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The Natural Horseman – A personal journey with how horses heal
By Steve Stevens
Being that we just finished breast cancer awareness month, I wanted to share this.
As many of you know, my wife Amanda had a scary battle with a very aggressive Triple Negative Breast Cancer. She fought hard and I am proud to say that she is one year cancer free.
Amanda riding. (Photo courtesy of the Stevens)
We had amazing doctors, family and friends throughout the journey. Our two-year-old daughter and three-year-old son kept her going through the toughest of times. As far as the day in and day out battle against cancer, it was fought one hoof beat at a time with the human’s most trusted partner—the horse.
Amanda was determined to ride every day if possible during the six months of her chemo treatments. She made it her mission no matter how sick or down she was to get on the back of a horse.
Amanda has always had a deep connection with horses, but this was different. The horses gave her a disconnect from the realities of our situation.
I believe the gift they gave her was forcing her to be in the moment. You can’t truly connect with horses unless you live in the moment. Amanda also wasn’t riding your run- -of-the-mill horses. She was riding colts and problem horses we had in training, the kind of horses you have to have a full sense of awareness on at all times.
What I saw was amazing because when Amanda was riding, she no longer worried about the future. She just “rode”. She rode every footfall, muscle and breath of the horse. For that 30 minutes to an hour everyday she became one with the horse and let them take her to a place that no doctors, myself or anyone else could. It was a sanctuary for serenity.
Amanda jumping. (Photo courtesy of the Stevens)
When you go through something like a battle with cancer, you don’t know what the outcome will be. You look for any reality to grasp onto and for Amanda it was riding horses.
I watched everyday as the horses gave Amanda something to look forward to. They gave her strength when she was weak and they inspired her for better days.
I single-handedly watched these horses heal my wife’s soul. We all know how important it is to be positive in times of hardship and the horses gave her that confidence in herself to keep fighting and live in the moment.
I think often how we as the human just expect horses to do what we want 24 hours a day no matter the weather, situation or time.
I am here to suggest that we take a step back from time to time and appreciate the gift God has given us in the horse. And I ask you to spend a few more minutes just rubbing on them, going a little slower and giving them the benefit of the doubt.
This is the horse that the world fought wars on, discovered new lands, plowed our fields, and still today can help heal our loved ones.
I would be hard pressed to say that man wasn’t given a finer gift than the horse.
P.S. Amanda is so excited to be riding in the Careity Celebrity Cutting for the second year in a row on December 4th. Careity Foundation helped Amanda during her time of need and we will always be so grateful to them. www.careity.org
By Hannah Claxton | Editor
The North Texas area is located within USDA Hardiness zones seven and eight. The zones are categorized by predicted low temperatures for winter and timing of the first and last frosts.
Zone seven usually has winter low temps between 0 and 10 degrees F with the average date of the first frost falling between Oct. 29 and Nov. 15 and the average date of the last frost falling between March 22 and April 3.
Overall, these two zones have similar climates and growing conditions, making the options for timing and variety within a garden very similar.
In these zones, cool-season crops should go in the ground in March, meaning that soil preparation should start now.
To read more, pick up a copy of the January edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By Heather Lloyd
Vaccinations are a critical component of maintaining the health and well-being of horses, especially in environments where they are exposed to other animals, such as in the sport, show and performance arenas. Horses, like all animals, are susceptible to various infectious diseases that can spread quickly and cause serious harm.
A routine vaccination schedule helps prevent the spread of these diseases by preparing the horse’s immune system.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
Having herds on a controlled breeding schedule means that we have a predictable calving schedule, and while it’s only over a couple of months, for us it does fall right after the start of the year. I lobby annually to call ours the “Winter calving season”, but I am outvoted and my husband still refers to it as Spring. Unlike producers in our Northern States, we don’t have to contend with brutally harsh winter weather, and on those rare times we do, thankfully it is not for extended periods. Regardless of whether you have a Spring or a Fall calving schedule, the health of a newborn calf begins with the mother’s health, and the mother’s health is largely dependent on the producer.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
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