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Susan Klaudt Horse Ministry -
You've Got Power
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POWER RESIDES IN YOUR MOUTH, NOT IN YOUR SIZE
"Indeed, we put bits in horses mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body."
I am only 5'5" tall. My horse is 15 hands tall, and weighs more than 1200 pounds. There's a big difference in the size of me and the size of my horse. In that regard, the bit in his mouth is a great equalizer in helping me turn his whole body.
One of the most important lessons we teach a horse is to accept the bit. When first starting a horse under saddle, some trainers begin with a direct rein snaffle bit, and then progress to curb bits with varying lengths of shanks, or even a custom bit as the horse matures, and his mouth becomes more educated. Initially, if a horse has never had a bit in his mouth, he might protest by resisting it, or he might explore the taste of the metal by licking and mouthing the bit. Once the bit is in the horse's mouth, a rider with good timing and "feel", will take hold of the reins that are attached to the bit, and gently teach the horse to "give" to the pressure in his mouth. Whatever a horse's initial reaction to the bit, with time and experience, he comes to understand that the tiny piece of metal in his mouth has the power to turn his entire body, and ultimately it will determine the direction in which he goes.
I marvel at how quickly most horses learn life's most basic lessons - lessons that will shape and determine the outcome of their life. And for horses that are to be ridden, it starts with them learning to understand the power of the bit in their mouth. In James 3: 3, we're given a vivid comparison to consider. The Bible compares the power of the bit in a horse's mouth to the power of the tongue in our mouth. When we put a bit in a horse's mouth, it has the power to control the direction their body goes. In the same way, the words that we speak have the power to determine the direction of our lives.
GETTING CONTROL OF THE WHOLE BODY
"The works of His hands are truth and justice; All His precepts are sure."
(Psalms 111: 7)
Before riding, I do ground checks to make sure I have control of my horse's whole body, and not just a part of him. In this picture, my horse is practicing lateral flexion as I ask him to yield, and turn his whole head to the right.
Will a bit stop a horse, or keep him from running away? The answer is an emphatic No! When we pull straight back on the reins of a runaway horse, he braces against the bit, which in turn helps to empower and engage his hindquarters (his engine). Once his hindquarters are engaged, then he is able to push through the bit, and run full-steam ahead. That is why the one-rein stop has become so popular with riders. Instead of pulling back on both reins to try and stop a horse, we now know that one rein, if used correctly to laterally turn the horse's body to the left or right, will cause him to slow down and change direction. In essence, we're just now discovering what the Apostle Paul knew and taught long ago. The bit's purpose isn't to stop a horse. The purpose of the bit is to enable us to "turn a horse's whole body" around.
This small, seemingly insignificant piece of equipment known as a horse bit, in the right hands, has the power to turn 1200 plus-pounds of horse flesh around. In the same way, our words have power not only to shape our daily life, but to turn our life completely around, and head us in a brand new direction!
WHERE KNOWLEDGE ENDS, FRUSTRATION BEGINS
"Do not be stiff-necked as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the Lord."
(2 Corinthians 30: 8)
You can't do much with a stiff-necked horse except go in a straight line. Versatility requires flexibility. I always teach my horses to bend and yield all of their body parts to me.
Many years ago, I had a free-spirited old horse with a head full of bricks for brains. He had no interest in learning anything new, preferring to just be a comfortable creature of habit. This horse hated bits. It wasn't a physical problem with his mouth or teeth. It was an attitude problem. He didn't want anyone having control over his body or his direction. Back then, there were no clinicians around my neck of the woods to help me with my problem horse, or to help educate me, and I was fresh out of knowledge. As a result, I'd go out to the barn, just saddle that ol' cuss of a horse up, and I'd take off down the dirt road, and hope for the best. In that regard, there were two of us with bricks for brains! As long as I wasn't requiring anything of my horse, like asking him to yield, turn, or go a new direction, he was more than happy to just meander down the road without a care in the world.
A few years later, horse clinics were beginning to become popular. By that time, I was tired of trying to "fix" my horse. So I signed up for a clinic. First day of class, the clinician stepped into the arena, looked each person square in the eyes, and said, "Today, you are going to teach your horse how to yield. The success of everything else you hope to do with your horse depends on how well he learns this lesson." Had I really heard what I thought I heard? Could it be that my horse's real problem had nothing to do with the bit in his mouth after all? Could it be that his real problem was the fact that he had never learned to yield his whole body to me? The light bulb switch had been turned on! By the end of the clinic, my horse was not only yielding his forequarters and hindquarters, but he was also yielding his neck and head to me. By the end of the session, he was carrying the bit in his mouth like an old pro, as we rode circles and patterns across the arena. For me, it was the end of frustration, and the beginning of knowledge.
