Dilgo Khyentse once wrote, “The stronger our devotion, the greater the blessing. But to have no devotion is like hiding oneself in a house with all the doors and shutters closed. The sunlight will never get in.”
The Difference between Devotion and Resolution
In the new year, I want to focus a little less on the resolution and more on the devotion behind the resolution. I’m not saying to be resolute is unworthy of my time, but to be devoted means there is something higher than ourselves calling us to become greater than we already are.
When I think of a resolution, I think of bettering oneself. Diets, ridding ourselves of addictions, and new gym memberships are all common targets at the beginning of a new year.
However, when I think of devotion, I think of service; I think of bettering someone else’s condition or circumstance or being so devoted to a cause that is bigger than we are that many other people benefit from our work.
Most of us who own horses have no problem with the devotion piece. You will not find more caring, adoring, and loving guardians than you will in the horse industry. That said, not all of us in the industry fit this bill.
For so many, the horse is just the means to an end: the object that jumps, races, turns barrels, or passages its way to our next blue ribbon, sash, cup, or belt buckle.
The Challenge
In this new year, I want to challenge everyone to focus on their devotion to their horses. No, I do not mean you need to purchase more pads or more cookies to achieve this. None of that is required.
Instead, listen to his or her likes and dislikes. Pay attention when you brush to where they are telling you something is off or bothering them that day.
In the tack, listen to that lameness that urges, please, not today with all the trot work.
Listen to the horse who “says,” I don’t entirely trust you…yet.
If devotion is the manner of being devoted to another, why do we so often overlook how our horse feels or what they think or want?
Dressing our horses up in all manner of beautifully color-coordinated luxury equestrian tack does not buy us a relationship with them. Believe me, I have made that mistake.
With horses, time takes time. Earning their trust takes time. And earning their devotion in return takes…you guessed it…time.
For 2025…
So, for 2025, I want to be more mindful about my own level of devotion to my horses. I am certainly not a perfect guardian, owner, or pet parent, but when I try, when I stop and focus, when I slow down and get right there in the moment with my horses, I know how to listen to what they are saying. I’ll bet you do, too.
Here’s to a fabulous and healthy New Year! 2025; here we come!
I’ve always been extremely curious about artists who take a medium and make it their own. They creatively utilize things at hand to fashion unique artistic expressions the world has never seen before.
Browbands and horse tack with rhinestones is nothing novel. In fact, in my early adult years, I was unable to afford so many of the brands I lusted after, like Browbands By Design. They had the most exquisite and charming designs, ones that really exalted the look of the horse.
When I had the opportunity to design my own creations, I wanted them to be reflective of and inspired by the things that influence me personally—My own personal expression of my life experience, passions, loves, and things I find intriguing and beautiful.
What I don’t want is for people to see my brand and think that they have to show in order to indulge. No, Sir. No, Ma’am.
One of the finest riders I have ever known hardly ever sets foot in the show ring. She is a Colt-starting cowgirl who does squat with her spurs on because she’s just that tough. She dabbled in dressage (and admittedly showed a few client horses in lower-level tests), but show rings were not her thing.
So, if she’s rarely in the ring, does she still fall into the Envisioned Equestrian fold? Of course, she does. She deserves to be celebrated, and so do her horses.
My momma always used to say…
My mom always used to tell me that if you look your best, you ride your best. She put that theory to the test for decades. I believe it’s true.
What I know is that when my tack is a creative expression of what’s inside me on any given day, that’s when I am the happiest.
When my heart is overflowing with love and amusement for my horse’s antics, I want something bright and vibrant to outwardly express my inner experience, and that’s what this is all about.
Judgy Judgy
I do not frequent the show ring. Why? Because I used to for many, many years.
I personally don’t find any joy in putting myself up on display, insisting that my horse deals with my unusual show jitters.
