say hello to them and go. Last time we road out toward the nearby community college, mostly open grass and fields. Jen actually got to do some jumping and I learned that a trot is not the most comfortable gate to ride at. I’m riding Gage and she is on Apollo and both horses are in their late 20’s, trained well and still youthful.

Yesterday we went a different route that took us into the woods and through some narrow paths along the treeline. When the ground evened out enough we took the horses to a canter and a faster on to a gallop. For those of you who have never been on a horse, it’s actually easier to ride at this higher speed than it is if you were just trotting along. It is a smooth comfortable pace that is easy to balance on. What made the experience even more incredible was running this fast along the curve of a treeline instead of an open field. The path was narrow and trees racing by gave you a real sense for how fast you were moving.

At one point I had been racing behind the two girls in front of me who had just disappeared around a corner of trees. Out of my view I didn’t realize that Apollo had stopped only feet beyond the blind corner because of some deer in the field ahead. I came tearing around the corner with a little precaution and saw two stationary horse rumps parked in my way. Gage did his best to slow down, angling in between the two horses in front of him. Apparently he forgot I was on his back and he left no room for my leg between him and Taylor. My knee jabbed into Taylors flanks, but he only shrugged it off. To me that would have been one heck of a charlie horse. We went on our way and I thanked God nothing unfortunate happened.

I am very grateful for this riding experience now. Not only do I want to ride and enjoy the relationship with the animals, but I want to learn to take care of them and know them. My dream is to eventually own my own, but they aren’t like dogs and cats where you can just pick one up not knowing what you’re doing. Being around horses this often makes that dream feel more like a future reality.