Secretariat and I...

Sometimes if we just put ourselves out there, the most amazing things can be ours to treasure.

As far as I know, at least from the era of horse racing legend Man O' War, if one had a way with horses here in Kentucky, they were referred to as having "The Magic."  Today, this is usually referred to as one being a "horse whisperer."

Without a doubt, I knew there was Magic between my horses and I, but it wasn't until I met Secretariat, and shown in a very extraordinary way, I had Magic with other horses too.  Even very famous ones.

Secretariat was indeed a racing legend, winning the 1973 Triple Crown of American horse racing, shattering records in all three of the Triple Crown races that year.  However, it was the way he won the Belmont that made him a legend.  He won by an astounding 31 lengths!  It was unbelievable then, and still is now...for quite often horse races are won by noses and necks.  Not an astounding 31 lengths!

After Secretariat retired from racing, he came to the beautiful Claiborne Horse Farm in Bourbon County Kentucky.  Many MANY came to see him through the years before he became seriously ill in 1989, with the extremely painful hoof inflammation disease known as laminitis...and had to be put down. He had reached the point where he was really suffering, and no respectable farm wants that for legends or not.  So at age nineteen, Secretariat galloped away leaving all who loved him in his dust. 

Several years after he retired, a friend and I made the journey to see him one day.  About twenty others were there too and we got in line.  A semi-retired staff member was there to make sure all went well.  And he needed to be there this day, for Secretariat did not appear in the mood to have visitors come to his stall.  He was throwing his ears back and trying to bite each person who stood before him hoping to touch him!

My turn came.  Suddenly, he pricked his ears forward, then lowered his head to my level.  I began stroking his forehead and rubbing beneath his cheekbones, which horses love, and he half closed his eyes.  The staff member exclaimed in awe, "You...have The Magic!"

I could only nod, because I had a huge lump in my throat.  Something very special was happening here.

Since others were waiting to see Secretariat too, I had to move on.  I whispered, "thank you," to him, and slowly moved away.  

As soon as the poor lady next in line moved before him, he suddenly raised his head up, threw his ears back, and lunged trying to take a bite out of her...and continued the same with the rest.  Secretariat loved attention.  He just was not in the mood for it that day.  Horses have their good days and bad days too.

While my friend and I were taking in what had just happened, we saw our dear staff person tell other Farm employees what he had just witnessed, pointing my way and exclaiming, "She's the one with The Magic!"  No one even mentioned I was a Little Person...only that I have The Magic, and that, meant so much to me.

It took Secretariat to show me I not only had The Magic with my own horses, but perhaps all.  And for me, this was a gift to treasure forever.

Have courage to put yourselves out there, dear ones, for the world awaits you with amazing treasures.