Leave it all behind.  I know that comes from a song, but I can’t remember which one.  Once again, I hate being stupid (I’m not old).

I was having a discussion with one of my friends (student) the other day.  The first time she called we scheduled a lesson,  the second time she called me, I could hear the stress in her voice, she was calling to cancel our lesson, she was too stressed to ride.  Bells, whistles, and sirens went off in my head.  This woman really needed to be here.  Not to ride, just to be here.

I love my property and horses.  They are healers.  As it says on the first page of my web site. ” When you come down the hill, leave all your cares behind you.”  She was thanking me for insisting that she come that day.  Now whether she rides or not, she comes to have some horsey healing time.  I told her that it wasn’t a come-on to get her to take lessons, I felt her pain and knew we could help.  If she wanted a lesson, that’s fine.  If she just wanted to brush a horse, that is also fine.  I guess this is a new ministry road that God has me on.

Well I got my new copy of Riding Instructors magazine today, and guess what?  Others agree with me.  Instructors I don’t even know feel the same way.  The article was about leaving all your cares on the other side of the gate.  I have advocated that for years with adults that come to ride after work.  You can’t drag the baggage from the day down that hill and place it on a horse.  It’s actually dangerous.

This article was written by Kim Carter.  It’s about what she wants to inscribe on her farm gates.   “Let everything go as you enter.  Relax your pace.  Forget the frenzy of scheduling that you live in every day.  Let yourself be.  Don’t think everything has to be perfect.  Give yourself permission to get dirty.”  I’d like to add – just stay in the moment and enjoy this time.  We are so intent on doing things, both for us and others, that we aren’t kind to ourselves.  We are not at peace.

There is a Christian book named “Being a Mary in a Martha world.”  If you are familiar with Mary and Martha from the Bible you know what I am talking about.  Martha was literally a “Martha Stewart” person.  That would be me.  Always preparing and taking care of business.  Where as Mary sat at Jesus feet and listened.  Sometimes we just have to sit quietly and listen instead of doing.  The doing will always be there, it just doesn’t go away.  I’ve been waiting for good fairies to come and help with house chores since the grandchildren were little.  One did show up Christmas Eve and help with the dishes, and I just got to sit and be.  It was the best Christmas present ever.

I know I’ve said this before.  When you go to the barn to be with your horse, do just that – be with your horse.  Leave all your cares and projects, you know, that “To Do List”, behind.  Be nice to yourself, be at peace.

Okay here’s a song “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.”  After all, this is the time of year for “Peace on Earth.”  According to the news lately, there isn’t a lot of that out there.  So it’s up to you to start it where you are.  Maybe it will spread.  You just never know, but your horse sure will.