The Round Pen of Life “If you ride and it’s broke, I figure you need it fast.” by Becky Henley Most horse trainers start young horses in a round pen. They circle the horse, change their direction, and, generally, get the horse to focus on the trainer and “join up.” When a horse “joins up,” he puts his trust in the trainer, gives the trainer his attention and looks for leadership from the trainer. Ronnie Caldwell has trained horses professionally for about 18 years and sees the training of a horse in the round pen like “what God does with us. We live, work and play in a big round pen called planet Earth. God sends us out, but unlike what we do with the horse, God gives us our own mind to choose our direction. Only when we invite God in does He change our heart, direction and way of travel,” Ronnie said. Ronnie has studied the training methods of notable trainers like Chris Cox, John Lyons, Clinton Anderson and Monty Roberts. He knows that there is “definitely something to be learned from them all, but the real lessons come from wet saddle blankets and sharing with friends and trail buddies.” Ronnie doesn’t like to use the words, “broke to ride,” because it sounds so final, and he knows there is a lot more to training than the initial sitting in the saddle without getting thrown off. As a child Ronnie always wanted horses, but his family never lived on acreage big enough to support one. As a youngster Ronnie would camp out in a neighboring pasture filled with ponies, all wild and untrained. He made his own tack out of hay string, would catch a pony for the night and ride to his heart’s content. The owner never realized he was getting free training on his ponies or ever wondered how they came to be “bent to ride.” But that was just a kid’s adventure and so much fun! Ronnie has worked for the City of Bartlett for 18 years as Division Manager of Solid Waste Services for the Public Works Department. He has used his training in Human Resources as an aid in training horses, and has used his horse training skills in dealing with many personnel issues at work. Ronnie says, “I use the methods of round pen reasoning pretty much the same in our work situation as in the horse pen. You have to give workers the assurance that you believe in them, and show confidence in them so they can achieve their potential. You also have to recognize someone’s strong points and where they excel, then give them the opportunity to perform. It is much like being able to see that every horse isn’t necessarily a show horse, just as every horse many not make a good trail mount.” To Ronnie’s regular job and his horse training, add his passion for leatherwork. Ronnie makes everything from bridles and hard-to-find Paso Fino headgear to saddles, saddlebags, phone cases and knife sheaths. He doesn’t do a lot of fancy tooling because it collects so much dust and dirt, so he concentrates on making working tack. Repair work is his specialty and his slogan is: “If you ride and it’s broke, I figure you need it fast.” So he does repairs in a timely manner. He says that making saddles and other tack is safer than “bending” horses. Now add Ronnie’s music interests. When Ronnie was 14 years old he began playing music and has played professionally for over 35 years. His roots are in country music. He is a songwriter and has backed up many artists, but he focuses now on his music ministry, playing in area churches where he shares his musical talent and testimony. Ronnie attends Slayden, Mississippi Baptist Church, where he sings in the choir, performs special music and teaches guitar lessons in their Performing Arts program. He has also ministered at Ingram Baptist, Mt. Pleasant Baptist, Bridge Way, Brunswick Baptist, Holly Springs Baptist Churches. He leads the homecoming worship at Ingram Baptist in Baldwyn, MS, on October 4 at 11:00 a.m. Ronnie incorporates what he’s done into his personal testimony - musician, circus boy, adventurer and somewhat of a hobo earlier in life to where he is now - a sinner saved by God’s grace. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.” When asked why he believes and trusts in God, his answer is simple: “Because the Bible tells me so.” Ronnie’s advice is: “Never be afraid to share your faith because you don’t know all the answers; no one does. Never be afraid to pray because you don’t know the pretty words. You are praying to God, who spoke everything in to existence. God is only impressed by a sincere heart, or call it conscience, your inner voice, or conviction of right from wrong. The Holy Spirit offers opportunities to 'join up.’ In my salvation experience there was never any angelic singing or trumpets blowing, but a peace that I found that is as strong today as it was the moment I was baptized. It is at this point that I think we start learning Dressage (way of going) with God.” Ronnie Caldwell lives with his wife, Harriet, two children, Zac, 14, and Kim, 12, in Hudsonville, Mississippi on the End of the Road Ranch. There are horses, dogs, cats, and cows who also share the 75 acres. He also has a grown son, Cole, and three grandchildren. Ronnie’s new CD of original songs is called, “Acoustic Salvation.” To find out more about Ronnie or order the CD, email him at endoftheroad@hughes.net or call 901-828-8808. Ronnie invites you to “join up” with him in the Round Pen of Life. “I do enjoy the round pen work...both with horses and with God.”