Shelter in the Storm By Didi Arias
Leaving the room where the family has
bus should a blizzard whip up. I had grown
membership in something truly special. As
the television on, I retreat to my office to
up in a place that had harsh winters but had
blizzards aren´t the only storms we face in
avoid the breaking news flashes and non-
never heard of such a setup before, and while
life, an escape to the barn can give comfort
stop talking head chatter. It is the last
it sounded like a good idea I wasn´t sure if
like no place else during bad, sad or just-
days of February and just as things were
they were pulling my leg or not. However,
needing-a-break times. I have a friend
starting to feel more hopeful in the world,
my doubts were put aside once I heard
who rightly treats her facility like a sacred
it looked like they were headed to Hell in a
author and humourist Garrison Keillor tell
space. She asks her clients to respect that
handbasket instead. Though I would rather
a tale of this exact same arrangement when
as well as each other in the common desire
be in the barn right now, burying my face
he was a child. I was pleased to know that it
to be there with, and for, the horses. The
in a still-fluffy winter coat, duty calls and I
was a real and kind thing and not just a story
topics of world affairs, politics and such
must crack on with this article. But man, as
that Minnesotans tell gullible outsiders!
matters are best left outside the door and
soon as it’s finished, I´m going to seek out
shouldn´t enter her equine sanctuary. Her
that sweet equine refuge and let my mind
In our profession we work to teach safe
clients appreciate her refreshing approach
drift away from war and illness, suffering
riding skills in a well-suited environment:
and one gets a feeling that there is a sigh of
and tragedy as I breath in all that horsey
a physical safety. Yet there is the other type
relief hanging over the place.
goodness. The barn is my shelter in the
of safety that our surrounds provide too, an
storm and when times get trying, I know
emotional one. Just as I want and need the
It feels so good to be able to say “sure!” to
exactly where I´m headed.
relief an escape to the barn can provide,
a student who rings and asks if they can
our students do too (one of the reasons
come down to the barn “because they miss
I remember once being told by a family
we all like hanging out there so much). It
it”, or when they ask if they may just sit
in the Midwest about how their child had
is like it is a storm home for the emotions
and watch a lesson or groom a horse. One
been assigned a “Storm Home” at school.
where we can momentarily hide out from
of my shelter seekers was the lady who just
They explained that it was a system where
the outside issues that rage at us. Of course
liked to come down and sweep – anything!
a helping family would offer their home to a
the horses are the top draw, as well as
How can one deny a sweeper? Providing an
child unable to get back home on the school
the fact that being a part of barn life is a
ambiance of “good feels” is part of the job
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Spring 2022 | Riding Instructor
