For Service, Ring the Bell

Venture's Golden Satin ridden by Bob Rogers in the UMH Summer Celebration 2011. Satin's sire is Chocolate Venture.

Bob and David have been using a new way to get the horses to come to the barn to be fed. I taught them to come when I whistled.

Bill and I liked to watch Westerns and we watched a lot of movies when he was sick. One movie in particular was "310 to Yuma". Perhaps if you have seen it you will remember the scene where one of the characters whistles for his horse and the horse comes running.

I thought that was awesome. So I thought I would teach my horses to come when I whistle. It didn't take long for them to learn that when I whistled it meant dinner was soon to be served. They are very smart. Especially when it comes to food.

Bob and David decided to use a cow bell to call them in for feeding. It is like the old time dinner bell.

Bob was trying to teach the horses that cow bells are ok. One was used in an obstacle in a competition that he was in and some of the horses didn't like the cow bell very much. Bob is always trying to expose our horses to new situations. He wants each of them to realize there is nothing they should be afraid of. He wants them using the "thinking" side of their brain instead of the "reacting" side. We also need to learn to trust God in every situation in our life. Psalms17: 1 tells us that the "Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom should I fear. The Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be afraid"
Tonight when I went to feed the horses, I discovered they were all at the barn waiting to come in for their evening meal. I didn't let them in right away. I wanted to feed the pregnant mares first. It wasn't very long before I started to hear the cow bell ringing. I looked around and there were the horses standing by the gate. There was Velvet a beautiful bay mare that is in foal to Blue on Black. Satin was there. So was Flair for Fury, Rockin Andi, Blue Gene,Treasure and Lady Ace. They were looking at me like they were laughing. Velvet reached up and rang the bell again. I had to laugh. They are so smart. They had learned if they wanted service they should just ring the bell.

It is perhaps a lesson we should learn from them. They have learned how to talk to us by use of the cow bell. And in so many other ways. Tonight they are saying "Here we are and it is time for us to get our feed." Shouldn't we also learn to communicate with God.

I have had people ask me how to pray. They tell me they don't know what to say. I tell them to talk to God as one would their best friend in the whole world because that is what God is to us. I tell them to talk to God and tell him what they have on their minds. Their troubles, the fears, their cares and also their happiness and joy of the day. The way they are thankful for the blessings God has bestowed on them. I have also pointed out that trails and tribulations can also be blessings in disguise.

Have you ever been delayed leaving work? Then get behind an accident that delays you even more from getting home. Did you ever stop to think that perhaps had you left work when you should have you might have been in that accident?

Code of Honor has been home for the winter. Perhaps you have seen pictures of him on Facebook. Frankly, he doesn't look like the same horse. He gets out and runs and rolls in the dirt. We don't have a facility to give baths in the winter so he is DIRTY. Oh he is still very beautiful. But on top of that beauty is a good layer of dirt. But his mane and tail are still combed out and they don't have any "Pasture Braids"

He gets ridden every once in a while. Not the everyday riding he gets when in training. He has his favorite stall. It took us awhile to"hear" what he was telling us about his stall. He has a big roomy stall that is actually large enough that it could be two stalls. He loves that stall. When we walk by he hangs his head over the gate and expects us to stop and give him some special attention. He always gets it too. We have learned how to listen to him. That is part of communication between our horses and us. We do our part when we learn how to "listen" to them. There is another lesson we can learn from our horses. Learn to listen to what God has to say to you just as you learn to listen to your horse or your friends.

Have you ever been around someone who does nothing but talk about themselves. Oh they may ask how are you or what have you been doing but before you get to answer they launch into their story of how they feel or what they have been doing that is of interest to them. I often think that perhaps I too am like that more than I like to admit. Do I let God get a word in edge way? Or do I just do all the talking?

We have tried keeping Code of Honor in the lower barn and he hated it. He was in the free standing stall and he hated that as well. So he has found his spot and let us know right away he likes it there. We finally "listened" to him.

It is no news to horse lovers that they are very smart. Code of Honor is no exception. Bob has been working him in the round pen. He was not sure at first but he has become more and more sure of himself every time he is worked. Perhaps it is just the difference in the way he is asked to work in the round pen. Or did we just learn how to "talk" to him. I know Van Bert's work horses in the round pen. He is becoming less pushy and more respectful every time he is worked. It is my opinion that he is smart enough that he was testing the waters to see how much he could get away with.

Now he is learning and he is getting settled into a new lifestyle. And we are learning to talk to him and listen to him as well.

He has been on the Van Bert Farm for several years. He was settled in to the routine there. He knew what his feed was going to be like and what kind of hay he would get. I am sure my feed is different and we have a different sort of hay but he has been a champion about all the new things around here. Of course, our trails are different and he has new horses around him. But he is so smart and good natured that he seems to accept every new thing with good humor and grace.

Needless to say, I am very proud of my beautiful stallion. I love his disposition. I love his beauty. I love his good conformation. He has been out on the trail with mares and he is fine. He goes out with geldings and he is fine. In the arena he shows with other stallions and he is fine.

But you know that is what Mountain Horses are all about. That is what initially attracted me to them. I read about Mountain Horses and I knew that was what I wanted. Code of Honor has been everything a Mountain Horse should be.

God has blessed me with so many horses that are the picture of the perfect Mountain Horse.

I see ads for Mountain Horses in my email. I know they are true. I know when they say beautiful, sweet, smooth gait and first to meet me at the gate they aren't making any of it up.

That is what makes us all so glad to own these wonderful horses. I look with pity sometimes at people who ride other breeds. I could never get the hang of posting and perhaps others have that problem as well. Thank God we don't have to do it.

It is like we were created to bond with these wonderful horses and they with us.

It makes me think about God and how the human spirit longs to bond with our Creator. If one doesn't know the true living God they find something else to worship. The Jews of the Old Testament saw the miracles that God did. The parting of the Red Sea, the manna in the wilderness are two examples of how God took care of his people. He led them into battle and when they followed him and did his will they were always successful. But they strayed and worship idols and God turned his back on them. When we know the true living God and we know Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior who died for us, why would be turn away and let other things crowd him out? But to my shame I know I do that too often.

May God bless and keep you in his loving care. May he place his hedge of protection around you and those you love.

Regards

Mary