My Life As A Horse Lover began at a very early age. It was when I was six years old. We were celebrating May Day in Hawaii. This was a celebration honoring King Kamehameha, which was a yearly celebration. While each of the grades; from kindergarten through the seniors in high school, had a specific part to play in performing the story, It was always an exciting and happy event. This particular year, they had a carnival afterward that included a Pony ride. Now, my father was born and raised in Texas.Thus,s he figured his daughter should get to ride a Pony. Little did he know what a nightmare it was going to be for him for the next 18 years. However, it was more of a begging nightmare as opposed to an injury nightmare. Since I was constantly begging for a horse.
Naturally, I started out loving the animal. Apparently, just down the street from our house in Hawaii was a horse, in a fenced enclosure. Now according to my mother, whenever they could not find me I was to be found sitting at the corner of that fence just staring at the horse within. I was in love with everything about these magnificent animals. From the way they looked, sounded, smelled, their so so soft muzzles, long manes and tails, and the shine to their hair and skin. So much so, that by the end of high school; my parents swore I was going to marry a horse. I will drink a toast of sparkling wine to that marriage in the mind of a young girl.
My Life As A Horse Lover: The Begging Begins
From that very first Pony ride, my parents never had a restful minute. Christmas through moves, and birthdays were always filled with “Can I have a horse”? With the same answer time and time again, “No honey we have no place to put a horse”. Imagine my surprise, when we moved to California to find there were places to keep horses when you did not have a place to put one. I had discovered the “Horse Stables” better known back then as Glen Cove Stables. Oh my goodness, here were dozens of horses to look at and pet. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. It was here that I actually was able to touch freely and learn how to care for these magnificent animals. Through my nosiness and sheer love of these animals, I met the nicest people and wormed my way into their horses lives.
While I cleaned stalls, washed, and walked the horses, learned to clean and condition their hooves. I used saddle soap on their tack to keep it soft and supple and I think I loved every chore that allowed me to be near a horse. I remember always putting my nose under their jawbone and inhaling their scent. There was nothing else in the world that made me happier than to just be near them. From the very small horses to the huge draft horses, they were all my dream come true.
Bonding Was Almost More Fun Than Riding
While I loved and immersed myself in riding the surrounding hills and parks. I discovered that grooming and caring for these animals was an amazing bonding experience. Moreover, the hands-on experience of grooming and feeding; allowed me a different glimpse of their personalities. This would come out in little ways at first, then as the trust between horse and caregiver grew, in amazing ways. There were some of the horses that I would trust laying beneath them. Others that I was able to stand on their rears and know they would not make me fall. All were allowed to spend the night at my home in the backyard and I would lie beside them and sleep for the night. Taking them back to the stables the next morning. As a teenager, this was better than anything I ever could have imagined.
My life as a horse lover was never better than when I was around horses, I felt so much love that I didn’t need boyfriends. It was the three of us against the world. Myself, the horse, and my dog Alfie. We were an inseparable trio. While Alfie went with me absolutely everywhere, including my school in the eighth grade. When I went riding, he was always along to keep us safe. Which he did several times with people wanting to block my passage and get too close. Not being seen at first, since he always walked or ran behind the horse. He would suddenly appear from underneath the horse with fangs barred to those trying to block my passage. With the wolf in him, he rarely barked at an intruder. Just quietly appeared and you knew not to mess with him.
My Life As A Horse Lover Became Amazing When I Finally Owned One
Once I became injured from the assault to my cervical spine. I thought I was never to ride another horse. Since the trotting was more than my poor neck could tolerate. However, as fate would have it. I had a patient that owned a special breed of horse called a Peruvian Paso. These horses did not have a trot, just a smooth gait that was called “The Champaign Ride”. Literally, you could ride while holding a glass of liquid and not spill any or much of the fluid. Now, this was before the popularity of Thermos bottles that we take everywhere with us for fluids today. I was so enthralled by these beautiful horses, that I bought my first one while he was still in his mother’s belly. When he was born I named him Compadrè.
My Amazing Compadrè:
Because I had long ago started to believe that the trust between owner/ trainer, would ease the transition of “breaking” a horse to ride. My Compadrè, was going to be my proof of this theory. While most breeds the age to start riding is around two years of age. However, these horses needed an extra year, in order to achieve their full growth and bone solidification. Moreover, my Compadrè was a social animal. Much like his mama, he could be found freqently visiting the other horses in the neighborhood. Unfortunately, he suffered a fatal injury one day while I was away and severed an artery. I was not able to prove my theory.
But I was able to know that from the bonding or imprinting that I did on the day he was born. He was very much aware that I needed special care and was careful when he spooked, to avoid running over me or bumping me in any way. Something he did not do with anyone else. Now it broke my heart when he died. I felt that I let him down by not being there for him. Although injured, he was still able to get back to our property like he knew I would fix him when he got home.
My Life As A Horse Lover: My Love For Horses Has Never Wavered!
After my Compadrè passed, I continued to own these amazing horses. Although none were as close to my heart. My children were able to ride and show these horses and it gave them a fun life with property to grow and play on. Certainly, they grew up knowing that your animals required care and chores came with that care. However, like me, they enjoyed most of the chores that came with owning these amazing animals. God gives us amazing creatures to love and grow in our character. Because by knowing and experiencing the wonder of animals. We experience another aspect of life. While it hurts to lose a loved animal, it prepares our lives for the loves and losses of the future. I know my life has been enriched by loving animals.
Certainly, the people that I have loved have benefited. Through loving animals, in this case, horses. I have learned the meaning and gained the ability to love unconditionally. It is a rare gift that all animals give us mortals. For they are truly God’s gifts to us! However, now that I am in better health and pain-free, I just might take up riding again.
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