It had been four long months since we had gone to the horse barn… you could feel a calm excitement in the jeep on ride there. As we pulled up Sahara yelled, “There it is!!” Emily clicked off her seatbelt and eagerly reached for her helmet and bag of apples then disappeared.
As we walked down the broken concrete path, we were met by a wet, cold, muddy day. Nevertheless, there was complete life emerging before our eyes. New horses stuck out there heads and nodded at the new people that they had yet to meet. The old ones looked up with a certain relief to see that part of their herd had finally returned.
It did not go unnoticed that many things had been tended to throughout the winter; there was a certain sense of aliveness brewing on the land and within the structures. I immediately feel enamored by the beauty of the barn, the peace it emitted and the mindfulness of all the people that congregated on this land. Each of them have uniquely become a part of our family.
The head of the Arabian herd, Silk, was so pleased to see the children. He seemed to take extra care in his footing and movements today. Emily confidently started with a walk which quickly turned into a trot and moved Silk over the 3 poles with grace. Her cantor and post was shaky a first, but the concentration and determination paid off. As she dismounted Silk, I realized that I hadn't had to walk or look away once. This meant that I either found peace within myself about my child riding this one ton creature or they worked so well together as a team that fear did not beckon me... I suppose it was both.
Silk looked at Sahara with intensity when it was her turn. She mounted him and said, "Yee Haw." They walked a few laps and surprisingly I did not have an urge to nudge my husband to walk beside them. She melted into the saddle and had such poise; her body moved with grace with each step and bump. We all laughed as they rounded the gate and heard her say, "Run, run!!" As the horse came to a stop, she spoke fluently again, "More..... Walk On." Last year at this time, Sahara's expressive and receptive language was limited at a 12 month old's ability. To hear her request that she continue her turn and to give oral commands to this beautiful Arabian Horse was music to my motherly ears.
I whole heartedly feel blessed to have this horse in our lives and treasure the moments like this one that will be forever be embedded in my children’s childhood memories. I am sure that the girls will vividly look back to their horse barn days at Riverwind Equine Boarding like I do fishing on Lake Erie aboard the Sea Breeze with my father at the helm in his faded jeans, white t-shirt and red baseball cap while my mother sat in her chair at the stern with her oversized hat and sunglasses.
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