Embracing Change by LAUREN C. EBERT • photography by LAUREN C. EBERT
pulse. I am giving in. The horses are unconditioned from a summer of grazing. When they should have been in work they lounged as the sum- mer sun rolled overhead. I watched from the window, unpacking one box at a time. Accepting that another horse show will always happen and we will “catch the next Rodeo” wasn’t something that I always eas- ily accepted. Horses are an expense. They’re not for those unwilling to work and so it’s natural to want to spend time with your passion and work towards a goal. For me this summer my goal was to simply brush and pet my horses every day. It didn’t always happen. I moved about 45 minutes outside of the city in a rural community I grew up in. My younger children are running around like feral kids drinking from the hose and I often find excuses to simply stay home.
I
Jumping on airplanes, photographing horses was and still is a dream job. One that I perused for a long time. My big change leading up Fall was to slow down, gather what was important and reconnect with my horses as horses, not show animals, not a lifestyle to be pursued and leave the horse world as a working Professional. Ya’ll I am one step away from sitting in a circle singing Kumbaya with the inner peace I feel. I never thought I would soulfully reconnect with my horses as horses. I have been so busy living life I wasn’t living the important parts. I wasn’t breathing in the smell of horse flesh. I wasn’t lounging bare- back on my horse to simply be with him. When I found the time to ride it was always to condition for the next show or groom for a better coat. I think twelve year old me would’ve found my job cool but my connection with my horse pathetic.
As I sit in my quiet (weird considering I have four kids) kitchen and listen to snoring Corgi’s and the fresh fall rain, I feel at Peace with the change of Seasons within my heart. I know it’s so easy to get swept up in the’s next, and for you, maybe you find solace in the quiet moments with your horse at show. What I want to challenge you to remember is to never let the twelve year old version of yourself forget what it’s like to share an ice cream cone with your horse. Your horse doesn’t care about Ribbons or fast barrel times. He cares about the love shared be- tween you two.
https://www.facebook.com/lauren.c.ayers
love Fall. The cooler temperatures, the colors, the crisp air. It brings change. For me, change is always progressing. With four children a newly purchased Farm House, the changes have been steady all through the Summer but now the changes are starting to slow and change and give way to a warm steady
34 OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019 I HORSE & AG MAGAZINE
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36
