A Horse to Love Read online

  The bonding occurs when the horse chooses to be with the human and walks toward the trainer, thus accepting his leadership and protection.

  Horse whispering has become one of the most acceptable, reliable, and humane ways to train horses. Today we have multitudes of rider and horse teams that have bonded in such a special way, both the rider and the horse enjoy each other’s company more than ever could have been imagined. So when you’re talking to your friends about horses, always remember to say the horses have been trained, not broken. The word “broken” is part of the past and should remain there forever.

  Bible Verses about Horses

  Do you know there are about 150 verses in the Bible that include the word “horse?” It seems to me that if God mentioned horses so many times in the Bible, then he is very fond of one of his most beautiful creatures.

  There are some special verses about horses in the Bible that make any horse lover want to shout.

  Look at this exciting passage from the book of Revelation that tel s us about a wonderful time in the future:

  “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.The armies of heaven were following him riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean” (Revelation 19:11 – 14).

  The rider who is Faithful and True is the Lord Jesus Christ. The armies of heaven on white horses who fol ow Jesus are those who have accepted him as their Lord and Savior. I’ve accepted Christ, so I know that some day I’l get to ride a white horse in heaven. Do you think he wil be a lipizzaner, an andalusian, or an Arabian? Maybe it wil be a special new breed of white horses that God is preparing just for that special time.

  Perhaps you never realized that there are horses in heaven. Perhaps you never thought about how you could go to heaven one day when you die. You can try to be as good as gold, but the Bible says that to go to heaven, you must ask Jesus to forgive your sins. Here are some verses to think about: “For al have sinned and fal short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23); “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shal not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16);

  “For everyone who cal s on the name of the Lord wil be saved” (Romans 10:13).

  Do you want to be part of Jesus’ cavalry in heaven some day? Have you ever asked Jesus to forgive your sins and make you ready for heaven? If you’ve never done so, please ask Jesus to save your soul today.

  As I’m riding my prancing white steed with his long wavy mane and tail dragging to the ground, I’l be looking for you!

  Glossary of Gaits

  Gait – A gait is the manner of movement; the way a horse goes.

  There are four natural or major gaits most horses use: walk, trot, canter, and gallop.

  Walk – In the walk, the slowest gait, hooves strike the ground in a four-beat order: right hind hoof, right fore (or front) hoof, left hind hoof, left fore hoof.

  Tro t – In the trot, hooves strike the ground in diagonals in a one-two beat: right hind and left forefoot together, left hind and right forefoot together.

  Canter – The canter is a three-beat gait containing an instant during which al four hooves are off the ground. The foreleg that lands last is cal ed the “lead” leg and seems to point in the direction of the canter.

  Gallop – The gal op is the fastest gait. If fast enough, it’s a four-beat gait, with each hoof landing separately: right hind hoof, left hind hoof just before right fore hoof, left fore hoof.

  Other gaits come naturally to certain breeds or are developed through careful breeding.

  Running walk – This smooth gait comes natural y to the Tennessee walking horse. The horse glides between a walk and a trot.

  Pace – A two-beat gait, similar to a trot. But instead of legs pairing in diagonals as in the trot, fore and hind legs on one side move together, giving a swaying action.

  Slow gait – Four beats, but with swaying from side to side and a prancing effect. The slow gait is one of the gaits used by five-gaited saddle horses. Some cal this pace the stepping pace or amble.

  Amble – A slow, easy gait, much like the pace.

  Rack – One of the five gaits of the five-gaited American saddle horse, it’s a fancy, fast walk. This four-beat gait is faster than the trot and is very hard on the horse.

  J o g – A jog is a slow trot, sometimes cal ed a dogtrot.

  Lope – A slow, easygoing canter, usual y referring to a western gait on a horse ridden with loose reins.

  Fox trot – An easy gait of short steps in which the horse basical y walks in front and trots behind. It’s a smooth gait, great for long-distance riding and characteristic of the Missouri fox trotter.

  Parts of a Hourse

  The Western Saddle

  Resources for Horse Information

  Contained in this Book

  Henry, Marguerite. Album of Horses. Chicago: Rand McNal y

  & Co., 1952.

  Henry, Marguerite. All About Horses. New York: Random House, 1967.

  Jeffery, Laura. Horses: How to Chose and Care for a Horse .

  Berkley Heights, NJ: Enslow Publishers, Inc., 2004.

