Saddle-Up
Before automobiles, we rode horses...
Now, I don’t remember my first horse ride. But here’s a picture of my first “pony” ride. That’s my Pops with me. We were in Indiana, and I was almost 2 years old.
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Evidence. Photographs qualify as evidence. Don’t they? So far as I know, this was the first real pony I rode. Well I wouldn’t say ‘rode’, it was more like the pony I sat on. I think I was about or almost three years old and I vaguely remember this morning. I was at my grandparents house, the bend of Highland Ave. There weren’t houses or roads across from the house, there was a pasture with ponies. I think I must have talked someone’s ear off...and they finally gave in and asked the neighbors if I could see the ponies. As you can see from the photograph, I look pretty pleased.
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Fast Forward to August 1979. Giles Stable, Cornwall England.
Polly was a bitter-sweet pony. She was cranky and she liked to buck during our canter. But I loved her. During our relationship, she managed to bite my bo## and stomp on my foot. The bruise on the bo## went away and if I remember correctly, so did one of my toe nails. (It grew back, but it’s not the same! The toe nail!) I don’t remember how many years or months that I took riding lessons, but it was every Saturday. I walked down the hill from our ‘home’ no matter what the weather, to go ride, and then walked back again. (mind you, this was ENGLAND...the land of rain, mist and fog!) It was a good way for a teenager to spend time. If my parents had hind site, maybe they would have let me work down there all the time. It would have kept me out of trouble. However, it wouldn’t have allowed time for the piano lessons or the fights with my sister.
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Fast Forward to Summer 1983 IOWA. Her name: “Frosty”, a registered Appolosa-Arabian mare. Man, I loved this horse and she loved me back! We spent so much time just hanging out in the barn. This was not a material relationship...because we didn’t have much and what we had wasn’t great. But, ya know, at the time, I didn’t know that we didn’t have it so good. I still have her bridle and very loving memories. The story breaks my heart so I’m not going to tell it. All you need to know is that one day there will be a reunion in heaven where we’ll ride together again. I’m having trouble typing this...so I have to move on. :-)
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Fast Forward to July 2007 VIRGINIA. If you are younger, you may not understand this. If you are older, you might understand how I feel.
It goes something like this: Suddenly you wake up one day. You realize that you’ve just spent that last 20 + years WORKING YOUR LIFE AWAY feeling like there’s nothing much to show for it. I think this might be what some would call a mid-life crisis. For me it’s a crisis of not having any fun or all work and no play—not doing or enjoying the things that give you the passion to go back out there and work.
Hey! (no pun intended) Isn’t that called BURN-OUT?
Hey! (no pun intended) Isn’t that called BURN-OUT?
Sometimes you just gotta take life by the reins (okay. horns). After the opening of a new horse tack shop in Smithfield, and a few riding lessons, I was brave enough to post a note on the bulletin board, (thank you Carol for letting me post it!) that went something like this: Does your horse need to be ridden? Responsible mature female looking for four-hoofed companion. Have helmet and boots. Can demonstrate riding ability.
I’m very happy to report that I became an exercising companion for “Lil’ Bud.” I’m got some “saddle-time” and we both got the exercise we needed. That’s him, Bud, above with his owner at the time.
Isn’t that what life is about? Applying what you’ve learned? How about NOT working all the time!!!!! Get out and get some fresh air. Turn off the computer, leave the cell phone behind and go dance, jump, roller-skate, run, sing, swim, play the guitar, or as some would say, stop and smell the roses. Just make sure you wear your helmet and protective gear. :-)
In our instant, drive-through society
I “saddle-up”
and protest
no more “Fast Forwarding.”
I “saddle-up”
and protest
no more “Fast Forwarding.”
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An update for 2008. Talk about being in the right place at the right time. On November 29th I was given a horse. Blackie is a Morgan cross, and he’s about 10 years old, and 14.2 hands.
At the end of December, Lil Bud moved to Florida where it is warmer and easier on his joints. From the news I’ve gotten Lil’ Bud has found a loving owner who was in a similar situation as myself, returning back to horses after many years without.
Blackie has a new home too. After a sweet stay at Tammy’s Horse B&B (THANK YOU TAMMY) I moved him to a much smaller stable and he has 5 other horses in his herd now, not including myself of course. I have been studying Parelli Natural Horsemanship since Sept 2007 and the things I have learned have really made a difference in Blackie. I’m so happy now, that I have a horse that I can ride and play with. You just don’t know how much difference he has made in my life. He was overweight when I got him, and we are working on getting his weight down.
He is a smart boy and never
gives me a dull moment.
This is him...to the right...and you can see
more of him on the “Blackie” page. I remember
the first time I saw him. He was breath taking.
But I decided that he was too small for me...
only trying to keep myself away from “buying” him.
How was I supposed to know that God had other
intentions—using someone to give him to me.
My friend, Cheryl, called from Oklahoma, the
other day. She said I needed to print out the
“happy” picture of myself and Blackie and post
it all over the place. Thanks Cheryl for reminding
me. My wish for 2008 is to stay happy and that
everyone else can find their “happy” too.
More about me and my horse love-affair in the Blog section.
