Best Holiday Horse Memories!
We're in the holiday countdown mode, which in my view, gives us a valid reason to be sentimental for at least the next week. So I started thinking today about my all-time best holiday horse memory, and decided I would share it.
The scenario: It's December 24, 1992. In a fantastic stroke of luck, I have managed to convince the owner of Opies Ace High, my awesome all-around horse, to sell him back to me, for considerably less than her asking price. (Not that he wasn't worth what she was asking--far from it. Just that I didn't happen to have that much money on hand at the time.) I've driven from Portland, Oregon, across the border into Canada, to fetch Ace home, and am chatting with someone at the Canadian barn.
When...around the corner comes my beloved horse, dancing sideways, and sporting a big red bow and "Merry Christmas" sign around his neck. He spots me and lets out a "Hi, where have you BEEN?!" nicker. I take his lead rope in my hands, and say, "I am never letting go of this rope again!"
That memory was made 15 years ago, and I still get misty-eyed just pulling up the mental picture of what truly was one of the happiest moments of my life.
Feel free to be sentimental right back at me. 'Tis the season!
posted by Juli Thorson @ 5:36 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Julie, I got misty eyed reading your post!
For years I would always take a ride, how long depended on weather conditions, on my beloved mare who is now 26 years old. I have owned her since she was 3. It was our special ride for Christmas, just she and I, because that is what I love most doing in the whole world, and I love her just as much. She and I would ride giving thanks for the salvation that Jesus has brought to all of us, and the love we have for each other. No dogs, no other horses ponied, no other horse and riders. We always managed to get in at least a short ride.
Sadly, my life long companion is getting arthritic. She's been retired for 5 years now. The last couple of years I would just sit on her bareback no halter, telepathically recalling to her days of riding and one Christmas in particular when it gently started snowing on our way home.
Last year I got up on her, and had not been on her since last Christmas. With a short toss of her head, she let me know she was too uncomfortable to hold my weight. I got off, and fed her treats and telepathically reminded her of those days we used to ride. I won't even attempt to get on her this year, we'll just hang out and recall younger years.
I had a dream the other night that we were swimming in one of our favorite lakes, she was such a good strong swimmer and enjoyed it. The image was so real I can still remember it like it really happened. The sun on my face, the cool dampness of the water, her power under me, and sun's refractions glistening off her beautiful bay colored back. If I can't ride her when I am awake I can still ride her in my dreams.
Since this is my first horse and I haven't had him long, I didn't have any memories to share-until yesterday.
I'm a pastor, so the Christmas season can be hectic for me. I've managed to get out to see Doc everyday, but we've just been riding in the indoor arena.
Yesterday the weather was perfect-we've had snow and th sky was a beautiful blue. Since there are miles of trails through woods and orchards where I board him, I decided it was time to get outside and enjoy it.
We rode for a long time, enjoying the weather, spying deer, and a beautiful very large and majestic hawk perched high in snow covered tree.
It was the perfect way to prepare my heart and mind for the upcoming days. As much as I love the festivities and being surrounded by my church family and friends and my loving family, it was awesome having those few hours alone with Doc-just enjoying each other and the solitude of a beautiful winter day. It's a memory I'll keep of my very first Christmas with my sweet Doc.
Hi Julie,
I have a 5 year old paint bred Gelding, but two years ago he was still a stallion. I had raised him from a weanling and trained him myself. He was the hardest horse I ever had to train. It was a lot of work to take him out by himself. If some mares came along he was fine, but a saddle horse needs to go when you want. Christmas day in South Dakota can be a cold day and in 2005 it was cold, but no wind. I decided to take him for a ride. I anticipated a lot of work taking him out. To my surprise he willingly set out with me and with out any problems. I had broken the barrier with him on Christmas day. He was a wonderful horse on that day. He has been great since. I rode him in a parade last year. He gave me a great Christmas present. He is a wonderful horse. His name is Lil Tequila Wells, but I call him Hoksheena(Dakota word for Boy).
My horse Trooper gave me the best Christmas presents in the couple of days before Christmas. We do Parelli Natural Horsemanship and have been working at our ground games with him on a 22 ft line but we played at liberty the last few days. I sent him to circle around me at the trot or canter and he'd go around once or twice then turn to me and ask to come in. On my signal, he would trot to me. He played the sideways and squeeze games at liberty too - a first for us. After playing our games, I mounted up and we rode around, finishing up with a couple of jumps. That was a gift for both of us since he spent last December on stall rest with an inflamed suspensory. I wasn't sure he'd be sound enough to jump again and he loves to jump. Now he's a very happy horse!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to every horse and rider!
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