The Power of Ponies

There was a huge wave of compassion and empathy coming from the entire country as news of last Friday's horrific school shooting began to circulate. For me personally, I couldn't stop the flooding emotion and I went to sit in my car early in the line to pick my older kids up. My 3 youngest kids sat strapped in the back wondering what had gotten into Mommy, while I was finding comfort just knowing that all my kids were physically that much closer to me so I could potentially shield them. From what, I don't know.

I hope to not take away from the anguish that those directly involved are going through saying that we all felt a small piece of it too. For a moment, every parent's mind went to "What if it was my child?" and we all got punched in the gut as only people who have their hearts walking around outside of their own body can.

It seems silly to even post about horses right now and I hugged each of my kids a little extra over this past weekend. Took a little more time to look at the Christmas lights with them. Spent longer helping them do fun projects and tried harder to be a good listener to their constant chatter.

I was heartened to see a stable near where the shootings took place offered an open call to any kids who needed to hug a pony to come on out and hug, ride, groom, whatever. Just be kids with these fuzzy healers. Ponies do have their own understanding of kids and most (Spotlight included) are completely different in the care they take with their small charges than they are with us grown-ups.

To let a little of my emotions go, Bandon and I shared our first canter this weekend, wind streaming between his ears straight into my face. Short of needing some time to pick-up his right lead, he was brilliant (looking extra handsome in Seven Hearts purple and green). His kind eyes and soft handling warm me up all the way through. He was hesitant with us a little at first and showed some of his reaction to harsh handling in his lifetime. He's beginning to trust that we don't hit here, we don't hurt horses, and his comfort is growing.

When I was a kid and was learning about the ideas of heaven, my visions were always full of horses. Maybe heaven is actually full of ponies, just for the little ones.

"All small children are convinced that ponies deserve to see the inside of the house." Maya Patel