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Susan Klaudt Horse Ministry -
Horse Relationship Video
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AQHA Foolin' The Ladies/aka Montana
RETIRING MONTANA
Montana will turn 18 years old the first of the year (2014). I'm having trouble wrapping my head around that. It seems like he's always been in my life. Maybe that's because we've been through so much together. I still remember the first time I saw him like it was yesterday. He had just turned six, and was advertised as "the brokest western pleasure horse you'll ever find". I rode him, and it was true. A few days later, he was mine.
It's crazy looking back now. Before Montana, all I'd ever ridden were trail horses. I didn't know a thing about western pleasure show horses. It wasn't long after bringing him home that I realized we were speaking two different languages. When I cued him to go, he would stop. When I cued him to stop, he would go. He had buttons I didn't even know existed. And if I was going to ride him, then I'd have to learn the correct cues. That meant only one thing. Back to Horse School 101. That's how I ended up hiring a western pleasure trainer. He taught me what my horse already knew, and soon we were showing and competing, and winning blue ribbons together.
It's a strange and wonderful thing how God can use animals to take us down roads we might otherwise have never traveled. If Montana had not come into my life, I might never have taken the leap into horse ministry. Only God knows. Montana was my first equine ministry partner. Long before the days of my horse ministry, Natural Horse Faith-Man-Ship, we did groundwork and riding demos for people while I ministered about biblical faith. Montana especially liked Cowboy Church meetings. We often rode bridleless while I ministered. Montana was a natural for the job. He loved the atmosphere, the people, the praise and worship, and especially the little children.
Then there were the times when my "Let's work hard and then work a little harder" personality conflicted with his laid-back "Sorry, but I don't really care much for hard work" horsenality. Oftentimes, I'd want to venture outside the world of western pleasure, you know, like try a few roll-backs. Montana's attitude was always, "You've got to be kidding! You want me to do what?" But we were always in one mind and one accord when it really counted for something. And it counted for something every time we rode into an arena and proclaimed the wonderful name of Jesus to the people.
"To Everything There Is A Season,
A Time For Every Purpose
Under Heaven..."
(Ecclesiastes 3)
During the years that I began to make plans for a new ministry called Natural Horse Faith-Man-Ship, things suddenly took a change for the worse with Montana. He had always been as healthy as, well, a horse! Then, seemingly out of nowhere, he became very sick, and I didn't know if he was going to live or die. In 2008, Montana was diagnosed with Arytenoid Chondritis, and underwent radical surgery in order to try and save his life. The story of his fight for life can be found on my website. I spent many days and nights at the vet hospital praying for my horse. The next two years were dedicated to helping him rehabilitate. He had made a remarkable recovery, and his blue ribbon walk-jog was as good as ever. But things had changed. He could no longer lope for any extended period without struggling for enough air.
Me and Montana at U.T. Vet Hospital in 2008.
His recovery was nothing short of a miracle.
By 2010, Montana still showed signs of struggling to push enough air when asked to exert extra energy. It would be a permanent side effect of the Arytenoid surgery. Refusing to accept my horse's handicap, I continued to push him as if it were only a matter of his will. I truly believed he could overcome the problem. My faith was strong, but nevertheless, I was wrong. For the next few years, Montana and I both struggled with the riding challenges we now faced. And I was beginning to realize that one day soon I would have to make a decision about our future.
A tired me and a very sick Montana at Rood and Riddle
Veterinary Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky in 2012.
In 2012, Montana went through another serious health problem. And once again, it came out of nowhere. In order to try and save him, we found ourselves traveling to Rood and Riddle Veterinary Hospital. In my newsletter, Montana Goes To Lexington, KY, I told about his twisted tongue mystery. It's in our Archives if you'd like to view it. There's no question, Montana is a survivor. He's also a miracle horse. This month, (October) the vet came out to do a dental and vet check on Montana. To everyone's surprise, his tongue was no longer twisted! And the tooth that had a hole the size of Texas in it, had filled in more than half way with new growth. Praise God! Having said that, in some ways it seems a funny time to retire my horse now. But I'm at peace with my decision.
I believe that all of our lives are filled with different seasons. And I believe there is a time for every purpose under heaven. In my heart, I know I've entered a new season, and I have no doubt that God will fill it with new and exciting purpose for Montana, and for me.
"I could have missed the pain,
but I would have had to miss the dance."
(The Dance by Garth Brooks)
Thanks, Montana, for all the years you served faithfully as my partner in horse ministry.
And thank you for the dance.
Montana's New Life As A Retiree!
Montana (on the left) passes the torch to Samson.
"It's all up to you now, kiddo. I'll be thinking about ya
while I'm out here relaxing, and grazing, and enjoying
the good life!"
Although Montana's now a retiree, that doesn't mean he gets to sit around and read "HORSE AND RIDER" magazines and watch RFD TV all day! Montana is now officially retired from riding, and will no longer be an active participant in Natural Horse Faith-Man-Ship. But he still remains an important part of my life, and is a deeply loved member of our family. Montana will continue to do his groundwork daily, and his routine exercises, only minus the saddle and riding. And he will continue to enjoy his days grazing in the pasture with his best friend, Samson,
to whom he has now officially passed the torch.
WATCH FOR THESE NEWSLETTERS COMING THIS MONTH!
A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS
(I get lots of emails from folks wanting to know what have been my favorite saddles, bits, boots, horse products, etc., over the years. This newsletter will tell it all with pictures!)
THE HORSE LOVE OF MY LIFE
(Although most of my readers are familiar with my quarter horse, Samson, this newsletter is dedicated to telling our special love story, and how God miraculously brought us together for such a time
as this. And yes, it will be mushy!)
THOSE TOUCH-ME-NOT SPOTS
(In this newsletter, it's back to horse ministry with a great topic. If a horse has touch-me-not spots, in my estimation he's not a broke, useable horse. In the same way, if you and I have areas in our life that we deem untouchable, then God can not use us in the way that He desires to. It's all about learning to trust.)
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