Another New Grandmother--Me
Yesterday, with the arrival of Jacob Andrew for my daughter and her husband, I joined the one in three Americans who are now grandparents. Naturally, I was ready with the cowboy-boot booties and a desire to locate the perfect pony. I also had more than a few thoughts about future effects on the horse world from the current burgeoning rate of grandparenthood. I'll share some of them with you in future posts.
Right now, though, I'm going to go practice callling myself Grandma Juli. (Does that sound as strange to you as it does to me? It's definitely a identity shift that'll take some getting used to.)
posted by Juli Thorson @ 11:07 AM
5 comments
5 Comments:
hi my name is jessica i absalutly love your magazine it has inspired me to geta hourse well a man i know is getting one and i will ride it and look after it for him i am only 13 years of age i have a qestion to ask can u send me picture of a horses tail after it has been plated or can u send me that and a couple of more pictures ot thurer bread hourses thank u so much for reading this i am gratefull my email adress iss jessicabaines2'hotmail.com bye right back
Well, I am still adjusting to calling myself "Mommy" as well. Actually, it's coming surprisingly easily! Erin
I have read your editorials for years, and there is nothing sweeter than hearing "grandma" the first time from that little grandchild.
At age 63, I have discovered horse ownership has changed for us senior riders!!!! I now board in a very nice barn, so that when I want to travel, I don 't have to worry about the care of my horse. Also, I no longer have the strength and energy to handle most of the care required by our companion animals of choice.
I have enjoyed your research on the demographics of horse ownership in the present time. Having been away from horse ownership for 8 years, and coming back to it three years ago, all I can say is "the times they are a changing"
Please continue to keep us aware of the future changes in the horse industry.
blmoone@wi.rr.com
Being Grandma is wonderful. Just wait until you get that little one on your horse for the first time. My little one is now 11 years old and still loves to ride although she doesn't get to much since she moved with her parents 200 miles away. She does ride as much as possible when she visits but her mother doesn't care for horses so that makes it harder for her. Congradulations on the new grandbaby!!
It's been poking and proding it's way into my life, now Juli is mentioning age and horses so it must be! It's sort of the collision at the mailbox when your Victoria's Secret arrives with your AARP magazine! I noticed and loved the arrival of the grandkids, but the two biggest shockers to me: when I realized that when my new weanling filly is 20 I'll be 70! and that while she's a typical young horse I am now fearful of getting bumped around or knocked down, something that never crossed my mind. I actually sustained an injury that would have been nothing in prior years and found it eye opening and somewhat frightening. I fell off the horsetrailer wheelwell, yes they are right when they tell you not to stand on that! Not only did I fall which I've done before, I was an outdoors kid afterall; but I didn't catch myself, I hit the ground and was startled to find, where ARE my reflexes?! I sprained my ankle something that's never happened before, and hurt my back. Something that I of course relate to whining about in that, now I can't pick up the bag of grain or the shavings bag, I don't want my filly tugging me around and I'm worried that what if my chiro can't put me back where I was? And of course I'm not worried about work, I'm worried that this filly I've waited for forever, and figure, see the above age ref., my last shot at showing and having a forever horse; what if I can't get my leg over cause of this stupid thing I did and ride? Yes it would be the end of the world! We used to have "prospects" i.e. lots of horses that had potential and we were going to do with. Then I got smarter for me, and picked one and did well with that one because I wasn't dividing all my horse time too many ways to enjoy. When we got this filly in October I was thinking about bloodlines and goals, not time limits. Now I've added time limits to goals. Not by choice, but by fact. Now that we don't "need" all those prospects, we figure we can manage the one horse, a financial look at funds we will and won't have as our earning time slows down. We have to live somewhere, and we are not apartment lifestyle or organized ranching; a small house and barn and pasture for one, will be if we can manage it, very satisfying. I do now, also, think about being attached to this forever horse and what if? What if things don't work out well financially, it's going to be hearbreaking to have to give her up. Even if you think you are set financially, I find myself now, which is frightening of it'self!; thinking more like my parents and grandparents, what if?
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