Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Wanting That First Horse


I remember when I was about 11 or 12 years old and really wanting my own horse. I was always able to trail ride at the local stables every weekend and in those days, they would let two twelve year old girls take out a couple of horses for two hours on their own and never worry about it and Jess and I were fine, never in trouble. Crossed busy roads, rode down by the Fox River, ran the horses on the old railroad track path and never had a problem. Back to wanting that horse. I remember that I used the argument on my Dad that he and Roxie, my older sister, had their horses when I was just three years old and that it wasn't fair. I had found a pregnant mare, named Flicka, funny enough. She was sorrel with a white star and white socks. I drug my Dad there to see her. Sat on her. Fell in love and desperately tried to talk my Dad into letting me have her. In the end, I did not get the horse, nor did I get any horse. Often as children we only see what we want and not the big picture like what it takes in money to run a household. And the fact that this mare was pregnant and the cost of feeding and boarding. I'm sure it broke my Dad's heart not to be in a position to get me my horse. It wasn't until I turned 37 years old and got divorced that I was finally able to afford and buy my own horse and I've had a few the past seven years. Now I've got my two beautiful mares in which I will never get rid of and in the future would like just one more mare. And that future will be once this child brat of mine gets through university. Got to pay for that first. And if I can talk my wonderful husband into it. ;)

8 comments:

steve said...

hhhhmmmmmpppp
Are all girls with horses the same and are husbands the last to know

We agreed we had only pasture for 2 horses and could only afford 2 horses

I reckon I better be very dilligent on any conversations with horses as I am to soft by half

I agreed to 1 goat and ended up with 3 , I said no more animals and ended up with blind kitten

And now my darling wife knows I read all and will on my guard

Anonymous said...

Great post :) I did not own my own horse until 25. I used to cut out classified ads of free horses and staple it to my Christmas list, find houses for rent with barns the works. One of four raised by a single mother I'm sure it was no fun trying to explain why we couldn't afford a "free" horse. I guess it just like everything else in life... Those who don't have appreciate it all the more. Now I'm grown and have 5 horses of my own and horses are my job. My mom couldn't give me a horse but she did give me drive, and the belief that you can have anything in life that you set your mind too...

Rising Rainbow said...

I didn't get my first horse until I was 40 and boy am I making up for lost time, I have about 28 so.....when your husband is grossing about you wanting just one more, you can remind him that at least you're not crazy like MiKael! lol

Callie said...

Mikael, Thanks for those awesome comments. I promptly read them both to my husband. He chuckled and stated he wasn't amused. I, however, was very amused. lol

Callie said...

Kelly, that is true, my parents gave me the drive as well and that's the best gift to give your children.

Rising Rainbow said...

I'm sure your husband was not amused. LOL Probably more like shaking in his boots thinking how far you could go..........if you let yourself.

Fortunately, for me, my husband understands how horses feed my soul, so he's pretty supportive. The only time he falters is when he's around his family and they start telling him how crazy this all is. Crazy to them maybe, to me, they're the crazy ones because they haven't a clue.

Pony Tail Club said...

Great post! Although we've had horses all our lives, we keep adding to the group. Dad says he doesn't get it, but he has a soft place in his heart for them, and doesn't really mind (too much) when a new one comes home!

Anonymous said...

It's never too late for your dreams to come true. My best friend bought her first horse while we were in university (I'm still horseless many years later) and she was often bitter about the kids whose parents bought them nice horses for them to swan around on at shows. We did notice that these kids never really seemed to appreciate what they had, though.