The first time I remember almost dying I was 8 years old. The pony I was on got spooked by oncoming horses, reared up, lost her footing ......... and we rolled down the side of a 200' embankment at the gravel pit.
Both of us, were alive and were able to stand. No broken bones. My head hurt, my neck hurt, my body ached. There were no cell phones in the 70's. My friends had no choice, but to walk us back to the barn.
From there I walked home. My parents did nothing. No hospital, no doctor, no nothing. Next day I couldn't move my head so they took me to a chiropractor that reamed my neck and that was that.
For the rest of my life I've suffered a crooked neck. In younger years, it would get so knotted up, nose bleeds and passing out when I stood up, would follow. Until finally as an adult I found a good chiropractor that worked with it for a year, and finally life felt as normal as it could with a tilted head.
My next time was a swift kick to the knee. I moved in time to miss my head. Again, no hospitals, no doctors. Just ice and a weak knee that could collapse on itself at any time. Once an adult, the muscles had formed a compensation I was able to not fall, I had the strength to 'lock it'. I walk with a permanent limp but that's ok.
The time to pony took off uncontrollably, I really thought I was going to end up being dragged -- I hung on. Close call!
The time a mother Grizzly and her cubs walked across the path in front of us, I really thought the horse was going to lose it and me. I would become lunch. Instead she stood her ground and they just walked past us.
My parents put me on a bus from Northern Alberta Canada to Vancouver BC Canada at age 11, alone. I lived to finish the journey unharmed.
by the time I was 15 I was a mother and onto a new life.. the miracles on that journey are for another day.. My childhood was short lived and full of complications.
My solice in the horses. My dad made sure that no matter where we lived, whether in the United States or Canada - I had access to horses.
My entire being of who I am - my strengths, my weaknesses, my compassions, my emotions, my will to survive... I owe to the horses that have come into and left my life.
God has chosen to watch over me, protect me, care for me and lead me through this life - for reasons I may never understand. What I know for sure without any doubt or anyone's double talk. Is that my life is full of miracles. I have survived over and over again so many things that have taken the lives of others.
God has given me angels to walk through this life. He gave me the horses. My angels, my guide.
They teach you courage in ways no other can. They teach you unconditional love, compassion, and faith. They speak a language you learn to communicate with, it teaches you how to communicate with others as well. They teach you the value of hard work and the joy of play.
They are a reason to wake up every day and face the sun.
