I imagine we all hold a unique terrain within ourselves. Some are mountainous, some are meadows with lush grass, some are lave scorched lands just waiting to regrow. With each horse that enters our lives, the terrain might be different.
There are also many different types of bridges. Some are threadbare with missing boards, some are a strong steal, and some are narrow and cross deep valleys. Some sway with the wind while others weather great storms.
Close your eyes and think about your life when a specific horse entered it. Think about yourself standing on the deck of a bridge when your horse comes to you. What did your terrain look like? How was the weather? Did you lead your horse to the bridge or did it just **BAM** happen. As you travel this bridge, did your terrain change? What many or few things did you cross together? Was the horse with you every step or were there times that they stopped soaked in the view. Was it you who had to help the horse to cross this bridge? Was it you who had to be the stern leader? Or did you get to be a soft and loving journey?
All bridges have 2 sides. All bridges cross over something. All bridges take us from one side of something to the other side of somewhere. Some horses are in our lives for only brief moments, a few strides to the other side of the bridge where the journey with us ends and the journey with another begins.
Each and every bridge changes us. We are no longer the same person when we reach the end of it. When we plant our feet on the other side and look back, we should be able to see our changes and growth. We should see the changes and purpose of each horse with the unique bridge that you crossed together.
What bridge do you build for each horse? I have built bridges that were a short distance and I have built bridges that still have no ending in sight. Some bridges I’ve wanted to jump off of. Some bridges have left me feeling gutted while others have left me feeling full and complete. There are a few I look back on with regrets and definitely a couple that I simply needed to learn to build.
There have been bridges that I built not for my own journey but for the horse to be able to begin its journey with the right person when my bridge ends. I’ve built bridges that have served no purpose but that I simply wanted to explore what was across the valley and on the other side.
What types of bridges have you built? What is the condition of your bridge? What are materials are you using to build it strong? Is there beauty in all bridges?
This is just one analogy we can use when thinking about our journeys with horses. They all have a different start and all have a different end. But one thing that remains the same is that they all change us in some unique way.
Happy bridge building and safe travels!!
- Sarah Orloff, Still Waters Equitation