Brave’s Story
There are times in our lives, many times, that God intervenes in ways we wouldn’t have thought or expected. You have one thing in mind, and He has another. This was the case for me. I had lost my mustang mare, Lucy, to colic after 18 years of life with her. She was a wild horse off the open range of Utah with limited handling. We learned from each other and trust grew over the years. Her loss was deep. It wasn’t until a year to a year and half after her passing that I seriously gave thought to obtaining a new horse. I prayed for God to give me direction and show me which horse He had for me. My “ideal” horse was a gentle gelding that was between 8-14 years old, was used to trails, was not spooky and could be ridden by beginners. My intention was to have a personal horse for trail riding that could also be used in the Eagle’s Nest Ranch programs. I searched online in several groups and sites for available horses. I came across many scams online in my search. I talked with friends and asked if they knew of a suitable horse. I messaged and called several owners about the horse they had for sale. I even made an overnight trip to see a horse on the western slope that seemed like a great fit. I talked to a few local rescues and visited one. I considered going to some horse sales. The door was not opening in any direction I searched. I am learning to trust a closed door, and wait for an open one, but I wondered, “God what are you doing? What is your will for me and the ranch regarding a new horse? Is the time not right?”
In the meantime, I went to a three-day ranch ministry clinic on the east coast. I went not only to learn, but to speak about serving the military and first responders in equine ministry. I was also excited to hear how other ranches operated and did their ministries among other topics. I signed up for a pre-clinic session on learning leadership through horses. As a leader, this sounded like a session I could benefit from. There were about twelve of us in the class. We were sitting on folding chairs in a circle in the large covered arena. There were several obstacles located in different areas around the arena. There was a set of three ground poles about 15 feet from where I was sitting. The class hadn’t yet started, and a woman led a blind horse into the arena. My eyes were fixed on the horse as I had never met a completely blind horse before. Someone said the horse had a companion friend, but that horse had not yet been brought in. The handler walked the blind mare around and showed her some of the obstacles including the ground poles that were near me. The mare walked over the poles with ease. A few minutes later the companion horse was brought into the arena. Both mares were turned loose. They quickly joined up and the blind horse stayed with her friend. The class was getting ready to start, but I continued to look and watch what the two horses were doing. They walked around some with the blind horse staying close to her friend. They soon were standing and resting together along the arena fence about 40 feet straight across from the ground poles. My attention went back and forth from the class to watching the two horses. A few minutes later I was astonished to see the blind mare leave the safety and security of her friend and walk towards the ground poles, which were located near me. I watched the mare walk across the arena by herself to find the ground poles and touch them with her nose. She began to paw at them with her front leg. As I watched, the Holy Spirit began to speak to me loudly and clearly, “That’s you Suzy. That horse is YOU. You need to be as brave as this horse. She cannot see where she is going. She doesn’t know what’s ahead, but yet she ventures out. And that other horse, her companion, friend, security, and guide…that’s ME. I will be with you. I am close and will be there for you.” “You don’t know what’s ahead, but I will lead and guide and not leave you, but you be brave like this horse.” Tears began to well up in my eyes as I listened to God speak so loudly in my heart. I knew without a doubt that it was Him giving me encouragement, as well as orders to be BRAVE in what He has called me to do no matter the circumstances. There is nothing to fear as His love and presence are always with me. I confess that being a leader is scary and there are situations that are scary. There are times that I am afraid to step out. He was telling me to not be afraid. “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you do not fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13. This message stayed with me as I returned to Colorado and the ranch ministry He entrusted to me.
Less than a month later I was scrolling through posts on a social media platform when a post shared by a friend of mine who operated a horse rescue caught my attention. The original post was from a woman who had previously adopted a horse from her rescue. The woman had gone to a “kill pen” in the northern part of the state. There she saw a beautiful paint mare who appeared to be in good health. She went into the pen with her as the horse was watching her. The mare immediately walked up to her and was very friendly. It was obvious that she liked being with people and was a kind and gentle horse. She was also blind on the left side as she had lost that eye at some point in her life. She was only about 14 years old. Although the woman could not take in another horse, she knew she couldn’t leave her there to go to slaughter. She was scheduled to be shipped out in less than 10 days. The woman began a campaign to raise money for her “ransom” to pull her from the kill pen. In her post she said she hoped to find a therapeutic riding center or a home with lots of kids to adopt her and love on her. When I read that part, the Lord began to stir my heart about this mare. I couldn’t ignore it. I made arrangements to go see her and pledged to pay for her quarantine to help with the costs of saving her. The funds were raised and she was moved to a stable for quarantine. Horses from unknown backgrounds are often put into quarantine for up to 30 days before allowing contact with other horses to be sure they do not spread any sickness or disease. She was now in the safe hands of my friend and of the woman who couldn’t leave her behind.
I went to see her a week later. As I spent time with her, praying the whole time, asking the Lord if she was the one He meant for me, I experienced her calmness, gentleness and genuine desire to be with people. She was not spooky on her blind side, so she had successfully adjusted to the loss of sight on that side. In the quietness of the small pen and talking with my friend and the woman who saved her, I began to know with certainty that she was to be my next horse. I also knew that her new name was BRAVE.
Brave’s story is like our own. We also are/were in a place destined for certain death and hopeless to save ourselves. Brave could not do anything to leave the kill pen by her own means. She needed someone to come along and pay the price for her freedom. The ransom needed to be paid in order for her to be able to leave the place that led to slaughter. Like her, we also need a savior. God in His goodness and tremendous love for us sent His ONLY Son to die on the cross and pay our ransom. The Bible says that without blood, there is no remission for sin. Jesus paid the price of our sin through his death on the cross. If we will receive that payment on our behalf by believing in the name of Jesus Christ, we will be saved and free and will no longer be on the truck to certain death.
Friend, what about you? Have you asked Jesus Christ to be your Savior? Are you still on the path that leads to certain death and an eternity without God?
It’s just like God to use a blind horse to teach me about bravery and to trust in Him without hesitancy.
It’s also just like Him to bring me a horse who has lost an eye to trauma, so I wouldn’t forget what He taught me through a completely blind horse. I don’t know what’s ahead, and I can’t see into the future, but I do know that I need to “walk by faith and not by sight.” So whatever you are going through, whatever you are uncertain about, whatever causes you fear and anxiety, remember that you have a
Savior to call upon who loves you unconditionally. Trust in Him and you will be free. He will be a light for your steps as we walk into an unknown future. Be Brave! He is there!
