Yes


Yes

Originally shared by Jessica Pierce

One of my riders with speech problems and a language barrier will blow kisses as a way of saying Yes. She does this a lot, in nearly every interaction. The other day, oddly, she didn't do it at all with people, but had a million kisses for the invisible birds chirping in the trees around the arena. Blowing kisses from horseback like royalty.

Occasionally something will happen that I can't let myself fully process in the moment, because I can't afford to totally lose it in front of a rider who might not understand. And I need clear eyes to do the job. So I observe and remember, at a bit of an emotional remove, then think about it later, in private. It's necessary.

This girl always rides Snap, who she adores and is so sweet to. At every pause, she leans forward to rub her neck or stroke her mane. If we stand still for more than a moment, she really gets into it, stretching to reach as much of Snap as she can while still in the saddle, rubbing and scratching in intense circles, really getting in there with her fingertips. The horse goes blissfully catatonic.

I was standing alongside, watching this energetic, loving massage, and I'd just thought, I bet that feels wonderful, when the rider leaned over and scratched me on my shoulder, the same way. 

Surprised, I looked up, and she blew me a kiss.

This rider, who has unfair challenges and the name of a princess, treated me like a bird or a horse, like a living thing she loves. I couldn't have felt more acknowledged, chosen, cared for, anointed, or perfectly present in the moment, and I let myself feel every bit of it.

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