Every morning and every afternoon come rain or shine I have to visit for a while with our horses. They know when it's mealtime like clockwork and if I am late they let me know about it. they bang and clang along the fence line like a teenage band rehearsing.
There is one horse who, while not loved any more than the others, does have a special place in my heart. His name is Gabe and he is the first born of the horses we currently have in our extended family. My wife already had Gabe when I met her thirteen years ago. She bought him six years earlier. Gabe is now twenty-four.
Gabe is a thoroughbred who was originally trained for the track, but due to confirmation problems with his feet it didn't pan out. When my love found him he was residing on a small farm that backed up on the Florida State Penitentiary. I sometimes say that Gabe is the only member of our family who has ever looked over a prison fence.
Gabe's primarily use was for trail rides in his younger days. He was always safe and reliable and he normally responded very well to commands. On a few occasions, however, when he did balk he was the immovable object. This happened to me once as we prepared for the trails and my wife grew impatient with me and decided she would show me a thing or two. Now she is quite the avid horsewoman and I watched thinking I would learn, but Gabe had other ideas. He just stood there and wouldn't move, frustrating her as well.
Later that day I found him running around in the field like he was a young, spirited stallion. I guess he showed us.
Being twenty four, which is a lot older than that in human years, Gabe is the only senior citizen in the herd excepting me. His days are spent these days grazing in the pasture and avoiding harassment from the other horses, all of which are mares. He routinely tells me he is henpecked.
Every day when I visit with him I talk to him about that. I tell him that us older gents need to stick together. Of the horse and human variety, he and I make up the only males on the farm.
A couple of years ago he started showing his age and I began to worry that his demise would be soon, but my good friend at the feed store gave me a couple of tips and we changed his food and added probiotics for good digestion and he perked right up. I think he'll be here for quite a number of years yet. He is a good friend and companion and that makes me happy. Hallelujah!
God has given us this wonderful old boy as a special member of our family to love and enjoy. There will be more about Gabe in my book, Honey, We Shoulda' Bought the Ark, now at the publisher being readied for print.
All of you have a wonderful day with the Lord.
There is one horse who, while not loved any more than the others, does have a special place in my heart. His name is Gabe and he is the first born of the horses we currently have in our extended family. My wife already had Gabe when I met her thirteen years ago. She bought him six years earlier. Gabe is now twenty-four.
Gabe is a thoroughbred who was originally trained for the track, but due to confirmation problems with his feet it didn't pan out. When my love found him he was residing on a small farm that backed up on the Florida State Penitentiary. I sometimes say that Gabe is the only member of our family who has ever looked over a prison fence.
Gabe's primarily use was for trail rides in his younger days. He was always safe and reliable and he normally responded very well to commands. On a few occasions, however, when he did balk he was the immovable object. This happened to me once as we prepared for the trails and my wife grew impatient with me and decided she would show me a thing or two. Now she is quite the avid horsewoman and I watched thinking I would learn, but Gabe had other ideas. He just stood there and wouldn't move, frustrating her as well.
Later that day I found him running around in the field like he was a young, spirited stallion. I guess he showed us.
Being twenty four, which is a lot older than that in human years, Gabe is the only senior citizen in the herd excepting me. His days are spent these days grazing in the pasture and avoiding harassment from the other horses, all of which are mares. He routinely tells me he is henpecked.
Every day when I visit with him I talk to him about that. I tell him that us older gents need to stick together. Of the horse and human variety, he and I make up the only males on the farm.
A couple of years ago he started showing his age and I began to worry that his demise would be soon, but my good friend at the feed store gave me a couple of tips and we changed his food and added probiotics for good digestion and he perked right up. I think he'll be here for quite a number of years yet. He is a good friend and companion and that makes me happy. Hallelujah!
God has given us this wonderful old boy as a special member of our family to love and enjoy. There will be more about Gabe in my book, Honey, We Shoulda' Bought the Ark, now at the publisher being readied for print.
All of you have a wonderful day with the Lord.
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