The Ride

“Sit tall in the saddle, hold your head up high; Keep your eyes fixed where the trail meets the sky; Live like you ain’t afraid to die; Don’t be scared, just enjoy your ride.”  The Ride by Chris Ledoux

Our family took a trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming last week, and we had multiple chances to be near horses.  We took a trail ride one day with some gorgeous views of the Teton Mountain Range.  It was the first time on a horse for some of the boys, and as they mounted, the wranglers would always say, “Sit tall, hold the reins firmly, keep your belly button lined up with the horses’s mane,  stay behind the horse in front of you, and don’t let the horses eat grass along the way. Above all, enjoy your ride!”

I was near the end of the line, so it was easy to see how directions can fall apart when boys of any age want to enjoy the ride!  First, Reese, our 6 year old, dropped his reins and allowed the horse to wander up the hill and off the trail. This meant the wrangler had to abandon the lead to go and rescue this rider.  The diversion allowed Mason, who is 8, to let his horse begin to eat grass and wander up after Reese.  At this point, Lee, our 35+ year old, decided to change places in line, and that is not encouraged! The horses can’t get in the habit of passing one another to take the lead. Trotting is also not part of the program, but somebody allowed that to start, so we all got to do that as well!  When one horse starts breaking the rules, they all do, and these riders loved it!  I actually saw Cooper and Drew laughing!  I’m pretty sure there was someone (maybe several) encouraging bad behavior! I have to admit that I’m a rule follower, but married to one who isn’t, so I’ve learned to just sit back and enjoy the moment!

Kids, young adults, and adults live with so many rules whether made by those in charge, self imposed or otherwise, that sometimes, it’s just necessary to ask forgiveness rather than permission and enjoy a different ride!  Often, we just need to break out of the rules and enjoy this ride called life!  These moments make the best memories!  It’s OK to be the lead dog sometimes!

As Lewis Grizzard once said, “If you ain’t the lead dog, the scenery never changes!”