My love for these beautiful creatures goes back to my teenage years when my father would take me to the local riding school to hire a horse for an hour (while he sat peacefully in the car reading the Saturday Age newspaper).
Eddie, the 14 year old Palomino, was a popular horse in their stables as he was such a gentle giant. If I was lucky enough to find him available on the days when I went to ride, every moment with him was sheer joy.
His calm and intelligent personality increased my love for these animals and I still seek any opportunity to get close and friendly.
Whenever we are travelling by car and Harry spots a horse near the side of the road and happens to mention it, I always yell out: “Stop! I’ve got to say hello.”
The following tale of two horses appeared in my inbox from an ‘earth-angel’ friend but the original author is unknown. In admiration of these two friends, and as a reminder of the bond between the blind and the sighted, I share their heart-warming story with you.
Just up the road from my home is a field, with two horses in it. From a distance, each horse looks like any other horse. But if you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing.
Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him.
If you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell.
Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field. Attached to the horse's halter is a small bell.
It lets the blind friend know where the other horse is, so he can follow.
As you stand and watch these two friends, you'll see that the horse with the bell is always checking on the blind horse, and that the blind horse will listen
for the bell and then slowly walk to where the other horse is, trusting that he will not be led astray.
When the horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, it stops occasionally and looks back, making sure that the blind friend isn't too far behind to hear the bell.
Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives. Other times we are the guide horse, helping others to find their way. Good friends are like that. You may not always see them, but you know they are always there.
Live simply
love generously
care deeply
speak kindly
for we walk by faith and not by sight.
Photos © 2013 Maribel Steel
2 comments:
Sounds like you had good exposure to horses as a child, Maribel! Loved the pictures of you with the horses. I'd read the story of the two horses before but it was an excellent reminder and LOVED the last line about how sometimes we are the one leading and sometimes we are the blind one. Powerful! Always a pleasure to read your posts!
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