Dressage is one of those sports where you can judge yourself. Was your extended trot downhill and lacking elevation? Did the hind foot stick in the pirouette? Was that circle actually circular? Was your bend consistent in half pass, or did the hind end fall out? These are all things we can judge ourselves if we pay attention to the feel.
Please don’t think that I mean to say one should never show or never submit oneself for professional judging, but I am usually far more critical of myself than anyone else ever is, so I imagine that’s enough judgment.
Maybe that’s why I started Envisioned Equestrian.
I want people to feel great, look great, ride great, and enjoy the dickens out of their time with their horse however they prefer to go about doing that.
Elegance for All
So, if you’re a backyard horse person who rides bareback most days, Envisioned Equestrian is for you.
If you’re the FEI rider who is a true athlete and wants the best and brightest for your equine partner, Envisioned Equestrian is for you.
And if you’re somewhere in the middle, coming to the barn after work or school, taking as much time in the saddle as you can, and then enjoying the company of your barn companions before heading home way too late, Envisioned Equestrian is for you, too.
We should stand united as horse lovers no matter our station or discipline, and that is my goal: to bring affordable beauty to the world of horses that I so dearly love.
I couldn’t put my heart out there again like that for it to be crushed into oblivion by the loss of one more soul horse.
Don’t get me wrong; I have never been a casual horse enthusiast; I grew up a true barn rat, refusing to come home when it was time and being there at the crack of dawn just to see the dust dance and plume in the morning sunlight.
The nickers during the morning feed would set my spirit right for the day. My intention: anything and everything to do with horses.
My neighbor recently said, “It’s funny you are still into horses. Usually, girls outgrow them.”
He’s an engineer, so I forgave him. I jest, but there is some truth there.
How could anyone believe that I would ever outgrow or give up on my life’s passion? I certainly would have bet money on the fact that I never would…until I lost her.
The Love of My Life
She was only six years old, and a colic took her faster than I could imagine.
I had acquired her as a four-year-old, and we shared two blissful years in each other’s company. She was my everything—the perfect horse for me.
About a year after her death, I decided I was through. Now, keep in mind I made this decision while I had a stable of four.
I imagined I would just care for them until their days were over, and they would have a great life here in their herd.
But I would never…EVER…give my heart away to another horse like that. I simply could not, and I wasn’t even sad about it.
I was confused by it, certainly, but sad I was not. It just seemed like my new reality.
Little did I know that they would come roaring back into my heart due to an OTTB who needed a helping hand.
Finding a Way Forward
His mom had a terrible accident with him, and he had been brought to a trainer for work in hopes that he might one day be safe enough for her to ride.
That would never be the case.
I was brought in because his owner did not know where to go or what to do with him. She just knew she couldn’t, and I fully understand that place.
She wanted the best for him, a path forward, and I wanted to help her find that path.
The first impression I had of him was that he was absolutely terrified of people (not as a result of anything his owner had done).
He snorted at me when I placed his halter on, unsure of who I was and what I wanted.
Was this going to be a bad interaction? His whole body seemed to say, as he failed to relax even a little on our walk to the round pen.
Coming Home to Myself
During our first three sessions, I knew he was figuring out who I was and what I was about.
I kept telling him, “It’s okay to relax with me.”
By the fourth time, he started to believe it might be true.
Before I knew it, we were running and playing at liberty together, him initiating contact, giving me kisses, and nuzzling into the crook of my arm as he buried his nose in my shirt.
I felt love again…for a horse.
Now, I probably could have brought this horse home, and I did think about it, but he has a destiny elsewhere, and I know that. I still see him on the regular, love on him, and spend time sharing essential oils and treats with him, but our paths are diverging.
New Understanding
I am grateful to recognize what he did for me because I was never coming back into the barn. But his path crossed with mine, and I understood that I could love ALL horses the way I loved HER.
The love was not just hers; it was within me all along, and while I still shed tears when I think or say, “My baby,” I know that this is not the end…clearly.
I want to offer gratitude to my biggest buddy ever, the OTTB rescue, who rescued me right back.
