Gotta See A Lady About A Horse

I had a pony when I was very young. Stormy was a black Shetland pony and he was a little mean -- at least stubborn. My mom grew up on a farm and she raised and showed horses as a child and into adulthood.

My most vivid memory of Stormy was one time when he just took off with me on his back. I must have been five or younger. I just remember holding on tight, pulling on the reins as hard as I could, while my family kept yelling at me to pull harder.

I'm pretty sure my mom sold Stormy and my brothers pony, Popcorn, when I was about five, sometime around the time my parents divorced. Not long after that we moved back to the town my mother grew up in. My grandmother still lived on the farm, although it was for sale and it wasn't long before she had sold it and moved into an apartment in town. On the farm was a large stable and indoor riding arena. I regretted the sale of the farm for years.

I begged and begged for a horse until I was about 15 or so (like so many girls I'm sure). I know it must have been tough for my mom to hear this and to have to constantly tell me no. She was barely making enough to put food on the tablel, much less buy a horse and pay for it's room and board. I know it must have been hard because horses had been such a ___ during her childhood and she wanted to me to have the same experience.

Having horses is one of those things that's always been on my list to do or have, but not something I think about much at all.

This past Monday my mother-in-law called me and asked me if I'd be interested in riding with her neighbor. She'd been talking to her and discovered that although the woman has four horses, she doesn't have anyone to ride too and would really like some company.

I'm going Saturday and I can't wait. It seemed like a good omen, the phone call coming after this past weekend, after the past couple of months when I've been struggling. Something so unexpected and new, yet something I know I love. Something that I've always wanted to have in my life. I'm hoping it's not a one time thing. That K (the owner of the horses) and I will hit it off and she'll be willing to let me ride again.

It seems like a nice start to my new year.