We’ve all watched that movie, probably more than once. We cry every time when Joe walks past Beauty and Beauty realizes he knows Joe. Then Beauty tries to get Joe’s attention and the tears really start to flow.

How many of you have been in that situation? I rescued my mare from the auction and promised her that I would never let her go again. I stayed true to my word and loved her, and protected her, until her final days at age 36.

Recently a friend found a horse she had ridden as a kid. Once again she will take care of her until the end. Her mare is old and cannot be ridden, but she doesn’t care. She, like me, gave up the idea of having a horse she could show, to care for this mare.

Some people search, but never find the horse of their youth. Some people are lucky enough to have a Black Beauty ending, and some people never let them go in the first place.

I’ve always thought that there should be a site that you can post a picture of a horse your looking for, and perhaps, someone would see it and let you know where you can find them, or what happened to them. Now people are posting pictures of horses that were stolen from their yards. It’s a sick world.

When we’re young our parents or circumstances allow our most precious gift to slip through our hands. Most horses are passed, like Beauty, from owner to owner. Then when they get old, and have no use, find themselves in a bad situation.

It is my goal for any of the horses that come to this farm, to live out their lives in peace and contentment. That I will be the last person in their lives to give them food and love in a safe environment. If the owners are done with them, I will keep them. Abuse, starvation, or hard work will never touch their lives. They will not end up in a sand lot, or auction. They will lay down in green pastures and enjoy the sun on their bodies. They will eat until their bellies are full. They will know a soft touch, and feel the love they deserve. I will be there for them as they cross the Rainbow Bridge. They like Beauty, in their minds, will run freely with their friend through lush green pastures.

When you get older your goals change. You get down to your bucket list. Things you want to do before you die. Mine is very simple, to care for the animals that God has entrusted to me. This is my quest, my desire, and my ultimate goal. So let it be written, so let it be done.

Last week I told the site to publish my post. Went back several days later and found it hadn’t published it. Let’s see what this week brings.

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It’s a required course with horses, and something I’ve always struggled with (with people).

Whatever you do, don’t pray for patience. I did for years until I realized how God handles this. He doesn’t just give you patience, he gives you circumstance to learn how to grow patience.

I’ve recently talked about patience in loading a horse, we all have experienced that, but there are so many more areas where patience comes in.

Training is a big area of patience. Some horses grasp the idea quickly, some do not.

You get frustrated and your adrenaline starts pumping. Your energy changes. Your body language changes, and you know that your horse is reading all this and then his energy changes and his fight or flight instinct kicks in. Life goes down hill rapidly after that.

This, however, is not the patience I’m dealing with today. My friend told me a couple of weeks ago that I had much more patience than she has. It’s not so much patience as perseverance. And truly, it’s more determination than perseverance.

My mare Friday injured her leg 25 months ago. The vet said she was done. I told her that I “believed”, and I told myself that every day when I went to treat the leg and wrapped it for two years. She is fine and galloping around the pastures like nothing ever happened. I gave her the two years that another vet had suggested and was just about to start her back to work and wham! a Stromal Abscess in her left eye. So once again she can’t be ridden. I’ve been dealing with this for three months. She goes back 3/19 for a recheck. So I’ve been dealing with four medications six times a day and now we’re down to four medications four times a day. (Still medicating only three four times a day after visit for another month.)

I made up my mind from day one that she was not going to lose this eye, not after two years of wrapping her legs. I’ve had horses who have lost eyes, but I wasn’t giving in to this one. (Not that I gave in to the others either.)

It’s up to you on what matters most. Horses might be one of the best teachers of patience, but only if you, as a student, are willing to learn. In the end, it does pay off big time. The satisfaction of knowing that you beat the odds is so empowering. (I’m waiting for the empowering thing.)

Patience, perseverance, or determination? It doesn’t really matter what label you put on it, the only thing that matters is that you follow through on what “YOU Believe.”