As the seasons begin to change and the “ber” months arrive (September, October, etc.) I am thrilled with the cooler crisper air. As a person living in New England, I relish the colder times of year. For me, summer is my least favorite time, as my body struggles with the heat due to my chronic illnesses. In the fall/winter months, I feel refreshed again. I enjoy the holidays, as well as my birthday and those of my parents, which all fall in these months. While I understand that some people detest the cold, I feel that I was prepped to cope with it in a special way while growing up.
You see, I am a barn girl. Completely and totally horse crazy. I inherited this trait from my grandmother on my dad’s side, who was “half-horse.” I began riding her horses when I was 3 years old and continued to be a “barn-rat” until age 23. Unfortunately, both my health problems and my financial situation do not allow for me to interact with horses on a regular basis today, but I try to live out the important lessons from the barn in everyday life.
For example, the barn made me tough and yet gentle in important ways. First, I became tough due to pushing my physical stamina to perform demanding tasks in all kinds of weather conditions. From mucking out horse stalls, lifting hay bales, carrying water buckets, and turning out horses in extreme heat or freezing cold, my body had to adapt. In addition, I worked as a groom at horse shows, polishing the horse’s coat and body until it shined as it competed at top levels. The groom should support both horse and rider to do their best during competition, with no detail going unnoticed. I also learned to braid manes for competitive horses, which was an art form.
Being gentle is also an important aspect of working with horses. One must first and foremost remember that horses are beautiful precious animals that are to be always respected! Never take your frustrations out on the horse! A horse can be your best friend, and each one has its own personality and little quirks and traits. You must learn to work alongside each horse with tender care, and you will be rewarded with the bond that is formed between you and that noble animal. I absolutely found that the grueling physical labor of riding, barn work, and grooming was worth it due to the happiness of being in contact with horses as much as possible! Some of the most joyous times of my life have been spent in a cold barn snuggled up to a gentle giant.
Today, I am no longer in constant contact with horses, but I follow the professional sport on Facebook and Instagram. I follow jumping, dressage, and eventing, as well as some equine therapy practices. I enjoy seeing the incredible range of sport that horses can be trained to do, so long as they are handled properly and treated with the respect they deserve. In addition, I visit horse rescue barns on occasion so that I may fill my nose with the wonderful smell of horse! Being a barn girl taught me a form of endurance and resilience that has equipped me to handle difficult situations my whole life long. The phrase “Once a barn girl, always a barn girl” is no joke! When I face something tough, my barn girl days have provided me with the inner reserves to stop and say, “How would barn Gaelle handle this?” There is always a do-able solution. I hope horses are in my future in an even greater capacity, but for now, my precious memories and early training are enough to give me a firm foundation to stand on.
Thank you to all those who made barn girl Gaelle a reality, you know who you are!! I will go forward with strength and perseverance!
With Gentle Toughness, G.
PS The first photo is me with a draft horse at a rescue barn.
The second photo is me with my parents’ dog walking on a recent chill morning in what my dad called my “barn girl” fashion.
The Ladybug 