By Deborah Baska, VP Marketing Operations
Added October 6, 2009
I recently had the opportunity to attend the Fall Dream Ride in the Flint Hills of Kansas representing CarterEnergy as a sponsor of the Better Horses Network (www.betterhorsesnetwork.com). If you aren’t sure what kind of a “ride” the Dream Ride is, it is a trail ride – on horseback. And before you say to me, “Oh, I didn’t know you rode”, I’ll just tell you – I don’t! Well, at least I didn’t before a few weeks ago.
While I was looking forward to this new experience, I was also quite certain I would be a fish out of water. I fancy myself to be the ultimate suburban city girl. I find comfort in having my grocery store, drug store, convenience stores, fast food, selection of dining options, movie theatre and favorite retail shopping all within a 10 minute ride (and I mean by car) from my house. My very laid back travel philosophy is that if I forget something, I can always get it when I get there.
I soon learned that when one is traveling to the Flint Hills, the philosophy had better be, if you didn’t bring it, you don’t need it! After unpacking in a torrential downpour and preparing for the evening’s sponsor dinner, I realized that I had forgotten my very number one essential beauty need – the curling iron! OK, so I’ve gone au naturel before – around my friends and family! But not around strangers and not while representing my company! And in case you are wondering, Casey’s does not carry curling irons or hats. I’ll save you the boring details of my mild pity party, and fast forward to the part where I had to just get over myself and ended up having a remarkable weekend!
If I had one word to describe my experience on the Dream Ride it would be Fellowship. Never once did I feel like a fish out of water. Rather, my whole family was embraced and welcomed into this group of equestrians like we were one of them. They were excited to share their love of horses, love of the outdoors, love of riding, and love of fellowship with us novices.
They patiently taught us how to ride and how to interact with horses (hats off to wranglers Rex and Candy!). They warmly welcomed my kids into the bunkhouse where they became fast friends with the other junior riders. Every one of the riders on the ride was polite, friendly, and ever ready to lend a helping hand or offer a word of advice—and never once made me feel embarrassed when I was “giddy-upping” old Clyde to no avail (but instead reminded me that I was in charge, not Clyde!). And when I shared my curling iron woes, I was offered the use of someone’s spare cowboy hat (Thanks Vicki!).
For three hours on Saturday, we rode up the hills, down into the ravines, through the cricks, along the ridges, and past the grazing cattle. As our thoughts turned to simpler times and simpler things, we pondered (How did that big pile of rocks end up THERE? Can you imagine that this was what it was like in the Little House on the Prairie days?); and as I looked around at the endless grasses and blue skies (with not a CVS or Taco Bell in sight), I was filled with peace and gratitude. Grateful to be right where I was, with the people I was with, doing just what I was doing (despite the increasing pain on my backside).
And the next day, as I stood in the cool morning dawn at Cowboy Church admiring the beauty of the Flint Hills all around me, I felt such clarity, purity and spirituality. I realized that I did have everything I needed right there in the Flint Hills. And I felt like I belonged, no longer amongst strangers, but surrounded by new friends.
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