By Colleen Pulley
I recently read a description about the qualities of the horses that were given the title of “War Horse”. These were the life blood of the knights who fought in battle. It was not easy to become a seasoned War Horse. Their training was as intense as the men who rode them into battle. A good War Horse was often the deciding factor of whether a knight lived or died, won or lost the battle.
The War Horse was often recognized at a young age as a potential mount for a knight. They were big, because they not only carried the knight, but his steel armor and weapons. Their strength and agility were developed as rigorously as those of the knight.
They had the ability to follow the commands only of their knight and commander, in the heat of battle. This to me is amazing when you realize the sounds of crashing weapons, the screams of men as well as other horses, and the stench of blood and severed flesh would have caused most men, let alone animals to cower and run. But they did not falter.
Their muscular bodies were often marked with scars. These marks they carried were the reminders of the battles they endured and a testimony of their valor and courage. To others, they were the medals of honor, earned in battle.
As I read about the War Horses of medieval time, I realized how parents are very similar to those valiant warrior horses of old. We have great battles to endure. Yet we must stand strong, for if we fall, often those in our care will stumble with us. Our scars are the tears and worries, and concerns we have lived through while rearing our families. It is each line and crease, and grey hair that tells others of our character and endurance.
Our medals of honor are recognized through the strength and ability of our offspring. It is the shouts of exaltation at the victories and honors achieved by our families. It is the sense of pride and gratefulness we experience when we see them achieve what we visualized in them as small children.
We are the War Horses of society. Parents, and coaches, and mentors of those that follow in our steps. We are the Standard Bearers of the best and the worst of what humanity is. Let us not forget the great obligation we owe to those who look up to us, and are setting their course by what they see in us. May we train well for the battles we must fight in, and may all our encounters be valiant.
Key Words – knights, War Horse, battle, medieval time, parents, great battles to endure, War Horses of society, be valiant
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