FLYAWAY

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This work has been released into the public domain by its author, Avocado kebab

From the "Gifts, Blessings & Miracles" series

I was thinking this morning of the time I rode Mrs. Vierra’s open jumper, Flyaway. She bought him as a “confirmed runaway.” If she hadn’t gotten him, he’d litterally have been sold to a dog food factory!

One day she let me ride him. She held him while I mounted & he started quietly enough. Suddenly he bolted. As we rounded the far end of the big jumping ring he started rearing & leaping. I heard a girl sitting on the fence holler, “Ride ‘em cowgirl!” Thanks a lot.

Finally he broke into a frantic gallop again. As we neared the small riding class ring, Mrs. Vierra opened the gate & Flyaway turned sharply into the ring. Mrs. Vierra started yelling, “Sit up! Sit up!!!” Flyaway was moving a little slower in the confined space, so I gathered my courage & sat up a little. He slowed, so I sat up more.

For some reason, Mrs. Vierra called, “Keep him trotting,” so I touched him with my legs. He surged forward which sat me back hard. I felt him hesitate, then take another trot step, hesitate, step. The reins vibrated in my hands with the power he put into every step, yet he wasn’t trying to run, only this strange rocking trot.

Suddenly Mrs. Vierra started screaming, “He’s a dressage horse! Stop him, Linda!!!” I squeezed on the reins & he stopped abruptly. I slid weakly off his back & wobbled out of the ring.

Mrs. Vierra was ecstatic! “No wonder he runs away! He’s so highly trained he can’t stand having inexperienced riders giving him confusing signals & hitting his tender mouth! I’d run, too!”

For years it hasn’t been the wild ride, but the vibrating reins that drew me to dressage. For a brief moment a powerful horse gave me a glimpse of the obedience & cooperation possible between a horse & rider & it changed me. There will forever be “Reins to My Heart.”

I’ve never forgotten that the Bible twice portrays our King as riding on a “white horse.” I like to believe that’s not accidental. And, more, I hope to one day ride with Him…at least once! :-)

© 2020 by L. E. LaLone