Stable – Horse Whispering

By: Deb Kitcnenmaster

I have a pillow on my couch that says “Horse Lovers are STABLE people.” Let’s look into the word STABLE and see what we find.

In the form of a structure, what is a stable? A stable is a building in which livestock, especially horses, are kept. It most commonly means a building that is divided into separate stalls for individual animals. According to the size of the horse, research recommends a minimum stable size of 12ft x 12ft for horses, and preferably 12ft x 14ft for larger breeds. For ponies, the recommended minimum dimensions should be 10ft x 10ft and 10ft x 12ft for larger ponies. Not all horses will need stabling/housing. Some breeds with thick coats are capable of living outdoors throughout the year, provided they can obtain shelter from the prevailing winds, summer sun, and flies. As donkeys do not have waterproof coats, they will always need shelter from the rain. The minimum height of the stall walls should be eight to nine feet. Minimum ceiling height should be nine feet, but most recommendations, if there is a ceiling, is to go higher, 10 to 12 feet for ventilation purposes. Most recommendations are not to have a ceiling.

Is there a difference between a stable and a barn? A stable is a building in which livestock, especially horses, are kept. There are different types of stables in use today; the American-style barn, for instance, is a large barn with a door at each end and individual stalls inside or free-standing stables with top- and bottom-opening doors.

What does it mean to be a stable person? The definition of stable is something steady that is not prone to change, someone who is level-headed and who isn’t subject to wild swings of emotion.

An example of stable is a person who has a good handle on her life and her emotions.

What is a stable life? Personal stability is a lifestyle characterized by appropriate and well-thought-out decisions, consistent behavior, and moderate mood swings. It’s often overlooked. Yet it’s a key component in professional and emotional success and well-being. Stable people tend to have long, satisfying relationships.

What is emotional stability? Emotional stability is a direct contributor to happiness and living the good life. Without it, you risk falling into a pattern of jealousy, stress, heartache, and depression.
You can change the way you think and alter your daily habits to make yourself more emotionally successful and enhance your quality of life.

Yes! Horse people are stable people. Why? For one thing, mucking stalls builds character. Working with a foster child who would get off the bus at my place once a week, I asked her to muck a stall ONE time. When foster mom came to pick up her foster daughter, I told her that one of things her daughter did was to muck a stall. I told her that I wanted the youth to experience mucking a stall in case she someday had her own horse or pony, but most importantly, ‘it builds character.’ The following day at school, our young girl told her teacher she HAD to muck a stall. The foster mom received a telephone call from a concerned teacher. Foster mom told her “no worries…it builds character!”

“Horses bring me peace,” said a young woman during one of our sessions. Peace is a sense of well-being and well-being emanates stability. A stable person is one who tends to be (more often than not) a secure, established, sure, constant, and steady human being.

In the midst of changes, seasons, classrooms, LIFE, you may find yourself desiring to go out to a stable, connect with a horse, and enjoy a measurement of stability.

The Prince of Peace was born in a stable to bring stability to your LIFE.

Merry Christmas dear NEIGHbor! Happy New Year, y’all!
By: Deb Kitchenmaster