Less than a year after a delicate twenty-two hour, two-part surgery for a benign brain tumor on my brain stem, I went from barely being able to move even with the aid of a walker to being back with my Missouri Fox Trotters practicing Natural Horsemanship and coaching others.

Horses have been very important in my life, and a horse related incident even led to the diagnosis of my brain tumor. A young horse I was riding turned suddenly and I fell off, something that wouldnt have happened to me in the past. Casual mention of the incident at a routine doctor visit started the ball rolling for medical referrals, tests, and the diagnosis of a tumor that might have been growing slowly for years. The tumor was large and in a touchy spot, so I was referred to MD Anderson Cancer Hospital in Houston, TX, where they have done much more of that type of surgery.

When I awoke after the second day of surgery, I was really distressed to find how disabled I was. I couldnt see well, couldnt talk, swallow, or move, and the left side of my face was paralyzed. The doctors were calling the surgery a success, but I didnt think of it that way at that point! Lying in the hospital bed able to do nothing, time really dragged. It was only because of support offered by my family and the innumerable friends and church families all over who were offering prayers and good cheer that I kept going and came out of out of my pity party. This is where the horses kicked in to help out.

During the recovery period back at home, my husband Gregg wouldnt let me handle a horse for fear of my getting jerked or jarred, but he would put one in the round pen for me to play with while it was loose. It really put the things I had learned in natural horsemanship practice to the test because body language was the only aid I had available. That was some of the best and cheapest therapy I went through.

At first, I was too weak to stand and had to play from a sitting position. That soon progressed to standing with my walker, and eventually on my own. The horses wanted to understand what I was asking and kept searching for the answers until they got it.

Horses can be such a source of comfort as well as great teachers. If dealt with respectfully, and with understanding of their psychology, horses want to please and will try their hearts out for you. Unfortunately, there is still too much of the old way of handling going on that doesnt recognize that, and those poor horses are either like robots or even dangerous.

The extra time on the ground playing with different horses was fun and useful as well as therapeutic. Its neat to be able to communicate with your horse without even a lead line on it and have the horse respond willingly and without fear. Several of the young horses progressed to the point where they would sidepass at liberty and stop when asked to stop, back at whatever speed was requested, and turn figure eights around barrels without anymore control than paying attention to body language.

Patience is one of the things I learned to work on after surgery, and it is important for all aspects of life. Instead of trying to make something happen with horses, set it up and let it happen. It may seem like its taking forever, but the results will come and you wont have to keep dealing with the same issues over and over. The same philosophy works for life in general. Get yourself prepared as best you can, and let God do the rest. Dont try to force the issue. Fox trotters are great for this kind of work because they are so intelligent, willing to please, and kind hearted, but the same applies to other breeds too. All horses are much more observant than humans and if we can be clear and consistent in our communication, they will follow our slightest cues.

Two families of wonderful home-schooled young people have come into my life this last year. They have been a blessing keeping me busy sharing what Ive learned about horses and in return helping me with the chores and training. Ive been doing Natural Horsemanship for several years now, but when I was ready and needed them is when the students came to me. One young man has been able to help start the young horses and he has found that the ground work really made the saddle training move along fast. He was amazed that within just a few rides, he had them putting their feet forward, back, up and down wherever he wanted and that they would respond to gait transitions up and down and turn right and left with him not even touching the reins, just using his body for subtle cues.

I have progressed to the point that I began riding again early this spring, at first only on my well-experienced gelding due to my balance issues, but now on several different horses that have been started using natural horsemanship communication.

I urge everyone who is experiencing something that doesnt seem quite right about their body to bring it up to a doctor instead of waiting, and to work on developing patience and look for the good in life that will come even after something bad. I also encourage everyone to investigate more about learning to communicate with horses in such a way that a partnership rather than a dictatorship is formed between human and animal. There are many wonderful books, DVDs, and clinicians out there for guidance.

Bonnie and Gregg Martin own Gemara Farm Foxtrotters located in Barnesville, Georgia. They currently have nine fox trotters of their own and a few more boarded ones. http://www.gemara.homestead.com