Lessons from the Herd | Week One
Standing in a pasture full of horses will teach you more than you ever expected.
When I first began working with horses, I thought I was there to teach them: how to move, how to trust, how to understand boundaries. But as the Lord would have it, the greatest lessons have come not from what I’ve taught the horses, but from what they, in their quiet wisdom, have taught me.
Here at UnbridledTN, observation is a daily practice. We watch not just what a horse does, but how they respond, what stirs their hearts, what causes them to pull back, and what draws them into willing partnership. The more I observe, the more I marvel at the unique ways God has created each of us, horse and human alike.
Four Mustangs. Four Different Stories.
Right now, the Lord has entrusted us with four mustangs, each with their own story and temperament, each a reminder of His creativity.
Lindy is our protector.
She takes it upon herself to manage the herd, guarding her friends and deciding who is allowed near. She is keenly observant, often sensing what we need before we even ask; a gift, but also a challenge.
What happens when her desire to protect begins interfering with someone else’s opportunity to grow?
What happens when the horses around her stop accepting her attempts to control them?
Lindy is learning that connection doesn’t require control, and that sometimes the greatest growth happens when we stop trying to manage everyone else.
Maki Roll is our quiet observer.
She’s independent, thoughtful, and not particularly interested in the rewards that motivate other horses. She can spend a remarkable amount of time watching the world without feeling the need to join in.
With Maki, I’m reminded that sometimes the Lord uses just the right challenge to nudge us out of comfort and into growth.
Her story raises an interesting question: when does comfort start keeping us from growing?
Maple is our faithful worker.
She approaches life with caution and curiosity, trusting and eager to understand what’s being asked of her, a gentle reminder of the beauty in a willing heart. She enjoys having a job, doing it well, and returning quietly to her pasture when the work is finished. She doesn’t need to be the center of attention. She doesn’t need constant excitement or approval.
Maple reminds me of the quiet beauty in faithfulness, in doing meaningful work, and in recognizing when the Lord calls us to rest.
Then there’s Duchess.
She is calm and playful, most at ease when she’s connected with her person. Relationship is her anchor.
Duchess isn’t motivated in the same way as the others. Relationship matters to her. When confusion or overwhelm sets in, the kindest thing we can do is offer her a pause, a chance to breathe and begin again. Duchess reminds us that progress doesn’t always mean pushing harder.
Sometimes it means making space to begin again.
What Does Any of This Have to Do With Us?
More than we might realize.
Some of us are like Lindy. We anticipate problems, try to protect the people we love, and struggle when things move outside our control.
Some of us are like Maki. We observe, analyze, and wait, sometimes becoming so comfortable where we are that we hesitate to move forward.
Some of us recognize ourselves in Maple. We want to do our work well, be dependable, and find satisfaction in the responsibilities we’ve been given.
And others may relate to Duchess. We thrive through connection, but when life becomes overwhelming, we need time and space to process before we can engage again.
Of course, horses aren’t people, and their behaviors aren’t moral or spiritual decisions. We can’t assume that a horse’s response means the same thing as a human response.
Yet, watching them offers a gentle invitation to reflect on our own hearts and habits.
And Scripture, in its wisdom, gives us a foundation for understanding what true, healthy growth looks like.
Different Needs. The Same Call to Grow.
One of the passages I keep coming back to is 1 Thessalonians 5:14.
Paul instructs believers to admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.
What stands out to me is how the Lord, through Paul’s words, recognizes that each of us needs something different.
Some need encouragement.
Some need accountability.
Some need support.
And everyone needs patience.
I carry that truth with me each time I step into the pasture with these horses.
If I approach Maki the same way I approach Maple, I’m likely to miss what Maki actually needs.
If I respond to Lindy’s anticipation with more pressure and urgency, I may reinforce the very behavior I’m trying to help her work through.
If I keep asking Duchess for more when she’s overwhelmed, I may lose the opportunity to help her understand.
And if I continually push Maple simply because she’s willing, I may overlook her need for rest.
The goal is not to make all four horses behave identically. The goal is to understand the horse in front of me and help that individual become more confident, responsive, and capable.
The Lesson Goes Both Ways
One of the most humbling gifts of horsemanship is how often the Lord uses a horse’s response to prompt me to examine my own heart and approach.
Am I being clear?
Am I asking too much?
Am I expecting this horse to respond like another horse?
Am I recognizing progress, even when it looks different than I expected?
And those questions follow me far beyond the pasture.
They follow me into parenting, relationships, leadership, and my own walk with Christ.
Romans 12:2 reminds us of the importance of being transformed through the renewing of our minds.
That transformation is the Lord’s work in us, yet it also calls us to examine our patterns, our responses, and the assumptions we bring into every relationship.
Sometimes we need to learn to surrender control.
Sometimes we need courage to take the next step.
Sometimes we need to recognize the value of quiet faithfulness.
And sometimes we need to recognize when it’s time to rest.
An Invitation to Learn Alongside Us
In the weeks ahead, I look forward to sharing more about these four mustangs, the lessons the Lord is teaching us through their training, and the ways their journeys mirror our own. We’ll explore motivation, trust, discipline, connection, and how our faith-shaped responses can help or hinder growth.
My hope is not that we label ourselves or others, but that we become more attentive to the ways God is shaping each of us. That we grow into more thoughtful observers of both horses and people.
More patient leaders.
More willing learners.
And more aware of the places where God may be inviting us to grow.
Because every horse has a story.
And so do we.
A Question from the Pasture
As you read about Lindy, Maki Roll, Maple, and Duchess, did you immediately recognize yourself in one?
I’d love to hear which one and why.
Lessons from the Herd is a continuing reflection series from UnbridledTN, where our experiences with horses become opportunities to explore horsemanship, human behavior, and biblical principles for everyday life.