Greener Pastures: Embracing Change and Growth with Theo

I recently relocated Theo to a new ranch. This decision took months to make and, being new to all this, came with a great deal of anxiety and questioning my decision. I prayed on it. I asked Theo what he thought. But I decided that after 2 years, it was time for us to move closer to my home and near trails we could walk to without haul-in. It was time for change.

This comes in a year when it seems absolutely everything is changing. I think my hesitation was more about just needing something ‘stable’, no pun intended, than wondering if I was making a solid decision.

As the weeks led up to our leaving, I was getting an old, familiar feeling. I couldn’t quite pinpoint what, but I just knew I had this feeling of excitement combined with fear before. I had everything prepped, my husband brought the truck to the original ranch, and we packed up tack, hay... all the stuff. As we were going through this, it dawned on me- I was leaving for college- again.

Leaving the familiar is tough. It’s tough when you are leaving, not because of pain, or you are trying to escape, but because it’s time to grow. Growth is scary. The buzzword now is transformation. At work, everyone is ‘transforming’. How we do things is ‘transforming’. But the transformation that brings you to new heights is probably a bit painful too. I think of the process of being born. The baby is safe, warm, comfy, with all needs met. Then suddenly there is a rumbling. The baby is moving this way and that and literally being forced out. That’s got to be frightening for a being who hasn’t moved in 9 months. Then, there are bright lights, noise, and someone smacks your bottom. Ouch, this sucks! But you have just entered a new world, with new beginnings, and that starts... now. Same with the metamorphosis of the caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly. When I think about this, I think- the caterpillar was probably happy being a caterpillar. It didn’t know anything different, and so it crawled along, doing what caterpillars do. Then, the body begins to break down (can’t imagine that feels great) and begins to rebuild. The adult insect is entirely different from its former self and can now fly! When we pay attention to nature, we begin to see a pattern of life.

I sat back and smiled when I realized I was having that ole’ feeling again. The, ‘I’m leaving home’ feeling. But it wasn’t for me, it was for Theo. While I had planned and prepared for this move for over a month, he was totally unaware anything was going to change. I thought, how lucky he is to live in the present and not stress over what might happen. So, I caught him and for the first time in two years, instead of tacking I walked him into a trailer. He seemed fine; I cried.

We get to our new place, and I hold my breath. Will he be happy? How will the introduction to the new herd go? While we didn’t put horses together the first day, they were fence mates. He explored. He grazed. His expressions seemed relaxed, and he seemed at peace. I spent the weekend with him and when it came time to share a pasture with the herd, it all went quite well. The hierarchy was established in a matter-of-fact sort of way, without incident. I, of course, exhaled.

As I drove away and saw a happy herd in my review mirror, I thought Theo just showed me how to acclimate to change with confidence. But change for change’s sake isn’t necessarily a good thing. Change for growth, well that’s priceless. Taking a step into more of a co-op type boarding situation is my growth as a horse girl. My leaving my security blanket of someone else having all the answers was a big step. My hesitation to move forward was my own fear of my own capabilities. Theo reminded me I had that fear once before. The fear of not being good enough. The fear of not being smart enough. The fear of leaving my parents, who just seemed to have answers for everything. I re-lived that moment driving from one farm to another. Watching Theo acclimate with ease was also reminiscent of my first week of college. Turned out, it was no big deal. I actually liked it!

Theo and I will be working on trail riding, something called ‘in-hand’ and pattern work for showmanship. So, just like that college co-ed of the late 80s and the caterpillar that can now fly, Theo and I are growing, learning and together will discover greener pastures.

Kimberlee & Theo

Kimberlee Delany

Life begins after 50, or when you decide to learn about horses! With a passion for animals and a quest for learning, it’s not surprising I began lessons after I turned 50.

With a BS in Psychology, I spent my career in technology, starting at the help desk and landing as a technical business advisor; doing all the techie steps that are needed in-between to cross that bridge.

Continuous improvement is the name of the game.

While growing in my career, I also started a fitness journey. Over the past twenty years, I have explored a variety of sports, from triathlons to Olympic weightlifting. I have competed in local events up and down the East Coast and, most recently, the Texas State Weightlifting Championship.

It all leads to this!

When you are around horses, you notice something, something within you is awakened. It doesn’t matter how old you are, there is something to uncover. In a quest for knowledge, and the sheer experience of discovering the mystery of ‘why I feel so at peace with horses’, I became certified in Equine Assisted Learning (EAL). Now, with a desire to share this amazing journey on how horses heal, I began journaling my experiences with horses and how they teach us about life.

This article is from the September issue of Equine Business Magazine