Hannah and Shakira (Summer 2010)
Ramiah Ranch is a private equestrian facility located in Churubusco, Indiana, just northwest of Fort Wayne. We specialize in equestrian training from a Christian perspective. By incorporating “Teachable Moments” into each lesson, the riders are enabled to learn Scriptural principles while enhancing their horsemanship skills. Ramiah Ranch offers boarding, training, and lessons. Feel free to call or e-mail for more information.
As school started in August, my riding days ended. Both of my thoroughbreds moved to Earlham College for the school year to be a part of their equestrian team. Symphony eased into a pattern of being ridden only for lessons on the weekends and occasionally in the evenings if I finished homework, grading, and work early. Needless to say, that didn’t happen very often. Symphony got fatter and lazier, and I got more and more ambivalent about getting out to the barn to ride. Then Dandy happened.
Dandy was already here; I have been boarding him since June. In October, however, I decided to start training him, a pro bono job of sorts. His owners had not asked me to ride or train him, but they were unable to come out and work him themselves due to work and health issues. As a four year old gelding with little to no training, it wasn’t doing him any good to just be “sitting” in the pasture. While Symphony would come out of her temporary “retirement” a little rusty, but no worse for the wear, Dandy was only becoming more of a terror by the week. Contrary to popular opinion, horses with no training do not improve on their own. Thus, I broke out the old training saddle, the brain bucket, and my rope halter to begin the training process.
Saturday morning, Dandy and I discovered that we cannot both be “boss” at the same time. We were equally determined to have our own way in the relationship, thus contributing to a mutual dislike. As a rider and trainer, there is one thing I cannot tolerate about a horse–the refusal to give to pressure on a lead rope. Horses that pull back, rear, or turn and bolt instead of giving to pressure make me very angry. Unfortunately, I have also been trained to identify a lack of training in my own life through the horse I work. When Dandy repeatedly threw his hip into me, braced his shoulder, and took off across the arena dragging the lead rope behind him, I, frustration aside, understood the significance of my own stubbornness. As a mentor once told me, “Your stubbornness is powerful–for good or evil. It is a choice to channel your will into the hands of a loving Master to be molded, shaped, and used for great things. It is also a choice to remain hard, unshaped, and resistant; a choice that will only destroy you from the inside-out.” Each time the lead rope burnt through my hands, I recollected times when I had done the same thing to authorities in my life, and, in turn, God. The correcting taps of the cue stick that caused Dandy to react, explode, and bolt away from me were no more painful than the discipline God placed in my life that caused me to react, explode, and run from authority, correction, and instruction.
Within time, Dandy grew accustomed to the pattern of ask, tell, command and began to listen and respond obediently. Certainly, he still made mistakes, but there was definite progress. Patience alone allowed Dandy the time he needed to respond to the seemingly constant correction, just as grace alone allowed me to enter into a relationship with a holy God. Within only a few days of work, I was able to ride Dandy, take him on a trail ride, and further test his willingness to surrender himself and obey me despite his many fears. There will always be fear. I do not ask Dandy or any of my other horses to not be afraid. I ask Dandy and all of my horses to trust me and obey despite their fears. With the horses, I do not think it unreasonable for them to continue moving forward quietly at a walk when something scares them. When I am confronted with fear, however, it is a different story. Questions flood my mind: “What if…?” Reacting is easy. Reacting is natural. Reacting, despite the validity of my fear, is wrong. Just as I expect obedience from my horses, I also must choose to obey God despite my fears, despite my inability to see what is ahead of me, because I know that He is faithful. My horses have to deal with a fickle and inconsistent master; I serve a faithful and true God who is in control of every circumstance that comes my way.
I cannot say that I have necessarily enjoyed moving from well-trained hunter jumpers to an unbroke Arabian-Quarter Horse gelding who doesn’t know where his feet are. It has motivated me to get out to the barn and ride, which is a good thing, but more than that, it has opened my eyes to weaknesses in my own life. I am grateful for Dandy with all of his imperfections that so perfectly reflect my own, that in him, my eyes might be directed to the One who is perfect and holy.
“Dandy,” the barn name for a boarding four-year old gelding, is currently for sale. The owners are willing to negotiate any reasonable offer. He has been at Ramiah Ranch since June 2011 and is an easy keeper, stands for the farrier, and gets along well with the other horses. He has been under saddle training with Ramiah Ranch since October 2011 and is being ridden English and Western, walk, trot, canter, and over small fences. He has been ridden in the arena and on trails.
"Dandy's" Sale Flier
Shakira and Senorita are for sale. I am asking $4,000 each or best offer.
Senorita_Sale flier11_2 (PDF)
Shakira_Sale flier_2011 (PDF)
Congratulations to Hannah Snyder and Shakira on Reserve Grand Champion in 2’6″ Hunters and Abigail Snyder and Senorita on Reserve Grand Champion in 2’9″ Hunters!
Even with a lot of rain causing wet arenas and only a few hours a week to ride after work, the horses are still making improvements in their schooling. About four students a week are riding in addition to the once a week minimum I try to get on. Hannah has been riding Symphony western in preparation for the Ramiah Ranch Ice Cream Social this weekend. As usual, I have been riding Senorita and working on her jumping. Good times!
Video: Senorita Jumping (1)
Video: Senorita Jumping (2)
Join us at Ramiah Ranch for an ice cream social, mounted message, and trick roping demonstration on Saturday, May 28th at 2:30 p.m.
Bring your own lawn chairs. In case of inclement weather, call or text 260-437-4354 for event information.
Please RSVP on Facebook here.
This week has been beautiful for riding, so all three horses have gotten a lot of schooling. Below are some videos of Senorita working over ground poles and gymnastics.
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