June 18th, 2013

Over the past 30 years I have had the privilege of sharing what I have learned about working with animals to other interested people.  Each time I enter into a discussion about animal behavior I feel that I am always the beneficiary of these conversations.  I find it very true that a lesson taught is a lesson learned.  It is a very humbling experience to work with horses and humans and to help them to develop a relationship between one another.  People often come to me frustrated and on the verge of giving their horse away and buying a bag of golf clubs.  Now I know from experience that golfing is even more frustrating to learn than riding a horse. I suppose it is just our human nature to jump out of the frying pan into the fire. So then what do we do? Let’s go to a common scenario and that is the rebellious horse.  The one that seems to enjoy not doing what you want him to do.  The bully who forces his way on you.  The horse that seems to try to figure out how to hurt you. The rebel. This is the most common scenario I have experienced. Horses like this cause their owners to become discouraged, embarrassed and defeated.  Isn’t that the plan of our enemy to do to us all?  I Peter 5:8 be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 

So how does the rebellious horse think?  I think it’s simply put, anytime a horse is allowed to rely upon   his own understanding, his own strength and uses it to get what he wants, that is the thought process of a rebel.  He has no regards for anybody or anything around him only his own self-preservation. I have found that these rogue animals use their attitudes only because they have yet to experience the opportunity of freedom from themselves.  You see if you have the opportunity to watch a rebellious horse from a distance he exhibits none of the signs of a rebel when he’s peacefully gazing by himself.  But as you approach this animal, the closer you get you can see his self-preserving behavior manifest right before your eyes. So then would it not be safe to say that it is the presence of our human nature that produces that rebellious attitude in a horse. The perception the rebellious horse has about people needs to be changed so that the rebellion can be replaced with acceptance and agreement. Agreement in the relationship is what brings about unity. It’s essential to recognize the battle lies within the mind of both horse and human. 

 Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  It is in fact an ongoing selection process that we learn to either accept thoughts or reject them.  We will be affected in our behavior by this process. Just as the horse does when he changes his thoughts and agrees with ours. It’s then you and the horse will experience a peaceful partnership. Because of this unity both parties will be better together than either would be on their own.

Like the horse we are all rebels born of the flesh relying on our own self efforts through our five senses.   God loved us when we were yet sinners. God says he will never leave us nor forsake us.   His grace and love came through his son Jesus Christ to give us hope and a future.  God is not mad at us he is waiting on us to change our thoughts our minds from our own self effort towards his thoughts, his ways. When we do we will find rest. 

If you are still in that rebellious state of mind yourself and have found your efforts to cope in this world falling short and you are exhausted without hope.  Good news it’s a new day for you by asking Jesus to take the reins and be Lord of your life.  No matter what you have done, where you have been, you will always be welcomed with open arms to his everlasting love and eternal life because it is Gods will that none shall perish.

 Lord Jesus I come to you tired and weary, forgive me and reuse me out of this self-dug pit, I give you the reins of my life. Thank you for saving me.  Amen

Hope Is Alive!

Dennis Cappel

Hope Givers Working Ranch