Free Great Horse Stories by Rebecca E. Ondov Page A

“You’ll be okay.”
    The war in Lou’s mind raged. What are you doing! You’re acting crazy! You’re over 60 years old! Why tackle this at all? Then he took a deep breath. I can do this! A familiar saying raced through his mind: The coward and the hero are both the same. They both sense fear. The difference between them is simple. The coward doesn’t face that fear. He walks away. The hero faces his fear and moves forward.
    Stepping into the stirrup, Lou swung his leg over. The saddle groaned as he settled in. Even though Jag stood completely still, Lou felt like he was going to fall off any minute. On cue, Jag stepped forward. Lou wobbled and hung on.
    For the next six months, Lou’s mind argued continually. What are you doing? Roy Rogers and Gene Autry are gone. They don’t have cowboys on TV anymore. Then he’d reassure himself. You’re going to be okay. What is the worst thing that could happen? I could die — but I’m dying anyway.
    Lou’s dream prevailed. Diligently he showed up at the barn for lessons. Through Kathy’s careful guidance, Lou gradually relaxed while brushing Jag before the riding lessons. The horse begged to have the white star on his forehead rubbed, and he loved pilfering treats from Lou’s shirt pockets. Lou started seeing the horse more as a big dog that wanted affection and needed to be guided.
    As the months rolled past and Lou refused to do anything but walk when riding Jag, Kathy intensified training by laying out poles on the ground in different shapes. Lou learned how to guide Jag through zigzags, side passes, and backing up. With each mastered maneuver, the man gained a little confidence.
    A breakthrough came months later in an unexpected way. On a sunny fall day, Lou stood in the arena holding Jag’s reins while waiting for Kathy as she finished instructing some riding students on how to cross a short wooden bridge. The snorts from the horses echoed through the arena as they sidestepped and refused to step onto the bridge.
    As Lou watched, the months of small successes from Kathy’s training suddenly came together in a burst of confidence. A competitivespirit rose up inside of him. I know I can do that! I bet I can do it better than they can! He stepped beside Jag and climbed into the saddle. Gathering the reins, he nudged Jag forward. Without asking Kathy, he guided the paint horse toward the bridge. Methodically the brown-and-white horse trudged up the wooden planks and then clopped down the other side. Lou’s heart soared! He felt like he’d won a gold medal at the Olympics! The training had finally culminated and superseded his fear. He wasn’t afraid of Jag or of Jag being out of control anymore. Lou had become a partner with the horse. The man had persevered in facing his fears until he came through on the other side.
    Lou broke the bondage fear had on him by staring it in the face, creating a plan, taking action, and persevering. He achieved his dream! Kathy’s new nickname for him is “Mario,” as in Mario Andretti. Lou now rides Kathy’s mare Fancy, a world champion western trail horse. Lou races around like she’s a Corvette.
    Although our fears may not be the same as Lou’s, we all have them, especially when we’re challenged to do extraordinary things, such as following the dreams God places in our hearts. Throughout the Bible, God commands us to “fear not.” By trusting God as our active partner, we can stare fear in the face and say, “God is for us, so who can stand against us? We are more than conquerors through Jesus!” (Romans 8:31,37). God will lay out a training plan for us and lead us along the path He wants us to travel.
    When we keep God at our side and stare fear in the face through training, courage will well up inside us and snuff out fear.
    Lord, teach me how to be strong and courageous in You. Amen.
    â€¢ Thoughts to Ponder •
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