The wonderful world of Horses...or how I got hooked on horses

8:51:10 PM EST Let me tell you about Dusty, the Palomino!

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8:50:16 PM EST Well, when all else fails, try nagging, nagging, nagging.  As my parents well knew, I wanted a horse.  They had hoped that I might find another interest, but it just didn't go away.  I still wanted gifts with horsey themes, horse books, liked horse movies, wanted to play "horse" with friends (I had trouble finding friends who wanted to play being a horse, as opposed to playing with dolls).  One day I decided on a new tactic: writing the statement, "I want a horse" as many times as I could on the woodwork around my closet and bedroom door.  At least I used pencil.  But there I went, "I want a horse", "I want a horse", "I want a horse", "I want a horse", etc. etc. etc.  Fortunately, my parents were so very wonderful.  They just took it all in stride as part of my "horse thing".  It didn't get me a horse, but I hoped that it would just be another point on the side of my getting a horse and letting them know, that I was not going to give up until, I got a horse!

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8:47:00 PM EST

Although I started riding at the age of 8 and had a few horse shows under my belt, it wasn't the same as owning my own horse.  Every birthday and Christmas I would ask for a horse (at least this was a change from: "I want a dog!" of previous years).  And, as time would go by without my having a horse, I would simply imagine that the animals in my life were somehow equine in nature.  I had a cat that I make a carriage out of a hatbox and had it pull it like a horse, my grandmother's dog that I would lead around like a horse in a confirmation class, and even my parakeet would ride on my shoulder as I would canter from room to room in my house.  My father had a carpenter build me a HUGE saw horse, it was the size of a small horse, honestly, and it sat in the basement.  the back was rounded and there was a wooden head shaped like a horse.  The same year that my father gave me the elaborate saw horse, he also gave me a real leather English saddle and bridle!  the saddle and bridle fit perfectly on the sawhorse and I spent many hours imagining riding a real horse in the basement.  Even though this was a really cool gift, it didn't replace the real deal, and I continued to request a horse every birthday and Christmas.  I received many horse related items and horsey gifts.  Scarves on horses on them, a belt with a horsehead buckle, a skirt with a horsehead adorning it, and jewelry laden with horse motifs.  One Christmas, I woke up in the morning to get out of bed and step onto a beautiful little rug with a mare and foal on it.  I still have that rug to this day and remember with fondness that moment that I realized what my feet had touched! 

One of my most memorable horse gifts started out with a visit to a furniture store with my mother.  We were walking around looking at furniture, of course, when I suddenly spied one of the most beautiful paintings I had ever seen.  It was rectangular and a beautiful shade of blue.  It was a painting (actually a print) of wild white horses in the middle of the ocean, riding the waves, part of the waves, they were the waves!  It was awesome!  My mother could see how much I was in love with this painting, I'm sure.  We left the store, but I never forgot that painting.  On Christmas morning, under the tree, when I rounded the corner of the living room, there was that incredible painting sitting under the glittering Christmas tree.  I let out a scream and ran to it.  There it was!  MY painting!  The painting of the wild white horses in the sea foam!  And, yes, I still have that painting to this day hanging in my home.  I would love to know more about the artist and where the original to this painting is.  I remember seeing somewhere a similar painting of wild white horses in the sky, part of the clouds.  That was really cool, too.  But I don't know where that painting would be either.  If anyone knows, please let me know! 

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9:28:56 AM EST During the next year, I continued to take riding lessons in Dayton, Ohio.  My mother would drive me to the stables and I would ride "Bunny" in the show ring as well as on the trails.  When the horse show came around again, I entered again.  Once again, I didn't win any ribbons or trophies, but it was so much fun and so exciting to participate that I knew I wanted to do this many times in my future.  Each contestant, however, did receive a little "gold" horse statue and a small green ribbon.  I had won these items last year, too, and was happy to add another set to my "collection".  I think it is nice to let young children all get some kind of recognition for their efforts in any sport or event, and this was one example of such recognition.

