Did you find riding a horse a peaceful journey?
There are many activities in life I find peaceful. Two of those are riding. Riding a horse and riding a bike. Not only is it peaceful, but it also feels like freedom. Hard to explain unless you experience it for yourself. I have always loved horses and at a younger age I use to take care of horses and train them for barrel racing. Horses seem to understand a person whether that person is disabled physically or emotionally. They seem to know whether you are a nice person or not. Breaks my heart when I see or hear of anyone abusing an animal, especially a horse. All I have ever known from a horse is love. When I am riding a horse, I feel so much peace.
Was riding a horse relaxing, therapeutic exercise or competitive?
In my younger years riding a horse was competitive. But today it is therapeuic and relaxing.
What did you think about while riding a horse?
Honestly I was thinking about a few things. I was picturing myself on a beach and riding in the sand along the water. The other thing I was thinking about was, I was wondering if there will be horses in Heaven. I was also thinking about how blessed I was to live in a Country where there were such caring people lived who really cared about me and things I enjoyed in life. Blessed to have opportunities and places in life like Heavenly Hoofs who do what they do to make life better for many people in this area.
When riding a horse did you have any memories of your past riding experiences?
Of course my memory went back to when I use to train horses for barrel racing and it was taking me time to learn how to position myself on the horse for riding in a comfortable and relaxing way when I was use to leaning a certain way for barrel racing. But I also remember the freedom of riding a horse to the point of trotting as well as galloping. Feeling the wind in your hair and nothing else on your mind but the beauty of the moment.
When using the reigns were you in control, the horse in control or did it go both ways?
I think for me it went both ways. And I did not see control in a bad way in that I was the boss or anything. But in that I loved riding and loved the horse I was with that it was our way of communicating what we wanted from each other. I think the horse knew that I was gentle and and a compassionate person and all I wanted from the experience was for both of us to enjoy the freedom of the ride and the beauty of the nature around us.
About Being In The Military A soldier needs to be prepared. Did you find yourself needing to be prepared to ride a horse?
Absolutely. Because of my brain injury and also how long it had been since I had rode, there was so much I had forgotten. You just can't jump on a horse and expect it to do anything if you don't know what you are doing. You have to get to know the horse and the horse has to get to know you. Just as in the military you have to have the proper equipment, so it is with riding a horse.
You rode horses before the military. At any time did the experience of riding a horse before the military come back while fighting a war?
Yes. Being in a war can be so painful and there were times I would try to find a place in my life which was peaceful. And I would think about the times I was on a horse or other times I did things that would bring me peace. And for the moment I would forget about the pain of being in a war.
Once again Reigns are used to talk to the horse. A rider orders the horse what to do the horse listens and obeys. In the military communication is based on orders were one talks the others listen. Do you find this to be interesting coincidence?
Yes, but in a different way. Being in the military you are given orders and straying from those orders could cost you or your battle buddies their life. Whereas with a horse it was about enjoying the ride and being in a peaceful moment. I know in some situations the lack of communications with the horse could endanger the persons as well as the horses life. But I did not see where that could happen in the scenerio of Heavenly Hoofs.
About Traveling To Ride A Horse Unlike others who can just go to the back yard and ride a horse you had to travel. Did you take away any pleasant memories from traveling to this experience?
It was so worth the travel to ride. There was so many pleasant memories I took with me. First and foremost was meeting the awesome people at Heavenly Hoofs and how they go out of their way with compassion to make the experience wonderful one. Also thinking about Barbara from Sanctuary Island and Kim Wagner Cone from AVET Project who cared enough to make riding again happen for me. That there are still awesome people in this world who are trying to make this a better place to live in and are asking nothing in return for what they do.
Talk about meeting new friends and one thing that was learned.
The one thing I learned are there are still awesome people who really care about others with no alternative agenda. Their only agenda is to do whaever they can to help others find real ways in life to help begin the healing process in their lives. It was such a honor to meet each person ad know that they truly cared for me as an individual and how they could bring me some joy during a painful process in my life. They weren't trying to feel sorry for me, but truly cared and wanted to allow me to forget about the pain in the moment and find joy in the moment. It brings tears to me that there are such caring people left in a world full of darkness and full of selfishness. That there are people who truly want to be a light through all the darkness and are willing to sacrifice their own selfishness to bring happiness, joy and peace to those who are hurting. Thank you to all of you who have done that for me. I could never thank you enough for the joy you have brought into my life.
Candy Sweet Lovett
P.O. Box 13325
Gainesville, FL 32604
352-215-1527
None of this would have been possible without the help of AVET. Please support this organization that truly helps Veterans in so many ways that I can't list them all.
AVET Project, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization. Our EIN #26-4052103. “A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL –FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.” Florida Reg#CH31006; Oregon Reg#40263; CA Reg#t0155981,TX Reg#801419552
AVET Project, Inc.
P.O. Box 254555
Patrick Airforce Base, FL 32925
321-373-7046
Heavenly Hoofs
1875 Silver Spur Ln
Kissimmee, FL 34744-6105
Phone (407) 933-7433
Barbara L. O'Brien, RN, MSN, Cert.PresidentMagnetic HealthCare Strategies, LLC
President/CoFounder Sanctuary Island Inc.
Web: www.sanctuaryisland.org Email: Barbaralobrienmhs@comcast.net41 Dante DriveManchester, NJ 08759Tel:732-408-0259 Fax:732-408-01831101 S. Miramar Ave., Suite 303Indialantic, FL 32903Tel:321-728-7252
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