It seems my horse has a "guttural pouch" infection, according to the veterinarian (Dr. Wayne Marteney - compassionate - the best!).  The guttural pouch of a horse is a mystery to me, so I took to the internet yesterday with high hopes of learning more about my horse's anatomy and her condition.

Every article I read had explanations about where the guttural pouches are located, that the infections are rare and what type of treatments are given; although every website informed the reader that not much is known about the purpose of the horse's guttural pouches (they have two).  In fact, the anatomical part is often referred to as "the mysterious guttural pouch."  I found that intriguing.   

I read one article at TreatmentofDiseases.blogspot.com and a particular statement jumped right out at me.  I will quote the paragraph:

"Because the horse spent much of its evolutionary development on flat grassland, pressure (ear pressure) regulation does not appear to be a factor in explaining the extreme size of the equine guttural pouch.  More recent research points to its ability to significantly cool the horses brain by moving air in and out of the guttural pouch, as probably its key function." 

Immediately it came to mind that horses may spend a lot of time in "flat grasslands" here on earth, but there is coming a day when the Lord will return to this world with His saints, riding horses.  The Bible says that He will be riding on a white horse and a multitude of saints will be with Him and they too will be riding white horses (Revelation 19:11-14).  Since horses will be riding through extremely high altitudes in heaven, it stands to reason that they should have very big guttural pouches! 

Many animals are described throughout the Bible, but only one will run through the air at obviously high altitudes - the horse - not Rudolph!

Not everyone believes in God or His Holy Word.  Albeit, I have heard testimonies of those who have visited heaven, or had near death experiences (NDEs).  I have also visited heaven, but that is a subject for another time.  There is a popular book in book stores right now, written by Todd Burpo, about his nearly four-year-old son's visit to heaven during an NDE.  After his emergency surgery for an erupted appendix, little Colton Burpo told his father that Jesus took him to heaven and he saw Jesus's "markers" (nail prints) on his hands and feet.  Colton also told his father that he saw Jesus's horse!   

Do I believe that horses must have large guttural pouches in order to carry Jesus and the saints of God through the air?  No.  God can do anything He wants to do without the need for guttural pouches.  Nevertheless, some angels have wings (Isaiah 6:2) and some do not have wings (Hebrews 13:2).  So, if God gave horses large guttural pouches so they can ascend and descend the heavens, amen to it!  He gave man fingers so he could pick things up and he will use his fingers to do things throughout eternity.  Some who have visited heaven have returned to describe it as a functioning city, very much like cities on earth.  The Bible says heaven is "a city whose builder and maker is God" (Hebrews 11:10).  

Over the course of months, Colton told his father that he met his grandfather, "Pop," in heaven.  After he told his father things he and his great grandfather talked about in heaven, Todd Burpo knew beyond any doubt that little Colton truly went to heaven and that he met his grandfather there, because his grandfather told Colton things that only "Pop" would know. 

Colton went up to his mother one day and told her, "I have two sisters."  His mother was shocked by what he said.  She asked him, "How do you know that?"  Colton told his mother that his sister kept hugging him in heaven, which he didn't like at all, and that she told him she died in their mother's "tummy."  His mother was taken aback.  Colton was too young to know that she miscarried her first child, which was devastating to her, and no one had ever told Colton.  She asked him what his sister looked like and he told her that she looked like his sister, Cassie (Sonja and Todd's second child), but that she had brown hair, whereas Cassie's hair was blonde.

Colton Burpo's testimony has been reproduced numerous times on YouTube.  An interesting version can be viewed through this link: Heaven is for Real. 

Getting back to the issue of the guttural pouches; after reading and understanding from the Word of God that there are horses in heaven, and after hearing Colton Burpo's testimony about seeing Jesus's horse, and especially because I have owned three very special horses myself, I believe I know why horses have such big, mysterious guttural pouches!

Colton Burpo is a very intelligent boy and even now, as a 12-year-old, he articulately explains what he saw in heaven during an out of body NDE.  Colton's father is a Christian minister and he wrote a book about Colton's experience, "Heaven is for Real."  I highly recommend the book; it is captivating and it's a #1 best seller.  Colton has been interviewed on the Today Show and NBC, among other programs.    

The Word of God tells us that this life is not all there is, and that eternal life exists through Jesus, the Son of the living God, who paid the penalty for the sins of all mankind.  We can receive the gift of eternal life, if we only believe. 

Are you saved?  If not, please visit the How Can I Be Saved page of this website.  Salvation is simple - it's only a prayer away.  We only have this life, this opportunity to receive the gift of eternal life.  God bless you.