Merry Christmas ya’ll from the arena of horses! From the stable many years ago where a young woman gave birth to a little boy whom she called Jesus; to the equine that was ridden for the first time as this grown little one, now known as the Son of man, mounted upon its back and rode into the city of Jerusalem, to once and for all exchange works for grace (for by grace are you saved, through faith, not by works least anyone should boast,) choosing to give His life, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life; to the white mount that scriptures depict Him coming back on; Merry Christmas!
Animals carry with them a form of unconditional love. Love heals. There is healing power in pets.
Recently the news reported the presence of therapy dogs for the people mourning in Newtown, CT.
Standing in the midst of five felines who had been rescued from an animal shelter, I experienced the love of God one more time. The caregiver of these beauties is healing from the same hatred that nailed the Son of God to a cross. You will not see her in church, or on a hillside tending sheep, but you will find her in the activities of a nursing home loving on the elderly as a care provider, loving her family or at home with her beloved husband and their five cats; each bringing a healing balm to her soul. I stand in awe of the LOVE OF GOD! He has no limits in touching our hearts with perfect, unfailing love!
My Christmas gift to you this year is to share a couple of stories about the horses here at Corral Connections, and the healing they purely give.
A home health care person was at our house because we had applied for an insurance policy, and this was part of the procedure. The horses were grazing out in the pasture east of the house at the far southeast corner. We had just walked out to the porch when her teenage daughter pulled onto our lengthy drive. The horses’ heads came up, from grazing, and in one accord they ran with full force to the northwest corner of the pasture by the entrance to the yard. I observed the horses move at a trot in single file as they formed a perfect figure eight pattern. She asked what they were doing. Enjoying the moment, I smiled and said, “I don’t have a clue! Someone in that car must need this.” Upon hearing these words, she shared a story about abandonment, neglect, trauma and abuse that had occurred in the two young children’s lives years ago. She adopted them. They were in the car with their older sister!
The figure eight pattern represents what is referred to as cross/crawl. As an Animal B.E.S.T. practitioner, I use this pattern more than once while working with a horse. This movement is used to reset the internal thermostat at a cellular level. When this event happened at my home on an ordinary day in my presence, Animal B.E.S.T. was unknown to me. Years later I would connect the dots through Corral Connections! The horses knew that an “internal reset” was something these children would benefit from. What a gift. What a blessing. What a Christmas NEIGH!
Once I was grooming a horse when a man pulled up on a motorcycle. As I stepped outside the barn and was surrounded by horses on all sides, he pointed to a small herd, and asked me if I knew whose horses these were. I knew, because they were ours. This man’s brother had told him about these horses he would pass as he went to and from work. One day, out of curiosity, he rode out with his brother to see these “wonder horses!” He then told me, “Sometimes my brother would pull off the road and sit on his bike on the side road, and just watch them. At times they would come up to the fence. There was something about these horses that touched something inside of him. They were special to him.” He then said, “My brother died a few days ago, and I was wondering if we could spread his ashes near your horses.” What a request! What a Christmas NEIGH!
The next time you hear someone call a horse stupid, just smile! Then whisper…“God, bless them with an awakening!”
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy NEIGH Year!
Your NEIGHbor,
Deb Kitchenmaster
dkitchenmaster@mchsi.com
Animal B.E.S.T. practitioner
