I thought I would take a few minutes and write a few thoughts in the shadows of the horrific tragedy that took place in Newtown, Conn. last week.
First, my sincerest condolences go to all the families and people of Newtown. My prayers and thoughts have been and will be with those who lost loved ones. I know that there is nothing that can replace the lives of these 26 people, but my hope is that the love of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ will bring you peace in the days, weeks, months, and years to follow.
As tears came to my eyes and an emptiness filled my heart after hearing the tragic news, I really began to think of my family and my life. Man, how much do we take for granted the things that we are so blessed to have in our lives?! I have really been thinking on how awesome the relationship with my kids really is and how soon that will be changed as they leave home. I can't even begin to fathom what it would be like without them at all!
Since, the events I have begun looking a little longer at my children and other kids that I see elsewhere. I begin to take a little deeper look at the things that God has blessed me so greatly with like, my wife, my job, my horses, my dogs...the sunrise...the wind...the weather...our home, our food, our clothes... All these things I take for granted so often! It is really sad that it takes a tragedy to make me think deeper about them.
As a country, we need to quit trying to place blame for things like this and really look deeply at ourselves and at things we can do to help preserve the lives of others! It is amazing how a kind word can lift a spirit, or how a little smile can be repaid by another one. I know that these things will not stop all the atrocities that this world can dish out but maybe it can make things a little better in our own little world. After all, when asked what the greatest commandment was Jesus responded by saying, "Love the Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul and love your neighbor as you love yourself!" After looking deeper at my blessings, in spite of how "bad I think I have it," maybe I can make a little difference. I hope I can start it at home, and they'll help me further it!
As we see the events that come from this tragedy, may we really see the blessings that God has given us as a nation and do our part to make it a better place for mankind, especially for our children!
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Friday, October 5, 2012
Handmade Chaps
Back Again...
Well, here I am once again. I haven't been writing a whole lot, but here is a short note.
I have learned a few things about myself, my horses, my dogs, and others. After the last few months watching people and their horses and dogs, I think I have some new realizations. Many Native Americans believed that the horse was a channel to your soul. I think they were right to an extent! I know that my ponies are a reflection of me and a way for me to work on my shortcomings. For a long time I have thought that horses are a view of a person's life. That is sometimes true and sometimes not! I have got to see a few really nice horses over the past few months. Some of these were not owned by very nice folks!
Again, I am reminded that kindness, willingness to help others, selflessness, and humbleness does not come directly from working with horses and dogs. It is really a decision to make from you heart. God has so graciously placed horses and dogs in our lives to fulfil many voids, help us communicate with patience, and view the world from an unconditional position. Still, even though a person spends hours on end with them, that doesn't mean that it will be a given that these people will learn and use those things. These things are a decision of the heart and have to be worked on daily to perfect! Without the love for others/animals that only God can give us, no matter how much time you dedicate to "training", you will not get all the benefits that horses and dogs can give.
God has given me so much to learn from being a caretaker of animals. I need to be conscience of that and work harder to be someone that seeks to be more like Him. The harder I work on loving others more than myself, my plans, and my things, the better life will be for us all! It is an awesome thing that God unconditionally loves me for who I am in Him and not for who I really am! It is also a wonderful thing that He gave me horses and dogs that help teach me to view people like He does! God help me be the kind of person that my dog thinks I am!
I have learned a few things about myself, my horses, my dogs, and others. After the last few months watching people and their horses and dogs, I think I have some new realizations. Many Native Americans believed that the horse was a channel to your soul. I think they were right to an extent! I know that my ponies are a reflection of me and a way for me to work on my shortcomings. For a long time I have thought that horses are a view of a person's life. That is sometimes true and sometimes not! I have got to see a few really nice horses over the past few months. Some of these were not owned by very nice folks!
Again, I am reminded that kindness, willingness to help others, selflessness, and humbleness does not come directly from working with horses and dogs. It is really a decision to make from you heart. God has so graciously placed horses and dogs in our lives to fulfil many voids, help us communicate with patience, and view the world from an unconditional position. Still, even though a person spends hours on end with them, that doesn't mean that it will be a given that these people will learn and use those things. These things are a decision of the heart and have to be worked on daily to perfect! Without the love for others/animals that only God can give us, no matter how much time you dedicate to "training", you will not get all the benefits that horses and dogs can give.
God has given me so much to learn from being a caretaker of animals. I need to be conscience of that and work harder to be someone that seeks to be more like Him. The harder I work on loving others more than myself, my plans, and my things, the better life will be for us all! It is an awesome thing that God unconditionally loves me for who I am in Him and not for who I really am! It is also a wonderful thing that He gave me horses and dogs that help teach me to view people like He does! God help me be the kind of person that my dog thinks I am!
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Catching Up in 2012
Well, it has been a long, long time since my last post! I am ready to start adding a few newer posts and keeping a little more current with my blogging!
Lots of things have happened this year, new shows, new venues, new horses, old horses getting better, new equipment, etc! I am very excited about 2012 although it is almost half over already. I have a couple of really great ponies that are showing or are going to get their first starts this year. With that being said, here is a few things that I have learned already this season.
