Turbo is the name of the inside lead horse in this championship Belgian six-horse hitch. You are witnessing his last performance since his owner plans to retire this trusted friend after the show. Turbo was abandoned and discovered in a pasture on a farm in Caledonia, New York. With lots of patience, plenty of food and excellent training this abandoned horse later became the number one lead horse of a six-horse hitch in the country.The story of any rescue horse is very sad. In many cases, the horse is emaciated, covered in rain rot, and worst, their sensitive hooves are cracked straight through the top, making it almost impossible for them to walk. The horse wants nothing to do with humans who have caused their pain by neglect and they are quite content to stay where they are, cracked hooves and all. Their eyes show not only fear but also a strong dislike for the people inspecting them and their skin tensed under a human hand at each touch. The creature is an impossible mess but at that grace-filled moment, our farmer never imagined that Turbo would look as glorious as he appears in our photo leading his team to another championship.
We all get lost sometimes. The stories represent the messes of our lives. A single mom raising her children after being abandoned by her partner. The despair of a young teen whose best friend committed suicide. A man in his 60’s prefers to cry in the rain because her has no job. A young adult is told that his friend no longer needs him. Then, there’s the family provider who suddenly feels a shark pain and discovers that he has a mass that requires surgery. Finally, there are the million of unemployed workers who have been searching for months, even years for employment and after each rejection they sink deeper into depression.
Yes, we all get lost sometimes. The trick is to believe that we’re worth finding. Turbo was found with the hands of a loving farmer who saw the potential of this wonderful horse. When we are confronted by a situation beyond our control, it is time to pray to God who sees our desperate faces and looks into our hearts and promises to free us from our frustrations, from our fears and find strength in his grace and power.
God prays for us as we reflect: “May Your unfailing love be our comfort…” (Psalm 119:76).
Lord, I pray for all my Sunshine Friends who rescue horses in abandoned fields, or stray kitties and doggies. I pray when we notice our neighbor suffering the pain of feeling abandoned and we offer a healing touch, a comforting word and a gesture of hope. Bless the horse lover’s in the fields who bring comfort to rescue horses. May these magnificent creatures find a comfortable stall to lay their heads tonight with lots of hay and water.
