Cowgirl to the Core
When I need to de-stress, I like to spend some time in the field just watching the horses in their natural habitat. They peacefully amble along, grazing and swishing flies while they go. There is a rainbow of different colored horses, buckskins, reds and blues, but one horse stands out to me today.
She doesn't stand out because of her shiny coat, chiseled head or even her outstanding build and muscles. Anyone else's eyes might simply skim over her altogether. They might even scoff and think that she is neglected, even though she is not. She is old and weathered. A walking skeleton. However, she stands out to me because of her resilience.
I think we can learn a lot from the resilience of this mare. She is the oldest horse in the herd. In her prime, she was a beautiful athlete and she knew how to work hard. This animal was always ready to take on a challenge with confidence. Her shiny coat would flash as she pranced into the ring, her attitude palpable.
Her coat has since dimmed, but her boldness remains. Up until this summer she looked great and was "as healthy as a horse." But then something happened.
One day, I went out to the field to check the herd, and I noticed she had lost weight. A concerning amount of weight. We feed our horses well, so I was a little worried. Over the course of several weeks Skerene went from a well-fed pasture pony, to a rack of bones. This mare is nearing her early 30s, which is pretty old for a horse. My first thought was to blame old age, but she had turned around so quickly. We tried feeding her more, but at one point she simply stopped eating. We thought for sure she was a goner. When an old horse gets sick, even if it's something minor, it can be fatal.
That was four months ago, and that horse is still alive, happily grazing in the field. As I sit and watch the herd, I can't help but admire that horse's grit and determination. Even when she was sick, she never seemed down. Everyone thought it was too late to save her, but she quickly proved us wrong. It didn't take long before her charismatic side started to show through once again. She would walk around the barn trying to steal feed from the other horses after finishing her own hefty helping.
She has gained back some weight slowly, but still looks frail to those who don't know her demeanor. Life put her through some hard times. Through it all, she simply took it with grace and acted like nothing was even bothering her.
Her knees are now bowed, her once shiny mane now brittle and the strong, steady back we used to ride now sways so deep it resembles a canoe. Her body may look weak, but I know that it still holds a strong, steady heart that's ready to take on whatever life throws at her next.
She may not be the lead mare of the herd anymore, but the other horses respect her. I can tell by their body language. If a horse gets too close, Skerene looks right at them and pins her ears back as a warning. They know to get out of her way or she might bite or strike, demanding respect.
When she's ready she will move onto greener pastures beyond. Until then she has a forever home at our ranch. I can see that she's not leaving us today. That mare is still ready for a challenge.
No matter what life throws my way I know I have the resilience to take it head-on, because I grew up on strong-willed horses just like her. I've always loved a challenge and I admire that unfaltering animal that will take on a trial with me.