HAPPY TRAILS!

June 7

Dear Emily,

Last week a friend brought her six-year-old grandson to see the horses. He had never seen a horse before, but he wasn’t afraid. I saddled Charlie Horse and little Clark climbed right on as if he had been doing it everyday of his life. I led him around the front yard in a circle…the same circle where I led Simon, Laura, your daddy, Uncle Robert…all on their first horse ride. And it’s the same circle where I will lead you someday on your first horse ride.

I have been riding horses since before I can actually remember. My earliest memories of horseback riding are with my grandfather. He had a white mare (that’s a girl horse) named “Miss Jimmie.” He had named her after my grandmother. I don’t know why. When I was a little, little girl, I would sit on the front of the saddle as he rode Miss Jimmie around the farm. Eventually I got old enough to ride by myself. I named my first horse “Reddy.” That was because he was red! When I was in the third grade, my daddy bought the pony that was the love of my life…her name was Baby Doll. She was spotted black and white with glass eyes and I adored her. She had a wild streak, but that just made her that much more fun to ride. I spent hours riding her around the farm or to Grandmama’s house. Sometimes I would give her a bath and show her in the local 4-H shows. She nearly always won a ribbon. I kept Baby Doll until she died and buried her on the farm.

Now I have six horses. And they are like family. June actually belongs to Uncle Jimmy but he never rides her. Maggie is the alpha horse (that means she is the horse in charge!) and is the mother of the other four horses. Delta is the oldest of the four siblings and the most spoiled. She is more like a big yard dog than she is a horse. Harry Potter is next. He tries to evade being caught, but once the saddle is on, he is a peach. Next is Charlie Horse…my favorite. Charlie’s grandfather was a world grand champion walking horse named Ebony’s Masterpiece and class always shows…for man or horse! Charlie is black with beautiful ears and a sweet disposition. Finally, there is Cisco. He is white with brown spots and is full of mischief, which gets him into trouble. In fact, the vet had to come recently to put stitches in Cisco’s back leg.

Horses are like people. If you treat them with love, kindness, and respect, they will respond the same…most of the time. Sometimes you meet people and horses that don’t fit the mold, but they are rare. God’s world is more beautiful when experienced from the back of a horse and problems never seem as challenging. So get ready Emily….I can hardly wait until you and I saddle up for that first ride!