  Roberts,

  Monty. The Horses in My Life.

  Pomfret: VT: Trafalgar Square Publishers.

  North, 2004.

  Self, Margaret Cabel . How to Buy the Right Horse. Omaha,

  NE: The Farnam Horse Library, 1971.

  Simon,

  Seymour. Horses.

  New

  York:

  HarperCol ins, 2006.

  Sutton, Felix. Horses of America. New York: G.P. Putnam’s

  Sons, New York City, 1964.

  Ulmer, Mike. H is for Horse: An Equestrian Alphabet. Chelsea,

  MI: Sleeping Bear Press, 2004.

  Online resources

  http://www.appaloosayouth.com/index.html http://www.shetlandminiature.com/kids.asp http://www.twhbea.com/youth/youthHome.aspx

  Learn about God’s grace and forgiveness through the life of a troubled teen and her love of horses.

  Book 2: On the Victory Trail

  By Marsha Hubler

  Softcover ISBN 978-0-310-71793-5

  Skye final y accepts Christ, only to have her faith tested and deepened when her friend Sooze comes to live with her and is diagnosed with brain cancer.

  Previously titled as A True Test for Skye.

  Available now at your local bookstore!

  Book 3: Southern Belle’s Special Gift By Marsha Hubler

  Softcover ISBN 978-0-310-71794-2

  Skye and Morgan have their hands ful when a runaway named Tanya Bel becomes a foster girl in the Chambers’ household. It isn’t until Southern Bel e, one of the mares, dies giving birth to a foal

  that Tanya opens up to the love offered from the Chambers’ family. Previously titled as Trouble Times Two.

  Coming October 2009

  Book 4: Summer Camp Adventure

  By Marsha Hubler

  Softcover ISBN 978-0-310-71795-9

  For the summer, Skye and her school friend Chad work at Camp Lackawanna Fal s special-needs camp. Skye runs into a brick wal when she tries to teach Jonathan Martin, a young deaf boy, how to ride his horse Buddy western style, while Jonathan insists on riding him English. When Jonathan and Buddy disappear into the mountains, Skye and Chad lead the rescue to find him. Previously titled as Teamwork at Camp Tioga.

  Coming October 2009

  Book 5: Leading the Way

  By Marsha Hubler

  Softcover ISBN 978-0-310-71796-6

  Skye is especial y excited to help Katie Thomas, a girl who went blind in a car accident four years ago.

  As Skye shares God’s love, Katie’s faith begins to grow, and she gets swept up in the world of horses.<
br />
  After bonding with one horse, a brown-and-white Pinto named Boomerang, Katie soon learns to barrel race and, with Skye’s help, deals with the threat of her parents’ divorce. Previously titled as The Winning Summer.

  Coming February 2010

  Book 6: Blue Ribbon Champ

  By Marsha Hubler

  Softcover ISBN 978-0-310-71797-3

  Joey Klingerman, a visitor at Keystone Stables, has Down syndrome and is very out going and talkative.

  He immediately takes a special liking to Skye, constantly cal ing her his girlfriend. Embarrassed and furious, Skye begins to treat Joey harshly, but when Bucky, his buckskin horse, comes up lame right before the county fair, Skye is forced to make a big decision. Skye has to listen to God’s promptings in order to share his love with Joey. Previously titled as Skye’s Final Test.

  Coming February 2010

  Wild About Horses Bible

  Softcover ISBN 978-0-310-71730-0

  What girl doesn’t love horses? This NIV compact Bible includes beautiful color photographs and inspirational thoughts that wil inspire al horse lovers.

  Great for girls on the go — on the road, in the back pack, or tucked under a saddle!

  Features include:

  12 beautiful ful -color photos of horses Short inspirational thoughts and scripture verses on themes of love, peace, friendship, beauty, strength, and faith accompany the photos.

  Presentation page for gift giving

  The most-read, most-trusted New International Version

  Duo-tone leather binding with horse motif embossing

  Available now at your local bookstore!

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  Table of Contents

  chapter thirteen

  chapter one

  chapter two

  chapter three

  chapter four

  chapter five

  chapter six

  chapter seven

  chapter eight

  chapter nine

  chapter ten

  chapter eleven

  chapter twelve

  chapter thirteen

  Book 2: On the Victory Trail

  Book 4: Summer Camp Adventure

  Book 5: Leading the Way

  Book 6: Blue Ribbon Champ

  book