When I was I child I spent much of the time daydreaming. I would day dream of all sorts of things but, what I most enjoyed daydreaming about were horses. My favorite time to day dream was when our family would drive through farm land and rolling hills. With my portable tape player and head phones I would listen to classical music and day dream of me riding a horse across the beautiful rolling hills.
Daydreaming about horses was an escape for me. It was an escape from the city life. It was an escape from my fears and anxiety about dysfunctional family life. When I was in full day dreaming mode there were no fears, no cities and there was no dysfunctional family life. It was just me and my imaginary horse galloping across the lands as fast as my car could drive.
Like many young girls I dreamed of owning horses and being able to ride them across the open lands. Though my dream was to own horses I would easily settle for spending time with someone else’s horse. It was my mother who passed down her love for horses to me and she was the one that fulfilled my dream of spending time with horses by paying for riding lessons.
At the age of thirteen I took my first riding lessons and have been actively involved with horses ever since. My daydreaming of horses was still one of my favorite pastimes but now I could day dream about horses I actually got to ride. I spent as much time as I could at the stables. I was happy to do any work I was given as long as I could be close to horses. Though the city bus ride to and from the stables was scary for a child of my age, in a city that was far from safe, it was all worth it to spend time with horses.
Through the years the horse would teach me more about myself than I could ever have imagined. I learned about patience, compassion, trust, partnership and a willingness to work hard. This noble teacher gave my heart peace, joy and security in a time full of insecurities and heartache.
Looking back on my childhood I realize that despite the hardships I faced in my young life, I was brought relief and escape. It was not until I was an adult that I realized that it was God who did this for me. He designed me to have this love for a creature that could teach me how to be a better human and offer me a positive outlook on life. Through my imagination God would give me escape and through my hands-on experiences I would learn more about myself which would cause my character to improve.
I have always wondered why the site of a galloping horse could instantly bring me to tears. Now that I am an adult I am able to see that God’s love for me was being expressed through this passion I have for the horse. I am very thankful that God has used the horse to teach me about life and show me how much He loves and cares for me.

A Poem of Thankfulness To My Horse

As I watch her hooves step in beat my heart skips a few
Her eagerness to please is an expression that is not new

It is her desire to please even when I am at fault
This desire is more than just taught

There is more to her than just to be ridden
The best parts of her do not have to be hidden

If I give her understanding and patience she will do her best
to show her love and offer me rest

I am amazed at Gods design of this creature
Though so different much of her parallels my own nature

My love for her is a gift from our maker
I will do my best to love and care for her

As she places her head in my arms to be rubbed
I see God fulfilling my desire to be loved