Jo came to me from Oklahoma, a gift from my husband. A registered Palomino Quarter Horse, he was born on June 23rd, 1999. He was 4 when he came to the farm. A much better horse than I was rider, he was patient and gentle. He taught me more about myself than any person in my life, dead or alive. That is saying a lot and is not an exaggeration.
Jo and I took one of Caroline Rider's "Tao of Horsemanship" workshops. If I remember correctly, it was a three day workshop. By the end of the first day, I was in tears. I was ruining my horse by being such a perfectionist. I expected both of us to be not good but perfect yet my communications with him were not clear. He was stressed out - and I became a bully. After some guidance from Caroline, and some deep breaths, I was able to regroup with an open HEART.
By the end of the workshop - I was standing in a corner of the arena on a mounting block - asking Jo, who was free range in the large covered arena, to let me mount him. He had no tack on. I breathed and I breathed some more. All I know, is that I communicated to him through my heart - not my head or voice. He eventually walked up to me and put himself in a position that I could easily lift my leg up and over. I was mounted on my horse. He didn't move until I gave him a sign to walk on. We were a team. Needless to say, I was in tears again.
He lived his life mostly as a trail horse and for a couple of years he worked as a Volunteer Ranger for the Maryland Park Service.
He was a field ornament and companion in his last years --- he wasn't sound enough to ride.
I will forever be grateful for our time together.
Written by Don Black/Mark London // Sung by Lulu
"How do you thank someone
Who has taken you from crayons to perfume?
It isn't easy but I'll try
If you wanted the sky I would write across the sky in letters
That would soar a thousand feet high
'To sir,with love'
A friend who taught me right from wrong
And weak from strong
That's a lot to learn
What, what can I give you in return?
If you wanted the moon
I would try to make a start
But I would rather you let me give you my heart
'To Sir, with love'"
Jo and I took one of Caroline Rider's "Tao of Horsemanship" workshops. If I remember correctly, it was a three day workshop. By the end of the first day, I was in tears. I was ruining my horse by being such a perfectionist. I expected both of us to be not good but perfect yet my communications with him were not clear. He was stressed out - and I became a bully. After some guidance from Caroline, and some deep breaths, I was able to regroup with an open HEART.
By the end of the workshop - I was standing in a corner of the arena on a mounting block - asking Jo, who was free range in the large covered arena, to let me mount him. He had no tack on. I breathed and I breathed some more. All I know, is that I communicated to him through my heart - not my head or voice. He eventually walked up to me and put himself in a position that I could easily lift my leg up and over. I was mounted on my horse. He didn't move until I gave him a sign to walk on. We were a team. Needless to say, I was in tears again.
He lived his life mostly as a trail horse and for a couple of years he worked as a Volunteer Ranger for the Maryland Park Service.
He was a field ornament and companion in his last years --- he wasn't sound enough to ride.
I will forever be grateful for our time together.
Written by Don Black/Mark London // Sung by Lulu
"How do you thank someone
Who has taken you from crayons to perfume?
It isn't easy but I'll try
If you wanted the sky I would write across the sky in letters
That would soar a thousand feet high
'To sir,with love'
A friend who taught me right from wrong
And weak from strong
That's a lot to learn
What, what can I give you in return?
If you wanted the moon
I would try to make a start
But I would rather you let me give you my heart
'To Sir, with love'"
RSS Feed