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11:10:56 PM EDT The day of the horse show I was extremely excited.  I was a shy child and wasn't used to being in front of lots of people.  There was a large ring at the stables where the competition would take place.  It was there that I would enter the "show ring" for the first time riding my dependable "Bunny".  It was something that I took very seriously and couldn't believe that it was really happening right then!  My parents took some silent movies of me that day (that was before camcorders!) and I still enjoy looking at it.  We rode around the ring in both directions at a walk, trot and canter.  The judge then asked us to stop our horses and to dismount, quite a surprise to everyone.  We all did as requested.  No doubt this request was to see how well we could dismount and mount our horses.  Only one problem for me though, I couldn't reach high enough with  my foot to reach the stirrup to get back on the horse!  I was probably one of the smallest riders in the ride and although Bunny was not very big, I was quite small.  It was an embarrassing moment, but I knew deep down that there was absolutely nothing I could have done about it and hoped that everyone would realize that, too.  I didn't win any ribbons that day, except for a little ribbon that said "contestant" on it and a little gold horse statue which was given as a consolation prize to all of the kids who didn't win one of the first through six place ribbons that were offered.  There were many riders in the class, so that was a good idea to give out the other "awards" so that the kids like me still felt like "winners".  All I knew was that I  had actually been in a horse show on a real live horse and had pictures to prove it.  And, I knew I wanted to do it again.

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12:30:38 AM EDT

I was about eight years old when I caught "horse fever".  Anyone who has experienced horse fever, knows what I'm talking about.  It is particularly common in young girls, such as the girl played by actress, Elizabeth Taylor in the movie classic, "National Velvet".  

From a red wooden hobby horse that I would ride while watching TV, to a plastic palomino horse given to me by my great grandfather, horses would always hold a fascination for me.   

It all began when I was about eight years old, and I began watching a popular TV show of the 1950's called, "Fury".  Fury was the breathtakingly beautiful black stallion that starred in the show.  I was captivated by his spirit and intelligence and watched with great reverence as he would lead his master, Joey, and his father played by Peter Graves (later of Misson: Impossible fame) to a trapped child in an abandoned well.  This horse always saved the day. 

There were other TV shows of that era that also featured a horse, namely, "My Friend Flicka", but Fury was definitely my favorite.  Other shows I watched were the Lone Ranger which featured the famous white horse named "Silver" and later, "Mr. Ed".  Although a tag silly, I still liked Mr. Ed because he was a beautiful palomino, and I was partial to palominos.

As just a wee one, I enjoyed the pony rides that I would occasionally get at a fair or park.  My parents always let me ride, and they would strap me into the western saddle as the pony, which was tethered to a "hot walker" would circle round and round with me. 

It wasn't long before I asked my parents to let me start riding horses and to take riding lessons.  Pony rides just weren't enough anymore.  I was only eight, but I knew what I wanted.  I was thrilled when my mother took to me King Tullis riding academy in Dayton, Ohio, where we lived.  There, I sat on my first horse named, "Bunny".  Bunny wasn't very big, but neither was I, and he was certainly more than a pony, so I was pleased.   After riding around in the show ring for a while, we would then head out on a trail ride.  I really enjoyed the trail ride and the nature.  It was a long line of horses, but I was on my own, no lead line, just Bunny and me following the other horses.  I loved the sound of the leather as it creaked with each step of the horses, the smell of their coats, and sounds of their whinnies and snorts.  I even loved the smell of the stables, the hay, the straw, and yes, the manure.  It's just something that "horsey" people understand. 

One day, I even got to sit on Bunny and be part of the background in a photo for the Dayton Daily News when the King Tullis Horse Show was being promoted and another child featured in the foreground on his horse.  I didn't care, I was on a horse and my picture was in the newspaper, two great reasons to celebrate!

As the big event approached, my mother bought me a little riding outfit for the horse show.  It consisted of a white summer riding jacket and brown jodpurs and black boots.   To top it off, I had a little derby that I wore on my head.  The "total look" was completed!  I was ready for my first horse show!

 

 

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