WORDS ARE POWER
"The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit."
(Proverbs 18: 21)
A wise Father speaks powerful words of life over his children every day, - all day long.
A few weeks ago, my horse farrier came out to trim my horse's hooves. He brought his little boy with him. While my farrier worked on my horses, I had big fun chatting with his little cowboy. Finally, I asked the little boy a particular question about horses just to check out his knowledge, and find out what he knew. His reply was not only correct, but instant. Delightfully surprised at his bold enthusiasm, I asked, "And are you sure about that?" To which he smiled real big and said, "Yep, I am, 'cause that's what my daddy said!" Such is the power of a wise Father who speaks words of life over his children every day - all day long.
Words hold power - the power of life and death. Good or bad, once we release our words, we can't take them back. Yes, we can apologize for wrong words spoken, and we should ask for forgiveness, but once our words are released, they bear consequences of their own; consequences that are often hard for us and others to forget, and often difficult to overcome. That's why learning to speak words of life is so important.
LEARNING TO SPEAK LIFE
"Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go, I will help you speak and I will teach you what to say."
(Exodus 4: 11)
The language of Equus is a silent language. It uses body language, instead of words. In this picture, I am not using words to ask Lil' Bit to back up. Instead, I'm speaking to him through my eye contact, my body language, and by tapping my handy-stick. The language of Faith, on the other hand, is not silent. We express the language of faith when we speak aloud words of life.
Unfortunately, not everyone grows up in a home where words of life are spoken. Even in the best of homes, children sometimes hear their parents express words of doubt, fear, and sometimes even hate. As a consequence, many people grow into adults not only repeating the things they grew up listening to year after year, but believing their own words. So how do we learn how to speak life when we didn't grow up hearing it or knowing how to speak it? We learn from our heavenly daddy who promises in His Word to not only help us (His children) speak correctly, but to teach us what to say, and when to say it. And how does He do that? He does it through His Word.
"The Lord God has given me a learned tongue, so that I may know how to sustain the weary with words. And morning after morning, he wakens, and he awakens my ear to listen like those who are being taught."
(Isaiah 50: 4)
DOES IT REALLY MATTER
WHAT WE SAY?
"But I tell you that men will have to give an account on the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words, you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
(Matthew 12: 36 - 37)
I haven't figured out what my miniature horse, Lil' Bit, is saying, but he sure feels strongly about it!
The fact that one day we will stand before God and give an account for every careless word we've spoken is a pretty sobering thought. But is it enough to make us take our words and the things we say seriously? For some, yes. But for many, the answer is still no. I once heard a preacher say, "There will be as many people in hell for careless things said with the tongue, as for deeds done!" His words shook me to my bones. Why? Because, if I'm honest with myself, I know I've been guilty of saying some careless words in my lifetime.
What are careless words? Careless words are things that roll off our tongue without our thinking them through, or considering the consequences. Careless words often express an emotion rather than a fact. Careless words can also be a presumed or miscalculated judgement about our self, or someone else. Careless words can also be an indictment against our self, or someone else. Whatever the case, careless words are at best, verbal expressions of condemnation that God has no tolerance for.
Is there forgiveness for careless words? Thankfully, the answer is yes. But only if we're willing to "own it". And what are we to own? We're to own, and take responsibility for every careless word that comes out of our mouth. Why? Because words not only have the power to shape our own life and destiny, but that of others, as well. Remember, words have power. Words can either bless or curse, establish or tear down, build or destroy, bring healing or reap destruction. Been guilty of speaking careless words? The Bible says that if we confess our sins, then God is just and faithful to forgive us. In the same way that we may have used careless words to harm our self or others, we can use words to confess our wrongs, and start brand new. Such is the power that we have in our mouth - the power of life!
Our New Video Is Back On YouTube!
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Susan Klaudt Horse Ministry -
This Horse Love
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Last week in the newsletter, I mentioned that our newest YouTube video had been bumped because of copyright issues with the song I used for background music. Only a very few people had a chance to view it. Now, someone has emailed to tell me the video is now back up and running. Go figure! If you're watching the video outside of the United States, or anywhere for that matter, and it doesn't have background music, would you please take time to email and let me know? Also, if you're unable to view the video at all on YouTube, would you please take the time to let me know? It would be a big help!
You can email me at
Thanks, and hope you enjoy the video!
