A Horse in the Rain

2025-05-27

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America celebrated Memorial Day yesterday. To mark the occasion, my wife and I made a big dinner for some of our friends. We ran a few errands beforehand, and on the way home from those errands, it began to rain.

The last few weeks have seen several days of rain in this part of country. While it has kept temperatures relatively cool, I find myself longing for the sun, and I get tired having to change out of wet clothing every time I come home. So when the first few drops fell on our car windshield, I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

Our route took us past a horse stable. The estate has several acres of open land, and despite the rain, the horses stood out in the field grazing happily. The sight made me pause and reflect.

Horses have existed for millions of years, and all of them had to deal with rain. Unlike humans, they don't have hands with which to construct a shelter. They have no way to artificially stop rain from falling on them. But far from trying, they don't even search for cover when the showers start. They take it in stride, somehow knowing unconsciously that this water from the sky will nourish the food they graze on. When the storm subsides, the grass will grow back thicker and fuller.

Horses don't try to stop the rain. They take the bad with the good and continue to live their lives. Inconveniences don't stop them. In fact, an inconvenience might lead to something better.

Maybe I too should learn to eat in the rain.

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[Last updated: 2025-05-27]