Keeper of the Word
Nov 21, 2025
The Story of a Horse Who Could not Save Herself
My friend TD has been a professional barrel racer and trainer on the rodeo and futurity circuits since our college days. I won’t reveal just how many years we’ve been friends—let’s just say, it’s been a significant number. Over the years, TD has shared countless life lessons that the Lord has revealed to her through training young horses and mentoring young riders.
Through her hands have passed horses of every kind—from NFR (National Finals Rodeo) competitors to gentle, steady mounts perfect for beginners. She has an extraordinary gift for seeing in each horse—and rider—the kind of potential, brokenness, and calling that God sees in each of us. Some horses are sure-footed and trustworthy; others, unpredictable or wounded. Some show promise but never reach it due to injury or neglect. Each one, whether bred and raised in her barn or sent for training, carries a story. And one of the most powerful began over twenty-five years ago with a bay mare named Ruby—a story rich with divine echoes.
The Eye of the Father:
TD’s father had a remarkable ability to spot promising barrel racing prospects. He looked beyond pedigree, evaluating structure, musculature, and the intelligence reflected in a horse’s eyes. A champion barrel horse must not only have speed but the agility to shut down, pivot sharply around barrels, and explode again toward the next. Amid the chaos of the rodeo—livestock, lights, booming speakers—a great horse must focus on their pattern, listen to the rider, and shut out the rest of the world.
When TD’s father first saw Ruby, she was a plain two-year-old bay with four black socks and a black mane. No flashy markings—just something in her that caught his eye. He believed in her potential and brought her home to begin training.
Ruby quickly proved herself. She was intelligent and disciplined, learning the cloverleaf barrel pattern with precision and rarely making a mistake. But like many of us, she had her struggles. Ruby didn’t travel well. The stress of new environments would cause her to stop eating, which directly impacted her performance. Despite her kind spirit and impressive skill, her racing times were just a fraction shy of the top.
The Winding Road
As she aged out of professional competition, Ruby was sold to a young girl on the youth circuit—a perfect match for her gentle nature and experience. Together, they became a formidable team. But time passed, and the girl moved on to senior competition. Ruby, now slowing down, was sold again.
Over the next five to seven years, Ruby changed hands four or five times—and not all those homes were good. When TD found Ruby again at age 19, her heart broke.
Ruby had been turned out to pasture, neglected and scarred—literally and emotionally. As a low-ranking horse in the herd hierarchy, she was frequently bitten and kicked, her body bearing the marks of rejection. She was malnourished, isolated, and forgotten. But TD saw what no one else could: who Ruby had been—and who she still could be.
The Price of Redemption
Despite Ruby’s broken state, she still carried the bloodlines of greatness. Horses of her caliber, even in decline, don’t come free. Many cautioned TD against paying anything for her. But TD understood the cost—and paid it without hesitation.
She paid the price to redeem Ruby… She brought her home… She gave her rest, nourishment, safety, and care.
Ruby was restored.
The Divine Parallel
Can you see the divine lesson forming?
Ruby couldn’t rescue herself. She couldn’t feed herself or shelter herself. She had no voice to cry out for help, no ability to escape her condition. Forgotten, wounded, and used up, she was invisible to everyone—except the one who loved her most.
TD saw her… and chose her… So it is with us.
We are Ruby. Sin-scarred. Neglected. Broken. Unable to save ourselves. And yet… our Heavenly Father sees us. He knows our story. He remembers who we were created to be, even when we’ve forgotten. He doesn’t walk away in our brokenness. He draws near, pays the price, and redeems us.
The price? His Son.
The covering? His grace.
The healing? His transforming love
Scripture Reflection
"Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."—Matthew 20:28
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him."—John 3:16-17
Journaling Questions
Can you recall a time when you felt unseen, forgotten, or beyond repair? What sustained you in that season?
Where in your life right now do you need to be reminded that God sees you and has paid the price to redeem you?
Who in your life is a “Ruby”—someone others may overlook, but who needs to be seen and loved back to life?
