Letters toWT
Dear editor, My name is Robyn J. I am the lady on the front page of
WT
your article, “Fearful to Fearless” (July/August 2014). Here is my story… I met the photographer who took the
photos for this article the day before the photo shoot. She said, “You gotta go meet a herd of horses in the field tomor- row.” I’d never met a horse in my life! I was scared stiff, but
intrigued about how ‘horses heal the human heart’ and willing to do anything because I was powerless and panicked about the upcoming court trial where my 6’6” emotionally and physi- cally abusive ex-husband would try to get total and complete custody of my two little girls. He spent all our time to- gether abusing me and convincing me that I was an irresponsible, psychologically crazy and inappropriate par- ent who should not have anything to do with parenting my daughters. I met Richard McMahan and his staff of Trakehner horses in a field in Greeley, Colorado, on a warm Saturday morning. I learned that these huge animals were loving and made my fear go away almost instantly. As I was coached and told that my ex-husband had been brainwashing me into believing that I was powerless, I was reminded that all my reactions were coming from the fear that was deep inside me and that he was using all of this abuse to control me. I learned that he was doing this because I left him and he was determined to win with no regard for me and the kids. It was his weakness and his own powerlessness that needed to strip my power to use as his own. All because I dumped him to get out of the marriage! Well, in three short hours I was able to experience the
miracle of this horse experience. I was able to risk being with such huge animals and learn that their unconditional love made all my fears go away. I experienced how I could man- age and move a 1,200 pound horse with just a touch of my finger. I even was able to go into the stall of a 1,800 pound
14 November/December 2014
stallion, Mustafa, and control him. The biggest thing I learned was that I am loveable and that I deserved to get my personal power back! After that first experience I came to Judy and Richard’s
farm a couple times more, learning more about myself, over- coming my fears and getting my personal power back. I went to court at the end of June where I faced my ex-
husband, his JAG (military) attorney and the court-appointed attorney for the kids who supported me losing my parenting altogether. Armed with just the confidence the horses had given me, I showed up to represent myself because I didn’t have the money [for a lawyer]. I was nervous but confident that I was a good person and gave it my best to convince the judge that I was not crazy and a good parent who deserved to have my girls. I left the court knowing I did my best but not thinking that it would go my way, because my ex-husband had an attorney who tried to tear me down. Soon after I got the news…I won! The judge even said
that I should be the custodial parent and that I should have the girls and he should only get the normal parenting time that any other father gets. Wow! All because of a horse in the field in Greeley, Colorado, on a warm Saturday in May! Miracles are real, God is good and I don’t ever have to give my personal power away again!
Dear editor, I am curious about the bits on the horse on your cover of
September/October. Can you tell me what the rider is using? [name withheld]
Kent Farrington is using a hackamore double bridle. Although the set up looks severe it is not when in the hands of advanced riders. It helps the horse flex at the poll correctly so that the snaffle bit can be effective and not bump on the teeth at the back of the bars. It’s evidently helpful in a sensitive- mouthed horse who can be a bit eager approaching fences. This set up wouldn’t suit all riders as there is finesse required to handle the con- tact correctly. —WT Staff
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