How to Get On A Horse.

Today I Learned...how to get on a horse.

When I was a kid, I used to go and visit my Aunt Betty and Uncle Bud in New Mexico during the summer months. It was always an adventure, one that I looked forward to greatly. I called Uncle Bud, my cowboy uncle. He loved his horses and enjoyed sharing that love with others. I was no exception. When Uncle Bud went to practice his ropin’ he would let me tag along and open the cow chutes for him. I thought I was pretty special straddling that fence and opening those cow chutes. It was fun watching him chase those cows around on that horse, lasso swinging around in the air and dry desert dust creating a thick fog around the rodeo arena.

One day after he had finished ropin’ I wanted to ride, being so young and a horse novice at best, Uncle Bud saw fit to give me a ridin’ lesson. Now I had been on small horses and ponies before, but never the gia-normous horses that Uncle Bud had. His horses were the biggest I had ever seen in my young life. As I stood next to the majestic beast I was preparing to mount, the task looked impossible. The stirrups of the saddle were eye level and honestly, it was quite intimidating to be standing there trying to figure out how I was ever going to get on that horse. Nevertheless, I stood, studying the situation, then gave it my first shot.

It was a small challenge to get my foot in the stirrup, but I finally got it there. Afterwards I stood, suspended in mid-mount, trying to figure out what to do next. Not knowing what else to do, I started hoping up and down on one foot, psyching myself up for that final forceful jump that would propel me into the saddle. Finally, I was ready – and with one giant push I was in mid-air. Then just as quickly as I went up, I came back down. There I was, laying in the desert dust with Uncle Bud towering over me, he reached down with his cowboy hands and helped me up. As I was brushing myself off, he said “That’s not how you get on a horse.” After a few instructions and a demonstration, he motioned for me to try again. A few more tries later, and I still was not on that horse. Feeling defeated I looked up at Uncle Bud, and told him I didn’t want to ride anymore and I was ready to go home. Besides the sun was starting its descent into the western sky and it would be dark soon.

Uncle Bud wouldn’t hear of it, he looked at me sternly, pointed his long cowboy finger at me and said “We aren’t leavin’ here ’til you get on that horse. I don’t care if you ride or not, but you’re gonna get on him and I’m not going to help you.” I could tell he meant business. At that point, I don’t know what I was more afraid of – the horse or Uncle Bud. He just stood there hand on his hips, looking at me. After a few minutes, of our little standoff he said, “Well – are we gonna be here all night or are you getting on that horse?” I looked over my shoulder at the horse, then back at Uncle Bud and in that last glance I mustered enough courage to try one last time. I walked over, pretended to adjust the saddle (like I knew what I was doing), looked back at Uncle Bud again, then in one not so smooth move I managed to pull myself into the saddle. I felt so proud. There I sat, high looking around at the beautiful desert terrain surrounding me. For a short moment I thought I could conquer the world.

If I had been writing the Today I Learned newsletter when I was 12, my edition that week would have said, “Today I Learned how to get on a horse.” But really, there was much more to that riding lesson than mounting a horse.

What did I really learn that day?

As I have reflected these past few days on my memories of Uncle Bud, I have realized how many life lessons were imparted to me that afternoon.

I learned determination – to not quit until you have done what you set out to do.
I learned perseverance – to never give up no matter how hard something seems.
I learned independence – to believe in your own strength to accomplish what you want
I learned persistence – to keep trying until you succeed.
I learned not to underestimate myself - because even when I don’t believe in myself, there are people around me who know I can do it.
I learned confidence – to not be afraid of a challenge.
Finally, I learned that when I fall off of my horse, the only thing to do is to get up, brush myself off and try again.

Uncle Bud is not with us anymore, but the lessons he taught me that day will live on with me forever. I don't know if it was his military training that made him push me so hard, or just his nature...but I'm glad he did it, because it was a lesson I will never forget.

Today, I learned how to get on a horse.

Proverbs 22:6
"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."

This blog post was written in loving memory of Bud Dowd, and was performed as spoken word at his memorial service on April 11, 2009 in El Paso TX.