The GIFT

As we age we feel that we lose many things, such as our once firm bodies, our ability to run with wild abandon, to feel completely free from responsibility, just to name a few.
This is very true for the most part and varies from person to person, however we gain many, many, things in place of the ones we no longer have.
When I came back to horses there was one thing I realized I gained of which I consider the most wonderful GIFT.
One of the driving forces behind me blogging about the GIFT tonight is a very dear friend who I spoke with briefly through e-mail today........this friend is one that has the GIFT,  I don't believe we all receive it, we must first be open to it, but my friend Tina has the GIFT.
Our GIFT is simple yet so wonderful that it is by far the one thing I cherish above all else when it comes to interacting with my horses...........it is the GIFT of patience, I don't mean just patience, I mean PATIENCE.

I had the opportunity over the weekend to really use my GIFT. I was helping to watch over some horses for a friend, during this time a young one suffered from a terrible colic, this young one had come from a bad place at one point in time so he was not in any way going to just let me help him, no he was frightened and determined, not to mention a rather skittish fellow.
It is at a time like this that the GIFT really comes to me and makes me so thankful for it.......when you have the ability to just stand for hours and stroke the scared little soul and let him know that you have as long as it takes to help him get through this painful time.....the episode took the day and in to the evening....the vet had to come finally but not before I had to run to several places to pick up items to help the young one, all of which I was happy to do.
Then there is the very long time it took trying to administer aid, all of which was rejected big time.......this was when I would groom or just stroke gently until the young one would give that little look of trust, just enough to let me help a tiny bit .......there was a day I would have gotten frustrated and got it done with out the patience and care I was able to extend to the young one.
Now, I don't know for sure but I am all most positive there was the look of thanks in that young geldings eye while I was tending to him ever so gently and with all the patience in the world.....what I do know is my heart and mind were at peace, as worried as I was for the young one the calm was overwhelming, it came from patience.

This same patience is what created a bond so strong between my young mare and myself......I sat for hours when she arrived un-handled, terrified to be touched, my GIFT allowed me to make a connection with my mare that will last a life time, it is the most precious GIFT!

I need to end by saying that yes the young gelding pulled through a life threatening impaction that caused the colic, I felt blessed that my GIFT allowed me to take the day and evening to comfort him. I also was blessed to have my young mare across the isle way in a stall nickering to me and reminding me that maybe I have lost a few things but I have gained so much more with age......I certainly gained the GIFT of PATIENCE!

I thank my friend Tina for reminding me of one of the most special GIFTS our years have been kind enough to bestow on us......she never even said a word about it, she just has it, she has helped many a horse with her GIFT ones that may never have experienced this prior in their life time.......thanks Tina for all you do!

Until next time happy trails!