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Every Cloud Has Its Silver Lining | An Inspiring Horse Story
By: Christine Kang
It was the second week of August and my mother’s patience with me was reaching its end. At 13, I was already known throughout town as outspoken, stubborn, and incorrigible. My mother herself wasn’t a very patient or flexible person either. It was the ten thousandth argument of the summer, only this time it wasn’t about clothes or curfew, but about my horseback riding.
I was introduced to the love of horses at age 10 when a horse lover invited me to her 10th birthday party, which included a trial ride through Vivian Forest. Aboard a slow yet steady chestnut gelding named Hack, I fell in love with him and horseback riding instantly. My parents cringed when I asked for riding lessons – we had neither the time nor money, for by then I was enrolled at a rigorous private school. Despite the lack of the support, every summer I got two months of blissful riding lessons. Somehow, it was never enough.
That day, my mother told me the dreaded words any girl could receive. “This afternoon is going to be your last riding lesson.”
I was stunned and I could hardly contain the appertaining rage inside of me. To me, riding was the reason I enjoyed life, and I was ambitiously trying to move up to the next level, only how could I improve if I never had any continuity in lessons?
“WHY?” I demanded.
“School is in less than two weeks, you should be prepping for school! Have you even opened your novels or textbooks? You’ve got more than enough riding this summer! You have to be focused on your studies!” she responds. As if I hadn’t heard the same argument before.
The drive to the stables was agonizing for the tension within our stifling car was suffocating. I checked the bulletin board and discovered that I was assigned Roady, one of my favourite mounts. I followed my usual routine of grooming and tacking up Roady. I walked into the arena and forced a smile to my instructor and the two other classmates, Monica and Justine. I tightened the girth one last time and swung into the saddle, realizing that it would be the last time mounting a saddle for a long time.
The class began with the usual warm up and exercise. We walked, trotted, cantered, did bends, turns…Ever so gradually, my anger was leaving me. Roady, with his ambling stride, put my mind into such a state of relaxation and focus at the same time. It was comforting to be on his back, calming my high strung nerves. When it came time for jumping exercises, my mind was so thoroughly focused that my anger had dissolved completely. Just being on a horse can do that.
Fence after fence, Roady cleared them, lifting his knees and leaping over each one in perfect rhythm. I did what I never usually do – I looked into the sidelines. My mother was sitting back in her green lawn chair, and as I was, she seemed contented and less angered. The rest of the lesson flew by in a blur. When it was time to cool down, I looked back to the beginning of the day and realized that I had done more than just ride. I had learned to grow up, and learned to have patience.
Roady was the horse I learned how to canter on, how to jump on, and he also taught me the life lessons of patience, persistence, and perseverance. My mother saw me ride, and eventually saw that I was learning more than she could have ever imagined. I was crushed when I discovered my temporary end to riding, but with that, I learned to be patient. My mom eventually signed me up for more regular lessons. So, no matter how dark your storm cloud is, try to smile because every cloud has its silver lining.
Tags: Amazing Horse Story, Emotional stories, Great inspiring Horse Story, Horse 2 Heart, Horse riding Stories
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