Dear Preacher,
When I first came to the ranch I was very anxious and a lil’ nervous to be around such large animals. The only experience I had with horses was my mom, dad, grandmother and sister getting bucked off the Paint that my sister received for her 16th birthday. You also looked at me like “who is this clown with big sunglasses, sleeveless shirt and a Stetson?” In my first session Mr. Dave had me join up with you and then gave me some time to just be in your presence. When I put my ear against your side and listened to your breathing and heartbeat I could feel that you were releasing just as much stress and tension as I was. The more I learned to control my emotions and communicate effectively with you the more you started to trust me. You always kept me humble though; remember when you bucked me off twice in around pen session doing bareback drills? It was right in front of the tack shed and everyone remembers it too. I loved to watch you at cattle night, your ears pinned back and snorting at those cows always ready to get called in to peel one off. Pete Spates once told us to “ask much, expect little and praise often” and really that’s all you and I needed to take our relationship the the next level.
The most important thing you showed me is the connection that equestrians have with their herd and their peers. I learned to express and actually articulate my feelings to those around me and this was something that I had never done before. This came when I began speaking to Miss Michelle about about how I was feeling before and after ranch days and those feelings were mutual with others no matter how long they had been riding.
I soon realized that there was something special going on at Saddles in Service and I wanted my closest friends to be apart of this healing process too. So thank you being being patient with me as I leaned what quiet hands actually meant and giving me a chance to grow with you over these last two years.
To this day you are still my favorite Buckskin and one day I’ll own a horse that looks just like you.