First, always go back to the basics. To get the most performance from your horse, warm him up the way you ride him during training. Softness, willingness, and levelness have to come from the normal routine that you have established every time you work with your horse. Weather, different places, and daily attitude can make a big difference in your horse's output. If a horse is given a chance to fully warm-up, his performance stands a greater chance of being equal to his abilities. My warm-ups consist of a little lounging to work off the freshness, sometimes not more than a couple circles in each direction to a lot of running depending on temp and attitude. This also gives an opportunity to look at soundness and equipment. Next, softening drills are done. I like to do some disengaging, small circles, tight serpentine, bridling-up stops, asking all 4 legs to move independently, and lots of flexing. I then go through my gates and transitions. Lead departures, rollbacks, turn-arounds, and lead changes are next. After I feel there is no freshness, lots of softness, and great respect, I then can enter the show pen or work environment. Lots of testosterone junkies, bronc riders, and time constrained people will say all this is not necessary. My reply would be, "If your horsemanship isn't your first priority and you want to look like a fool, go ahead, hop on, and get after it!" Believe me, I have pulled the "fool thing" many times, even a couple this year! Its all a process!
Second, what are you riding and horsemanship goals? I read an article recently discussing this. Set your goals and work towards those. Knowledge is power! The further you take your horsemanship the further you should take your education. Look, listen, and learn from people that known for their horsemanship. If your goal is to trail ride on a nice broke horse and enjoy the scenery, find someone that is reputable to find you the right horse, help your riding skills, and take you places that are great for enjoying the scenery. If you want to be a world champion barrel racer, find a reputable trainer that can take your current skills and couple them with new techniques and the right mounts to move you up the ladder. Once you set your goals, constantly assess and tweak them to get where you want to be. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day, and it wasn't built without skilled architects!
Lastly, I am constantly reminded of our place on the earth in regards to our animals. God gave us dominion over the beasts of the fields not to forcibly make them comply to our desires but to work in harmony to accomplish our goals and serve their purpose. I have seen some incredible examples of both sides of this story. A man's heart is really revealed when a animal doesn't comply to his suggestions. I am constantly reminded of Proverbs 12:10, "A righteous man has regard for the life of his beast, but the compassion of the wicked is cruel." Jerry Lee Sewell always reminded me, "As little as possible, but as much as necessary!" I think we can all learn a lot from these two insights, not just about horsemanship but about parenting, being a spouse, and sharing our world with others. I have not begun to grasp all that can be learned about this but have learned to step back and look and listen a little bit more before speaking and acting. I hope that others will begin to realize want God meant for us through our relationships with animals and other humans!
I always want you to know that things I write, say, and do are not the perfect, the best, or the only way to do things. These are what I have learned and that work for me and have worked for others. Like the Bible says, everyone must work out his own faith. There are always solid, unchanging principles, but for our relationships with God, mankind, and our animals, it is a work in progress. It is continually changing and improving or regressing depending on our attitude, willingness to learn, and the place where our priorities really lie. Thanks for reading!
Lots of things have happened this year, new shows, new venues, new horses, old horses getting better, new equipment, etc! I am very excited about 2012 although it is almost half over already. I have a couple of really great ponies that are showing or are going to get their first starts this year. With that being said, here is a few things that I have learned already this season.
First, always go back to the basics. To get the most performance from your horse, warm him up the way you ride him during training. Softness, willingness, and levelness have to come from the normal routine that you have established every time you work with your horse. Weather, different places, and daily attitude can make a big difference in your horse's output. If a horse is given a chance to fully warm-up, his performance stands a greater chance of being equal to his abilities. My warm-ups consist of a little lounging to work off the freshness, sometimes not more than a couple circles in each direction to a lot of running depending on temp and attitude. This also gives an opportunity to look at soundness and equipment. Next, softening drills are done. I like to do some disengaging, small circles, tight serpentine, bridling-up stops, asking all 4 legs to move independently, and lots of flexing. I then go through my gates and transitions. Lead departures, rollbacks, turn-arounds, and lead changes are next. After I feel there is no freshness, lots of softness, and great respect, I then can enter the show pen or work environment. Lots of testosterone junkies, bronc riders, and time constrained people will say all this is not necessary. My reply would be, "If your horsemanship isn't your first priority and you want to look like a fool, go ahead, hop on, and get after it!" Believe me, I have pulled the "fool thing" many times, even a couple this year! Its all a process!
Second, what are you riding and horsemanship goals? I read an article recently discussing this. Set your goals and work towards those. Knowledge is power! The further you take your horsemanship the further you should take your education. Look, listen, and learn from people that known for their horsemanship. If your goal is to trail ride on a nice broke horse and enjoy the scenery, find someone that is reputable to find you the right horse, help your riding skills, and take you places that are great for enjoying the scenery. If you want to be a world champion barrel racer, find a reputable trainer that can take your current skills and couple them with new techniques and the right mounts to move you up the ladder. Once you set your goals, constantly assess and tweak them to get where you want to be. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day, and it wasn't built without skilled architects!
Lastly, I am constantly reminded of our place on the earth in regards to our animals. God gave us dominion over the beasts of the fields not to forcibly make them comply to our desires but to work in harmony to accomplish our goals and serve their purpose. I have seen some incredible examples of both sides of this story. A man's heart is really revealed when a animal doesn't comply to his suggestions. I am constantly reminded of Proverbs 12:10, "A righteous man has regard for the life of his beast, but the compassion of the wicked is cruel." Jerry Lee Sewell always reminded me, "As little as possible, but as much as necessary!" I think we can all learn a lot from these two insights, not just about horsemanship but about parenting, being a spouse, and sharing our world with others. I have not begun to grasp all that can be learned about this but have learned to step back and look and listen a little bit more before speaking and acting. I hope that others will begin to realize want God meant for us through our relationships with animals and other humans!
I always want you to know that things I write, say, and do are not the perfect, the best, or the only way to do things. These are what I have learned and that work for me and have worked for others. Like the Bible says, everyone must work out his own faith. There are always solid, unchanging principles, but for our relationships with God, mankind, and our animals, it is a work in progress. It is continually changing and improving or regressing depending on our attitude, willingness to learn, and the place where our priorities really lie. Thanks for reading!
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