We all have our favorite breed of horses.  Horses that take our breath away.

What is it about a horse in general that reaches beyond our thought process and goes straight to our hearts?  Our pulse quickens, our breath comes a little quicker, our eyes can’t take in such beauty in one look.  Manes and tails flying in the breeze, fluid movements almost hypnotize us.  Poets have spoken about it, books have been written on it, yet we still can’t explain it, even to ourselves.  We, as horse people, just know it.  Even in the song “Run for the roses” by Dan Fogelberg when it says, “The fire of a mare and the strength of a stud” speaks to our inner being.

It amazed me that in the very beginning of the movie Secretariat they quoted the Bible.  It comes from Job 39:19-25.  I don’t think many people caught the reference, but they portrayed the fire and spirit of the horse behind the words.

God is trying to make Job realize what wonderful things He has created and that Job just can’t measure up to God.

Job 39:19-25

Have you given the horse its strength or clothed its neck with a flowing mane?

Did you give it the ability to leap like a locust?

It paws the earth and rejoices in its strength when it charges out to battle.

It laughs at fear and is unafraid.

It does not run from the sword.

The arrows rattle against it, and the spear and javelin flash.

It paws the ground fiercely and rushes forward into battle when the ram’s horn blows.

It snorts at the sound of the horn.

It senses the battle in the distance.

It quivers at the captain’s commands and the noise of battle.

There have been many horses through history who have performed such as this.   My Magic was brave and full of spirit, my Zoey is not one of them.  She just worries.  I checked into her family tree.  I wanted to know what she was bred for.  Her father’s side were halter horses.  Her mother’s side were race horses.  Yup, that’s my Zoey, looks pretty and runs fast (usually in the other direction).  Other than that, not so much.  So for now we’ll stick to look pretty and running fast.

Each one is a gift.  Each one is a teacher.  Each one makes us the horseperson we become.  Each one touches our hearts and take a piece of it with them when they cross the Rainbow Bridge.

Magic, at age 30, crossed the Rainbow Bridge on February 3rd.  Anyone who knew Magic will testify that Heaven will never quite be the same.

Your spirit and fire gave me confidence.  Thank you for all you taught me about life, and myself.  I’ll always love you, and I will miss you Magic.