GOING TO SEE A MAN ABOUT A HORSE …

If you ever happen to roll through this neck of the woods, you’ll find there are a lot of folks with a lot of horses. Since being here, I've become acquainted with a few of the men and women who own, breed and ride them. Most of these folks live in a quaint community called Hickory Hill. Now Hickory Hill is an unincorporated area, for the most part, included in the census of Marksville,La., (pop. 5,681), which is the parish seat of Avoyelles Parish. Most of the people there are related (like the rest of the AVP), so everybody knows everybody and shouldn't engage in anything that may result in offspring or a consummation of marriage.

Seriously, these folks are some of the most fun people on earth. They demonstrate a joie de vivre unlike others. In this uncomplicated, yet joyous attitude of life enters equestrianism. The folks in Hickory Hill love their horses and I had the opportunity to get up-close-and-personal with a couple a few days ago. Goodness knows I hadn't been on a horse of any kind since I was a child and that was a somewhat traumatic experience. You see, during a summer visit, my mother and I joined my paternal grandfather in horseback riding. I remember being atop that little brown pony and afterward, I ran to tell my mother, who was riding a horse that got too excited because I got too excited. Welp, it bucked a bit and mother fell. She wasn't really hurt, but I was devastated, crushed and cried during the rest of our visit. For the next 20-plus years, I possessed a phobia regarding anything equestrian, whether it was a rocking horse, pommel horse, or charley horse.

The first horse ...

Fast forward to April 2013. I found myself in Hickory Hill hanging out with my cousin Terry, staring eye-to-eye with a horse that was referred to as a “stud.” I can’t lie, there was something about this horse that made me want to just take off into the sunset. Nonetheless, I found myself courageously asking to ride the horse. Terry, along with the horse’s owner, obliged to guide me through the mounting process. I put my left foot in the stirrup and hopped up to swing my right leg over the beautiful animal. I calmed down so the horse wouldn't sense my nervousness and the owner began to walk the horse to let me relive the experience of horseback riding. However, the horse started to get excited and jump around a bit.

“Get me off, y’all play too much,” I screamed to the small crowd of other horse enthusiasts who began to gather around and laugh. 

They helped me off and for about an hour, I wasn't shaken, I was shook. But despite my first failed attempt, I shook back. I soon found another horse owned by a man named “Wallace,” and after I witnessed a little girl who was no older than six years old ride the horse without any trepidation, I found myself slightly embarrassed.

And that’s when I decided to get back on a horse and ride.

Coincidentally, that action symbolically seems to be standard operating procedure during this phase of my life and there are others experiencing this phenomenon called Starting Over.

Forget a horse, I may need to invest in a stable, but I’m up for the challenge of learning how to ride again so that I may gallop off into the sunset. I’m trying to lose at least 50 pounds. I’d like to change professional goals. My health goals have changed. I’m definitely looking at a different fiscal future and my spirituality has experienced the ultimate overhaul. This ride may be the toughest of my life. When there’s a birth (or in this case, rebirth), there may be intense labor pains, which may have some a tad bit hesitant about starting anew. There will be setbacks, but there will also be triumphs.

A “Psychology Today” blog on emotional fitness gives 10 reasons why we can start over and despite it being four months deep into 2013, there’s nothing wrong with beginning anew.

I’ve found so many friends throughout are starting over spiritually and professionally. They are starting over physically, aesthetically enhancing bodies and slimming down. They may be starting over financially or even beefing up educational backgrounds. They may be rebounding from a collapsed relationship or sudden death of a loved one. In either case, folks are getting back on their proverbial horses of life.

“I start over all of the time and it doesn't bother me one bit,” said Alana K., a friend of mine from San Francisco. “Why regret what doesn't work? Instead, celebrate what does work and make that work for you. I don’t care if it’s family, work, money or a diet, starting over never hurt anybody. It’s staying in that rut that gets you in trouble.”

That’s what I’m talking about. So as I resolve to charter new territory with my goals, I’ll perhaps revel reaching my milestones by going back to Hickory Hill and riding a horse just a tad bit better than before.

And I’ll eventually ride off into my celebratory, goal-enhanced sunset. Maybe I can be the Lone Ranger and one of you who are starting over too, can be Tonto. 

Hi-yo Silver ... Away!