Humble and Handsome



"Rearing up his powerful
body, he pierced the clouds
with his sharp horn."
~ The Unicorn and the Lake

When Ransom and I reached the high point of the ridge on our trail ride, the gray clouds hung so low it seemed as though I could reach up and touch them. It reminded me of one of my favorite children’s books, in which the unicorn climbs the mountain and pierces the clouds with his horn to bring rain to the drought-stricken land below. I, however, prayed that the rain would hold off until we were safely back at the barn.

Ransom stood gazing at the next hill over, listening to the wind rustle the grass in waterless waves. What looked from a distance like a vulture, turned out to be a squirrel perched atop a broken log. I sat and wondered at how amazing it is that Ransom allows me to strap a band tightly around his belly and sit on his back. How he submits and allows me to tell him what to do, especially when it’s something like carrying me up a steep hill. How he ignores his herd instinct to venture out alone with me, and then stands contentedly.

When we returned home, I was thankful for dry skies and for my humble, handsome Ransom.

Fresh Eyes

I’d been out at the barn almost every day for the last three months, so when I came back from a trip to the East Coast, it felt like I’d been away for ages. Even after just a week, things were different. Ransom’s roan coat looked darker and sleeker than before. The weeds in his pasture had sprouted overnight, bursting into yellow blooms. The spring green hills were now almost overtaken by summer’s dry gold.

Time hadn’t waited for me, but it couldn’t hide its subtle changes from my fresh eyes.

Ransom was more interested in eating with nimble lips the purple buds of a prickly bush than in re-enacting a joyous reunion. But he looked at me as if to say, “Where have you been?” I watched him, feeling a bit of that spark of excitement I felt upon first laying eyes on him. When I finally wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed my cheek against his silky coat, I knew how much I’d missed him.

Ransom's Film Debut

A few highlights from a recent riding session: