I have loved horses since … like, forever. When I was a kid every toy I owned had something to do with horses. Every book I read, every picture on my wall, everything … was horses.
I remember begging my poor dad to stop in some strangers’ yard and ask them if his horse-crazy daughter could pet some horse they had standing in their yard.
I would ride my bicycle, except it was no mere bicycle. It was a proud Arabian, or a sure-footed quarter horse, or perhaps a fast-as-the-wind thoroughbred.
My nickname in school was Neigh. And I didn’t even mind, cause I was horse crazy man.
And when I was 12 my dad finally caved and bought me a 14 hand bay mare of undetermined breeding and unknown age. Oh happy day!
Over the next never-you-mind how many years, but trust me, lots, I’ve owned and loved many horses. I’ve also had experiences in an eclectic grouping of equine disciplines as I couldn’t seem to settle on any one. Cattle penning, gymkhana, hunter/jumper, open classes, reining, eventing, vaulting, you name it – I’ve probably tried it and probably with a breed of horse totally unsuited to said discipline. But one day, in a stable in Langley BC, I found myself in a dressage lesson and by the end of that lesson, I was hopelessly hooked – and the fledgling dressage diva started the, rewarding, difficult, challenging, exciting, frustrating, but never would I want anything else, journey to Grand Prix. I’m still on the journey by the way.
There’s something else you should know about me. One day in my mother’s kitchen, she told me about Jesus, and by the end of that conversation, I was hopelessly hooked – and the fledgling Christian started the rewarding, difficult challenging, exciting, frustrating, but never would I want anything else, journey to maturity in Christ. I’m still on the journey by the way.
God is great, and pretty wise. He has used my passion for horses and dressage to teach me about Himself. I’ve had all these amazing “ah ha” moments with my horses. And then this quiet voice says … it’s kind of like that with me. And once again He reveals to me something else about Himself and my relationship with Him and what it means to be a daughter of the King.
God has given me some pretty great experiences with horses. Actually, come to think of it, not all of them are great, but some of them do make a good story. I’d love to share these stories with you here on the Dressage Diva and with them, the lessons I’ve learned about God from the back of a horse.
The Dressage Diva 