Galloping across the vast prairie on horseback was a dream of youth! 

When I grew up in an education system and in a cultural environment that only the “A” students got to attend all the good summer programs, the chance to encounter a horse was zero to none for a rebellious teen like me.  The longing to be free from a stiff educational system and the suffocating constraining society, definitely echoed with the dream of galloping across the prairie!

When I came to the US, there was a huge cemetery near the school, and behind the cemetery were a few houses with white fences and horses.  One day, my curiosity got the best of me (as usual).   I walked into one of the barn and asked the lady “Can I touch the horse?  I was never near a hose in my life before!”   The first rule I learned that day was “6 feet or 6 inches away from the horse”.  She spent a great deal of time to satisfy a Chinese girl’s curious mind.  She introduced me to the horses, showed me around the barn and answered all my questions.   When I patted the horse and looked into those big beautiful brown eyes – I fell deeply in love!

Over the years, I fell in love and became deeply passionate about riding!  I was never afraid to be on horseback.  The easiness became over confidence, and over confidence became careless!   Careless - That’s why I fell off the horse!

KIOWA is 17 years old, a middle age horse.  He used to be a race horse in his young & glory days.  He loves to run as fast as the rider allows.  I never entertained the possibility of falling off Kiowa, but I did.

We were practicing barrel racing and he refused to increase his speed for some unknown reason to me at the time.  He actually slowed down when I told him to run faster.  The trainer and I both were kind of frustrated by his behavior.   He tried to Jolt me (moving his head and neck) off twice but I stayed on, actually I got angry and tried to give him a firm command to run.  Then, the third time after he slowed down to a walk without my command, he jolted again and I fell!

When my behind hit the ground, I was actually stunned by the event more than felt the body ache.  Thankfully for the heavy pouring rain of the last few days, I landed on the softened ground and was not hurt.

 I was careless, if I had held on to the horn as I should have nothing would have happened when he jolted at such slow speed.  But I never held on to the horn, because I was so full of myself – I was so confident in my riding skills.  I deserved to be thrown!

After I got up, I patted him and spoke to him and looked into his eyes; I did not see remorse or guilt in his eyes.  It was almost as “I wanted you off my back, man!”   But, I had to get back on the horse, otherwise the fear would have set in and I would have been afraid when I rode again.  Only after I walked him to a higher ground and found a rock that I could step on and mount, did I realize the saddle was not exactly secured and I was not exactly balanced on the horse’s back.  Kiowa was trying to protect me! That’s why he acted as he did!  Come to think of it, he was still when I was on the ground; he was still when I patted him, he did not move, he did not run away, and he did not stomp on me.  Usually when the rider falls, the horse runs away.  He really is a protector.  No one had ever protected me in my life as he did (so far) – no wonder I prefer horses to human!

My own stupidity almost caused me my own life – if it had been a new or unfamiliar horse.  I felt the imbalance on the saddle, but since I could ride without the stirrup, I paid no attention.  The glory of being able to race took over the common sense of riding.

How many times in our life do we let prides and glories destroy us?   How many times we do not listen to our heart and mind?  What a lesson I leaned today! 

My friend sent me an article about the “tree” in our life.  The leaves (pretty and picturesque) are the people in our life who come when there is comfort, beauty and glory and gone as things get tough.  The branches are the people who stay, but couldn’t weather the heavy storm with us.  Only the roots that we couldn’t or didn’t want to”see”, stay with us no matter how bad the storms are!  The roots are the ones that give us courage and a new lease of life again and again!

Kiowa is one of the roots.  He may not be a tall stallion or young and handsome.  But, his beautiful eyes told me all my secrets stay with him forever.  He is loyal to a fault.  And he is protective as ever.   I never could understand those who did all they could to attract “leaves” and agonize or suffer when “leaves” disappeared.   I am so glad that I only attract “roots” in my life so far.  Kiowa definitely is one of the strong roots in my life – he is not just a horse, he is a true friend!

Sept 2012