Horses and Riders
by Sue
Going back many, many years, when my husband Malc, was in the first year of his Engineering studies at a local Technical College, he was pleased that every Wednesday afternoon was given to the students as a recreational period. There was a general preference by most of the students to try horse-riding so Malc went along with them. The stables were close to the college in nearby Hornchurch.
Because Malc was about the tallest in the group, the staff at the stables decided he should ride the biggest horse they had. This was a horse called ‘Copper’ a big copper-coloured horse. Malc said as he climbed on it felt like the horse was certainly built well enough to take tall riders, and when he was in the saddle, he said it was a long way down.
Apparently, when you are on a horse it is a great feeling (I have never had the nerve to try it myself) and you feel that you can ‘ride like the wind’ and Malc always enjoyed riding fast and he enjoyed going to the stables each week whilst it lasted.
On one of his last rides, he said the wind was up a little but it made no difference until they got back to the stables. As Malc and Copper passed a large pile of baled hay in the yard, the wind lifted some of the polythene sheeting covering the bales and flapped it violently. Copper bucked, Malc went up in the air, his feet left the stirrups, and with his hand still holding the reins, he landed with a thump on the ground – but on his feet! When he tells this story, he says he cannot recall if he actually said, or just felt as if he should have said “Ta-Da!” as he landed on the ground. But that was how it felt – a “Ta-Da’ moment. He was very fortunate to land the right way up.
Our learning disabilities son also went horse riding when he was at school, with the organisation Riding for the Disabled. He also enjoyed being on a horse and was awarded a rosette for ‘Good Trotting.’ Apparently, riding gives a great sense of freedom. The Bible speaks a lot about horses. In the Book of Revelation (Ch 19:11-14) we read:
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
In fact, horses were such a symbol of army strength in Bible times, that God charged the Israelite Kings not to keep many horses. The Lord required Israel to place their trust in Him and not in their own resources for strength.
The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.
(Proverbs 21:31)
We should trust in God’s provision for our safety and our victory over all that comes against us. Will you?