I used to ride my horse for hours exploring the land on my farm and looking for whitetail deer sign or just exploring. I had one fine horse named Dusty that I rode most often. He was a pleasure to ride, and his Tennessee Walker gait was as smooth as they come. One day we rode for almost the entire day, and after an hour or two he seemed bored silly. I noticed he looked drowsy, and his eyes were half closed as he walked along. This went on for a while and suddenly he tripped and almost fell and and when he did, he took off running like the wind,
It was all I could do just to hang on to the saddle as he galloped as fast as his legs would carry him. He ran through the fields and the woods and even crossed a couple of creeks. I was trying my utmost to get him to stop and finally he slowed down enough for me to get a firm grip on the reins and he came to a walk. He was wild eyed and huffing and puffing and it was obvious that his experience was really scary to him. I headed back to the barn and allowed him to rest, and I went to my house and did the same.
I had never thought of a walking horse falling asleep, but old dusty was sound asleep when he stumbled. It reminded me of a verse I read in the Bible: Psalm 76:6
At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, Both rider and horse were cast into a dead sleep. Hmmm . . . I did not even consider that God might have played a part in old dusty falling asleep. It is indicative to me of God’s power and His interest in our lives and even the animals we own. I wonder if my Lab Stormy is influenced by Him. I suspect that God influences everything in all of creation. I am happy that He slowed that horse down because that was one wild ride I tell you. Thank you Jesus for the ride of a lifetime and getting me through it safely.
Psalm 20:7
“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.”