Love Jesus? Love Horses?
God is gracious, generous, and wastes nothing. I can’t imagine any greater joy than the thirty years I taught and learned from horses and the people who love them. In late 2019 I officially hung up my equine-professional hat and retired from active work. Which in no way means I ‘m done with horses!
Ace and Shiner are still with me, although our living arrangements have changed significantly. Remember, God wastes nothing, and pseudo-retirement is really just another learning opportunity. I’m psyched!
Lynn’s Barn creds:
- World and National Champion trainer and breeder
- Certified Applied Whole Horse Hoof Care Trimmer (2018)
- Former show judge US and Europe
- Best-selling author of the Gospel Horse Series
- Certified Equine Appraiser (not taking new cases at this time)
- Lifetime Member American Quarter Horse Association
- Lifetime Member Appaloosa Horse Club
The way to achieve success in any relationship is found in the gospel message of Jesus Christ. Properly applying simple gospel principles creates transformative relationship between Jesus Christ and you, between leaders and followers, and between you and your horse.
The Gospel Horse Book Series
The Gospel Horse series of books introduces readers to the way horses think and process information. They also teach effective leadership principles gleaned from forty years of experience and the Gospel.
This series shows readers how to build faith, earn someone’s focus, and help others move from fear to confidence. Don’t have a horse? That’s okay, the messages are universal. Enjoy the horse illustrations!
Regardless of breed, you can transform your horse into a willing equine partner. You need two things, (1) ability and (2) commitment. I can’t help you with commitment, but this four book series can help you become more able to inspire transformation.
Few joys surpass gathering together with like-minded folks; the people who get us, who understand what makes us tick and know how we feel without explanation. If your favorite topics of conversation or greatest challenges involve relationship with Christ Jesus or horses, you’re in the right place.
Herd History
Bo
Everything we have is on loan from God. When I retired, God asked me to let Bo continue to serve as he has since 2006 – just not with me. He and Swizzle were the original Amazing Grays. Bo joined our very special mare, Asti, at Wings of Hope in November 2019. God is good, and Bo is delighted with the attention he gets in his new job.
Journey
Journey, a 2009 Appaloosa gelding, came from a kill pen after something in his experience destroyed his natural sense of self-preservation. Even though I specialized in young stallions for years and “fixed” lots of horse issues, Journey is the most dangerous horse I ever worked with. It took a lot of time, but now he’s one of the most delightful; and there’s still lots of journey ahead. Journey proves that the biggest sinners, once truly saved, become some of the greatest saints. And God used him to teach me a powerful lesson I didn’t think I needed.
Journey continues to teach and change lives with a fabulous clinician who fell in love with him in December 2019.
Ace and Shiner
We sold Ace and his half-brother Shiner, both 2000 Appaloosa geldings, as happy balanced coming-yearlings. Nine years later they came home in a way only the hand of God could engineer; Ace with dissociative psychotic episodes and Shiner with panic attacks. Life isn’t always kind to horses or people. Neither was healthy, useful, or responsive. But God can heal breaks and wounds no matter how deep. After seven years of effort, Ace finally made the big commitment and is now a reliable ride, adorable, safe, and lovable.
Shiner has serious vision issues, but loves to ride when I have time. And he is bold – just like his daddy. No one pushes Shiner around. He’s a half ton of personality wrapped in cute.
Ace and Shiner are still with us, happy and content. Our adventure continues!
Sky to a Q
In another of life’s twists, Q, Ace’s full brother, returned to us after spending eighteen years with one owner. Sold in 2000 as a three-year old show horse, Q traveled over a thousand miles to come home in December 2017. He had a long way to come back after years of inactivity and getting his own way, but I’ve discovered that time away was filled with proper riding and relationship. The challenge is the thick layers of dust in his physical condition and work ethic. The book is still open on how far Q can go, but the true joy is in the process, the journey.
UPDATE: Q’s story ended January 3, 2019. Our last full ride was amazing and recorded on video. Q came back a long way, but not all the way. I hoped to get him there – but God had other plans. Q was a blessing, a source of treasured memories and lessons learned.
