When our daughter was small, like many, she wanted a horse, and we did not. So, we made a compromise:  She began horsemanship lessons with Ms. George, a world-renowned competitor and winner. I remember well the first day we drove over to the adjacent county, driving along a country road to Ms. George’s barn. We passed several paddocks filled with grazing horses, and then came to an oversized barn, a horse barn, a large outside corral, and an arena. These were impressive structures, but what took me by surprise was the calm, quiet demeanor of the aged instructor—Ms. George.

On that first day and many days following as we drove each Thursday afternoon to horse riding lessons, continually, I was reminded of Ms. George’s wisdom.

She owned various horses, young, spirited ones, many qualified ones, and many that would have too much for our young nine-year-old, and Ms. George knew exactly which horse to use for our daughter’s teaching. At the time, I believe Frisbee (the horse) was extremely tall (over seventeen hands high), bulky in size (over 1200 pounds), a quarter-horse, and almost twenty-four years in age. Frisbee was Ms. George’s personal horse, the one she rode when she won her competitions and trophies.

Both Ms. George and Frisbee had much to teach our young daughter.

To become an experience horseman or horsewoman, one must learn:

• Care of the horse (both bathing and grooming).
• Care of the tack (both the saddle and bridle).
• Care of the horse stall (both mucking and cleaning).
• Care of the rider’s knowledge (both the anatomy and personality of the horse). &
• Care of the rider (both the ability and the trust of the horse).

During the months of lessons, I can readily say that Thursday afternoons became my favorite, for they brought a certain calm that is difficult to describe. I would sit watching our daughter’s lesson, observing her learn how to care for all the necessary things, watching her learn to trust the horse and herself. Before long, I noticed how I even left changed, for the Thursday lessons caused a more peaceful state-of-mind, than the one I had when we first arrived for the weekly lesson. In reflection, it is easy to see how this experience connects to God’s instructions.

There is a melody, one that helps explain the connection between God’s instruction and horse-riding lessons. “Road Less Traveled” by Joe L. Barnes and Seph Schlueter contains these lyrics.

 “Lord, where You lead, I will follow.

Keep me walking down the straight and narrow.

Come gladness, tears, and trouble.

Give me Jesus and the road less traveled.

When ____________ comes [name your trouble], I choose Jesus.”

• In the same manner, we are to recall how God helps His children.
• We must remember how we are merely one prayer away from the guidance we need.

Ms. George taught our young daughter how to turn an overly large brute of a horse to turn with a slight moving of her hand on the bridle. I vividly recall the days when Ms. George would have our daughter lay backwards, riding on the horse’s back, allowing the reins to fall from her hands, as the horse walked around the arena. I also remember the way she taught our little girl to lead the horse over the jumps set up around the corral. During each lesson, Ms. George taught so much more than just how to ride a horse. These valuable lessons have impacted our daughter, and me, as well.