I had a woman come to ride the other day.  She hasn’t ridden in about 20 years or so.  She had grown up on a ranch and ridden English when she was younger.  She had a wonderful energy about her, and so I did not hesitate to put her on my advanced horse.  I would know in the first 60 seconds if this match would work.  The horse was comfortable, so I was comfortable.

Now this mare, if she didn’t like you, would have taken off and shown her what for, but she didn’t.  We worked in the field for three-quarters of the lesson and then proceeded to go for a short trail ride.  In the field at home, the mare was quiet, responsive, and secure.  Everyone was relaxed and enjoying their time together.  When we went off the property, the mare was a little nervous.  She was telling me that she didn’t totally trust this woman to take care of her.  They rode through the scary stuff, and the horse started trusting the woman more.  We all relaxed and finished our ride home with smiles.

When we got back she hosed off the horse (remember this is Florida it’s 80 degrees yet) and the mare just put her head down in the woman’s hands, closed her eyes and just enjoyed the face drying that was offered.  Such a sweet, gentle soul.  Until we went to turn her out into the pasture.  The mare (quiet little dove that she was).  Took off bucking and leaping into the air.  My husband who was standing there laughed and said “and you thought she was a quiet horse.  She’s showing you that she has got a lot more in her than you know.  She was just being nice.”

Yes she was.  She was herself when she was running and bucking, but she also allowed us to see that she can be an Angel with the right person.  I’ve seen this horse respond differently, to different people, many times in the past.

As horse people we have all seen our crazy horses put their heads down gently to let a child pet them.  We have seen them take baby steps for the little ones, or handicapped riders we have put on their backs.  They are not all trust worthy, but most are.  They sense the need and respond accordingly.

I think if we had looked carefully, we would have seen her tuck her wings close to her body, so she could let everyone know that she had spunk and spirit.  However, the wings could be seen if we believed, and looked hard enough at the right moment.

There are angels amongst us, but we as horse people already know that.  And I thought the feathers I find in the field are from the Eagles.  Just goes to show you what I know.