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Date Posted: 16:17:05 01/20/03 Mon
Author: Cheri
Subject: Monday's Inspiration..
In reply to: Cheri 's message, "A New Week. Daily Inspirations and Horse Facts.." on 16:08:02 01/20/03 Mon



GOOD RECOVERY!"

_________________________

Psalm 86:1-7 (NRSV)

Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me,    
for I am poor and needy.
Preserve my life, for I am devoted to you;    
save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; be gracious to me, O Lord,    
for to you do I cry all day long.
Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,    
abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you.
Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer;
listen to my cry of supplication.
In the day of my trouble I call on you,
for you will answer me.

_________________________

You, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you.

- Psalm 86:5 (NRSV)

_________________________

DRIVER'S training -- a time that every teenager looks forward to and many parents dread. During my son's training, I permitted him to drive short distances with me in the car. "You're too close!" -- "Slow down a little!" -- "Give them more space!" He hated my constant instructions. They made him feel insecure.

Once I became more comfortable with his increasing skills, I gave only minimal feedback. One day he made a sharp right turn and hit the curb. However, he didn't panic and was back on track in seconds. I was impressed. I could tell he was bracing himself for criticism. "Good recovery!" I praised him. This caught him off guard. Then I said, "I don't expect you never to make mistakes. I still make them. What's important is how you respond."

In a similar way, we Christians are in discipleship training. God, our instructor, knows that we are going to make mistakes and does not abandon us when we do.
God is more concerned with our growth than with our mistakes. When we act wisely by learning from our mistakes, God -- like a proud parent -- says, "Good recovery!"


Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for not being critical of our mistakes.
Help us to understand that your love is unconditional. Amen.


THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
God is beside us to train us in faithfulness.

-- Jeri Darby (Michigan, U.S.A.)

PRAYER FOCUS: Teenage drivers and their parents
_________________________

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[> Monday's horse fact.. -- Cheri, 16:29:33 01/20/03 Mon



Tack Safety


Avoid Murphy's Law


I'm sure you are aware of Murphy's Law. You know, the one that states "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong". Well, with horses never a truer word was spoken. You'll be protecting your safety and your horse's comfort by taking a few extra minutes and performing these simple checks before each ride. Please excuse the fact that I use terms relating to English saddles. This is the routine I use regularly and these are the terms I am most familiar with. In each case, I will describe the area I am discussing, so you should be able to work out what I mean, even if I haven't used the name you are most familiar with.


Start with your saddle

1. Before you put your saddle on your horse's back, check that the tree is in good shape. The way I do this is to put the saddle between my knees and, holding it on either side, close to the pommel at the very front of the saddle, squeeze the sides together firmly. There shouldn't be any movement. If there is, or if you hear a grinding, it indicates a weakness in the tree, or framework, of the saddle, that can seriously damage your horse's back if you continue to ride on it. No saddle with a broken tree should ever be used on a horse.

2. If the tree passes muster, continue your check by looking at the bars of the saddle, where your stirrups attach. Make sure the bar on each side is secure and that no rivets are working loose. Get physical with it, wiggle it and pull firmly on the stirrup leathers.
Next look under the flaps and check for weak stitching on the girth billets (those straps that your girth attaches to).This is probably one of the most important checks you can make as far as your own safety goes!
Check the billets for dryness and wear -- do this by flexing and twisting the straps. If you notice cracks in the leather, it would be wise to replace that piece before it tears all the way through.

3. Check the girth itself and the elastic ends too, if your girth has them. Check the pieces that hold the buckles in place for wear and also the buckles themselves, to make sure they are not bent or rusting through. If you notice any problems you should replace the girth before it fails. We have all seen those comedy films where the rider puts his foot in the stirrup to mount and both he and the saddle end up on the ground. However, it is far from a joke if something breaks as you are galloping full tilt toward an open ditch!

4. Check your stirrup leathers for dryness and wear, especially at the points where the leather folds. Use the same flexing and twisting technique that you used to check the billets. Replace any stirrup leathers that are worn in these areas or that show cracks in the leather.

5. Also be sure and check the stitching on the stirrup leathers and make sure that any stitching that is starting to unravel or wear is repaired or the stirrup leathers replaced.


On to the Bridle

1. Check all the leather in the bridle, using the same flexing and twisting technique you used on the billets and stirrup leathers. Give extra attention to areas of strain, such as where the rein wraps around the bit. Any cracking or separation in that area is a danger signal telling you it's time to invest in a new set of reins.

2. Check all the stitching, especially on the reins. If you have the tools (I purchased an awl at the local tack shop for this purpose and practised on old pieces of tack until I had perfected the technique) you may be able to make simple repairs yourself. When in doubt, consult your local saddler for repair work.

3. Check the bit itself for rough edges that will damage your horse's delicate lips. Replace any bit that shows signs of roughness and wear immediately.

4. As you go over your bridle, check the buckles to make sure they are not rusting through and that the tongues are not bent, allowing the buckle to work undone in use.


And Don't Forget the Rest

The same safety checks that you make on your saddle and bridle should be made on any other equipment you use - be it martingales, breastplates, or a complete harness for driving horses. Keeping the leather work clean and in good shape will lengthen its useful life span and will be more comfortable for your horse.


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