So, I write today feeling a little discouraged. Taking Tuckers Amazing Grace home with us, even though she was injured was a decision I made because I understand being injured, and feeling like I am not quite good enough to be all that I can be. Grace and I understand each other, just as Joshua the Mustang and I understood each other in 2007. In 2007, just a few weeks before I picked up my very first “Extreme Makeover Mustang”, I had a horrible horse accident. It changed my life as a person and as a horseman. It left me with a life long injury in my right knee. I was working a beautiful black fresian, “Phoenix” 3 years old, quiet giant. He is a wonderful horse and a good student. This was merely and accident. As I sent him off with the lariat attached to him I realised the end of the rope was against my leg, as he moved off in a canter around the round pen, the rope wrapped around my left lower leg. One moment on my feet, the next getting dragged around the pen like a fish on the end of a line. I remember covering my head every time the steel panels came close. I can still feel the rope tightening, still see the black horse running for his life, more scared than me. I can still smell the sand going up my nose. I can still feel the fear of dying and hear the thoughts that were going through my head…..”I don’t want to die this way”…”This is not the legacy that I want to leave behind”….. I would try to sit up and undo the rope, but to much force against me. All of sudden my right free leg went through the panels, as Phoenix continued to run, my right leg got stuck, the force of the horse dragging me with the left leg, left little room for my right leg to give, so give it did. My ACL burst, my hamstring tore, and the top of my shin bone cracked. POP, then my foot came loose and off I went, being dragged again…. My husband and Bill Reed were in the barn, couldn’t here my cries. I gave up….”God either I am going to die today and see your face or You will stop this………Phoenix stopped as the words “horse” crossed my mind. He faced me. I can still see the rope around my leg, twisted and tight, I do not even know how I got it loose, other than with Gods help. My belt, boots, watch, were all dragged off, but my cell phone was still in my front pocket. I called for help. The healing process began, and yet God was preparing me to face my very first mustang, Joshua. Joshua and I both understood each other, both very afraid, both ready to surrender, both joining as one. God used Joshua to help me face my fears and be healed emotionally. Now four years later three of those years have been in physical therapy, after two surgeries both times having to replace my ACL in my knee. Unfortunately, these surgeries have not held up under the work load my career asks of them and I am having major problems with my knee once again. So I face another mustang makeover, another horse I understand. Tuckers Amazing Grace is truly an amazing example of how I need to be. She has trusted that I will help her, not hurt her more…She has trusted that she can have faith in me to help her get back on her feet…. She has trusted me with her future and her heart. Now, I have to do the same with God. You know, as I laid on the ground that hot day in 2007, fear overwhelming me, sirens blaring in the background, pain surrounding every part of my body, all I could think to do to keep from completely loosing my mind was to sing. Yes, sing. I am sure it sounded horrible, but at the top of my lungs I sang “Amazing Grace”. Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost, but now I am found, was blind but now I see…… I should of died that day….but God’s Amazing Grace had another plan. I am still trying to follow His plan, trying to trust and have complete faith. Trusting God with my future and my whole heart.
So where does that leave me and Tuckers Amazing Grace? Well, we may be the “under dogs” this year at the SEMM, but we are sure gonna try. Thanks to my best friend, Josie Thompson & my dear husband, Ryan Branham for helping me with my mustangs. I am having to train some and teach some, but working together as a team to get us to the SEMM 2011.
Tuckers Amazing Grace sponsored by: Tucker Trail Saddles www.tuckersaddles.com
Special Thanks also goes to Purina Mills, Roy Frey Western Wear, & Meriden Animal Clinic!!
Go to www.cindybranham.com for more information!!
I just wanted to tell you how much of an inspiration your videos on writings are. I follow you and observe the work you do. I admire you SO MUCH for doing what you do. I would love to be able to do this, as much as I love my horses. I do work with mine as much as I know how, but I haven’t had mine very long. (under a year) I was raised around horses just to ride, but never was into training, so I am green and use all the tips I get. I have a yearling and an 8 wk old filly I am doing some small ground work with now. They are my babies! I just wish I had your knowledge to do even more with them. Plz keep posting because I enjoy living through your thoughts and eyes. I’m happy you are okay and God spared you the day of your accident. You have already touched my life because of it. Thank you!
God Bless!
you are an amazing woman… i will pray for you and your Mustangs, who were so lucky to have been brought to you.
I have the joy of seeing God work in and through my business too. Such life lessons. Thank you for sharing your amazing story. I am rootin for you!
Cindy, my goodness! It was a gruesome picture you described, the ordeal of being injured. I winced as I read it, and cannot imagine the pain you experienced. And I’m sure there were moments of mental and emotional pain as you dealt with the setback, wanting so much to meet your goals. What a blessing it is that you have a wonderful husband and the perfect horses to work with! Perhaps it takes a setback such as an injury or illness to help some of us get things into perspective… albeit the realignment of thinking doesn’t happen all at once. Everything has a process, eh? Just like horse training! Hang in there, lady. Folks are rooting for you, even if you don’t hear from them all. The best trainer of all is asking you to trust him and set up onto the pedestal. You’ll have the faith to trust, you’ll step up, and he’ll pat you on the shoulder to let you know you’ve done good… all the way to the EMM. What a show it will be!