Miss my equine life....

Last night the MIL, FIL and myself went to the fair and watched the miniature mules and draft ponies and as I sat there watching each exhibitor enter the ring I couldn't help but think about how that should be me in there. Well, maybe not those classes, but showing, teaching lessons and training. I should be on the side of the ring telling a junior exhibitor to tighten his or her reins, smile and just have a good time.

You see, I grew up in a family who trains, breeds, sells and shows American Saddlebreds and Hackney Ponies and for the last several years my life really hasn't been complete without them. They say once horses are in your blood they don't go away and it's been three years since I got on a horse, three very long years. Three years and a day hasn't passed that I don't think about going to the barn, tacking up my horse and riding. There are days when it's perfect riding weather and those are the days I miss riding most I think. I can remember the smell of the horse barns and hear the clip clop of hooves as someone leads their horse down a barn aisle. I can see myself tacking up a horse and finally putting on my gloves, pulling my jods over my boots and climbing up to get started. In my mind it all plays out as if I just did all of this but in reality that's just not true.

If you can't tell, riding and driving was my passion growing up as a child and as a young adult. The only other thing I enjoyed as much was music. It didn't matter what mood I was in my horse was always there and he could always cheer me up by rubbing his head against me until I fell over while I crouched in the corner of his stall. Then there was King Lee, our hackney pony I started showing when I was nine and continued to do so until I was 16. He was a trooper and always called for me when I came in the barn. Of course Conan, my horse, would figure out what was going on and tell me I needed to be with him. I miss both of those beautiful animals more than I could ever explain. Those two helped me form my riding and driving style in so many ways and for that I am very thankful.

An equine life is not for everyone and I know that because the man I married isn't much into them. To him horses are just land destroyers and a waste of money. He prefers cattle....ugh...cattle. I hope to one day, maybe in the next two years be riding again. I know what riding does for me and my soul. Right now a piece of me is missing but when I put that piece back it will be a happy day.