A Horse's Prayer

To thee, my master, I offer my prayer.
Feed me, water and care for me,
and, when the day's work is done, provide me with
shelter, a clean, dry bed and
a stall wide enough for me to lie down in comfort.

Always be kind to me.
Your voice often means as much to me as the reins.
Pet me sometimes, that I may serve you the more
gladly and learn to love you.

Do not jerk the reins, and do not whip me when going uphill.
Never strike, beat, or kick me
when I do not understand what you want,
but give me a chance to understand you.
Watch me, and if I fail to do your bidding,
see if something is not wrong with my harness or feet.

Do not check me so that I cannot have free use of my head.
If you insist that I wear blinders,
so that I cannot see behind me as it was intended I should,
I pray you be careful that the blinders stand well out of my eyes.

Do not overload me,
or hitch me where water will drip on me.

Keep me well shod.

Examine my teeth when I do not eat; I may ahve an ulcerated tooth,
and that, you know, is very painful.

Do not tie my head in an unnatural position,
or take away my best defense against flies and
mosquitoes by cutting off my tail.

I cannot tell you when I am thirsty,
so give me clean, cool water often.

Save me, by all means in your power
from that fatal disease - ganders.

I cannot tell you in words when I am sick,
so watch me, that by signs you may know my condition.

Give me all possible shelter from the hot sun,
and put a blanket on me, not when I am working,
but when I am standing in the cold.
Never put a frosty bit in my mouth;
first warm it by holding it a moment in your hands.

I try to carry you and your burden without a murmur,
and wait patiently for you long hours of the day or night.

Without the power to choose my shoes or path,
I sometimes fall on hard pavement which I have often prayer
might not be of wood but of
such a nature as to give me safe and sure footing.

Remember that I must be ready at any moment
to lose my life in your service.

And finally, OH MY MASTER,
when my useful strength is gone,
do not turn me out to starve or freeze,
or sell me to some cruel owner,
to be slowly tortured and starved to death;

but do thou, My Master, take my life in the kindest ways,
and your God will reward you here and hereafter.

You will not consider me irreverent if I ask this
in the name of HIM who was born in a stable.

AMEN

Horses

Ginger

Ginger is a chestnut quarter horse with a white blaze on her face. She is 15.2 hands high and is about 1020 pounds. She is very friendly and loves to interact with the students.

Dexter

Dexter is a very friendly and patient bay quarter horse with a white star and snip. Dexter weighs in around 900 pounds and is 14.3 hands high. His gate is slow and steady.

Missy

Miss is a black and white Missouri fox trotter. Missy is 15.1 hands high and weights around 1020 pounds. She likes to walk fast, but is always alert and looking for deer on the trail.

Princess

Princess is a brown and white paint pony with a white blaze. She is 13 hands high and weighs about 850 pounds. Princess is a bit timid and needs your confidence when handling or riding. She always tries to please her handler.

Chief

Chief is a chestnut paint with a white blaze on his face. The only real evidence that Chief is a paint horse is his beautiful blue right eye. He likes to be mischievous in the ring, pushing over barrels and moving balls. Chief always wants to be the first one in line on the trail.

Cody

Cody is a chestnut quarter horse with a white stripe on his face. He stands 15.1 hands high and tips the scales around 1080 pounds. Cody has a very slow and smooth gate. He hates the rocks on the trail and always tries to move to the grass when he comes across them. Cody loves to have his neck and chest scratched.

Eagle

Eagle is a liver chestnut with a white blaze on her face. She is 14 hands high and weights around 950 pounds. Eagle is always ready to go. Just say the word and she is off to do whatever you like. Be sure to scratch her face and rub her eyes.

Melissa & Oreo

Melissa and Oreo are new to the Freedom Reins program for 2014.