For Love of Horses
By Cindy Prindle
Rising Son Youth Ranch, St Joseph, MO
God created horses with a very special nature that loves us unconditionally, and the humans who love them are born with an addiction for their love and are hooked for life. We crave any contact with the objects of our love we can get. Sometimes all we can get are pictures, or books and movies, figurines and an occasional visit to a stable, but some of us are blessed enough to actually own horses. We can get our horse fix every day, and we revel in that contact. We watch them play, we feed them, groom them, clean up after them, all of it a joy and pleasure.
Trevor is one of this crowd of willing captives.
Born to a family of horse lovers, Trevor learned to ride at an early age on his grandfather’s ranch in Texas. He even had his own horse, a young colt that he helped to train. He learned to barrel race and even got a chance to compete, all before the age of 7; and despite the special needs factor he was born with.
Then one day, Trevor and his Mom, Christy, moved from Texas to Missouri, and left the horses behind. For the next 10 years, there were very few horses in Trevor’s life, and he had to put his cravings for them on hold. He went to school, rode his bike, helped out at home with chores, and assisted Mom and Grandma in any way possible. He’s a good boy, willing and eager to please.
Proverbs 15:20 says, “A wise son brings joy to his parents…” and when a parent or grandparent is full of joy from a child, they want to give them everything their heart desires. Trevor’s Grandma, Caroline, understands his need to have horse contact, so when she heard about our riding therapy ranch for at risk and special needs children, she called us right up. It was winter, and we were closed for the season, so I told Caroline to call us in the Spring and we would be glad to have Trevor come and enjoy our horses. A few weeks later, Caroline called again, couldn’t we let her grandson come and help with chores? It was beginning to warm up, and the horses were shedding their winter coats and needed to be brushed daily, so I invited them to bring Trevor to do some grooming.
Right from the beginning, I knew Trevor understood the horses. He was quiet and gentle with them, and his face shone with his love for them. When a barn cat knocked a box down from the rafters, and made all the horses jumpy, he respected their space and knew just how to handle himself around them. The first time Trevor rode, I put him on Bazz, our most gentle horse, but I could see right away that he hadn’t forgotten anything he’d learned from his Grandpa, and would need a more challenging horse to keep him interested. So began a love affair with Foxy Lady, who would give back to Trevor, all he had lost when he had to leave his horse behind in Texas; unconditional love, and the joy of riding and caring for this beloved creature. Trevor rode all summer, glorying in the freedom and exhilaration a ride gives, but also helping with chores and assisting with other students. He has proven himself an invaluable ranch hand.
Now Trevor has a chance to give to others, the joy he himself experiences each time he is with a horse. Trevor is learning that giving has rewards of its own. Luke 6:38 says, “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Trevor is training to be a volunteer at the ranch, so he can share with other children, his love for these beloved, beautiful animals. He knows along with the rest of us who love horses; their wonderful ability to restore a wounded soul and heal a troubled heart. II Corinthians 1: 3-4 “ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our trouble, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”