Back on Track ‘Horse Therapy’: Christine and Josie

Josie showed Christine a better way to live.

As a young, preteen girl in middle school I was probably what you would consider a troubled kid. I got into fights at school, I’d get suspended for days, I was failing classes and fighting with my parents. I lost all of my friends and started hanging out with the wrong crowd that got me into even more trouble.

I started taking riding lessons and it helped, but my once-a-week horse fix only went so far. My parents finally said I could get one of my own and the search began.

They tell you not to fall in love with the first horse you see. But the second I saw Josie looking back at me with that mischievous glint in her eyes from beneath her shaggy forelock, it was like I had blinkers on. She was all I could see and the search ended there.

We helped each other grow up. She taught me patience and the age-old rule of pulling yourself back up after a fall (or more accurately, after she tossed me off for not listening the first time).

She was my confidant, my shoulder to cry on and my friend when all the others left me. She opened new doors to new friends and learning opportunities, and I honestly have no idea where I would be today if I hadn’t met her all those years ago.

I was on a cliff heading towards getting into real trouble and she pulled me from the edge and showed me a better way to live.

She’s happily retired now but still takes every opportunity to teach me and her young replacement the ways of the world from the point of view of sassy red headed mares.

Here at Horse Nation, we believe that the best therapists are our own horses. We love sharing the stories of special equines and the lessons horses have taught us — email yours to [email protected] to be featured in an upcoming edition of Back on Track “Horse Therapy.” Go Back on Track, and Go Riding!