Finding Spirituality at the Barn

Last year, I started becoming friends with quite a few nondenominational Christians, all of whom went to the same church. Oftentimes, they would invite me to come with them on their high school night. The problem was, this was at the same time as my riding lesson. Once, one of my friends said not to put horses above Jesus. She was joking, of course, but it got me thinking.


I didn't pont out to her that I went to church every week and didn't put horses first. Instead, I tried to explain to her how I found Jesus through horses. It may not make sense to those who aren't horse people, but here's my attempt at trying to explain it. It's incredibly hard to write it properly, and I only hope it doesn't come off sounding too cheesy.


I remember watching Facing the Giants, and the team played for God. And that's the same with riding, or any sport really. And that's true. Plus, horseback riding teaches so many things that are required of Christ's disciples but hard to come by. It creates a patient heart. When dealing with a horse that is still learning or is bad tempered, it's absolutely essential to not get frustrated or angry. The horse can sense it, and it only makes matters worse.


You also learn about love from horses. When a horse misbehaves, he bites you or hurts, it's easy to get angry and hate him. I've had experience. But I see it much as a parent loving his child. No matter how the kid hurts you, you love them unconditionally. The same goes for horses.


There was a time when I couldn't get the mare I ride to come in out of the field. She'd back up, throw her head up, balk, try and bite me. It was incredibly frustrating. I'd be in the field for hours at a time. Sometimes, I would just stand there and cry from frustration. And even though it was partially her fault, I'd bury my face in her mane until I got ahold of myself. She always let me. (I've figured out that she's completely fine and happy to be with me; she just doesn't like it when I make her come in and work). We got through that time, thankfully, and it taught me so much about loving a horse and the patience required, lessons that have only been reinforced when I actually ride her.


So riding, like all other sports, has important lessons and requirments that can be used in everyday life. But with horses, it goes deeper than that. Just cantering around an arena can free the soul because there's something about swinging onto the back of a horse, and you're no longer just a person. You're a team. There is no longer Person and Horse, but rather one being, as if you've been made for each other. And the beauty of it is that you have. God gave us horses to teach us these things, to help us find happiness, to show us the beauty He created.


As John Steinbeck put it, "A man on a horse is spiritually as well as physically bigger than a man on foot."