Archive for the ‘She Rides’ Category
JUST SOMETHING FOR HIM TO DO – HOW I GOT INTO THE HORSE BUSINESS PART III
Written by Rocky Mountain Woman on January 25, 2012 – 12:57 pm -This post is in honor of the letter “J” and part of Jenny Matlock’s Alphabet Thursday. For more “J” posts, please click here http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/
The mares came back from the breeder. We rented a big pasture across the street from our house so they could run around for the summer, barefoot and pregnant. As the summer days got longer, I couldn’t seem to go to bed until I had walked across the street to check on the “girls”, maybe taking them a carrot or apple. I’m not sure if it was the mother in me or if I just had always been fascinated with horses and didn’t know it until then, but I fell in love with these two little mares and the idea of two baby horses the next spring really was tripping my trigger if you know what I mean! I started doing research on imprinting and training and horse care and anything else I could find about my new obsession. It was like being 16 and falling in love for the first time, I couldn’t think about anything else except my new passion. Oh Wilbur!
When the vet came out and confirmed our mares were pregnant, something in me shifted and I was changed forever. I know that sounds dramatic, but it was a life changing moment that took me completely by surprise. I had always loved animals and typically had a dog or two running around, but this was entirely different. The whole idea was to just find something for my husband to do now that he couldn’t work anymore. No one, especially me, expected this to turn into what it did. I wanted to build a bigger barn, buy a few more mares, quit my job and breed and train horses full time. The problem was that my job was our only source of income now and as anyone who has ever bred horses will tell you, it really isn’t a good way to make money, just spend money.
So I went to work every morning and then rushed home to clean stalls and groom horses. My husband just kind of stood back and watched me with this shocked look on his face. He never said it, but I think he was a little worried that I was going just a tad overboard. He had no idea how overboard I could get!
Summer turned into fall and fall became a very cold and snowy winter. We moved the mares back over to the barn behind our house and I spent every spare minute I could with them. I loved to brush them and put my hands on their swollen bellies. You could feel the colts moving around in there. I would stand for 1/2 hour at a time in the freezing barn leaning up against one of them and feeling the babies. I was hooked and there was no going back…
To be continued…
For the beginning of this story, please click on the “She Rides” category…
Posted in She Rides | 22 Comments »WHEN I AM AN OLD HORSEWOMAN
Written by Rocky Mountain Woman on April 11, 2011 – 12:09 pm -Linking up to Jenny Matlock’s Alphabet Soup. If you would like to join in the fun, please click here http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/
I posted this in the original Alphabet Thursday for “H”. I just love this poem, however, and think it is time for a reposting!
This poem by Patty Barnhart was originally published in the Arabian Horse World magazine in 1992 when I was just getting into showing Arabian Horses. I loved it when I was a young horsewoman and I love it even more now that I am an old horsewoman. Here it is with my photographic comments…
When I am an Old Horsewoman
When I am an old horsewoman
I shall wear turquoise and diamonds,
And a straw hat that doesn’t suit me
And I shall spend my social security on
white wine and carrots,
And sit in my alleyway of my barn
And listen to my horses breathe.
I will sneak out in the middle of a summer night and ride the old bay gelding,
Across the moonstruck meadow
If my old bones will allow
And when people come to call, I will smile and nod
As I walk past the gardens to the barn
and show instead the flowers growing
inside stalls fresh-lined with straw.
I will shovel and sweat and wear hay in my hair
as if it were a jewel
And I will be an embarrassment to all
Who will not yet have found the peace in being free
to have a horse as a best friend
A friend who waits at midnight hour
With muzzle and nicker and patient eyes
For the kind of woman I will be
When I am old
xxoo,
Rocky Mountain Woman
Posted in She Rides | 63 Comments »ZOOMING!
Written by Rocky Mountain Woman on July 15, 2010 – 5:52 am -ZOOMER
“a baby boomer, born between 1946-1964, who leads an active, adventurous lifestyle. The term was coined by gerontologist Dr. David J. Demko in 1998 and continues to be used to profile Zoomers on Dr. Demko’s web site at: www.demko.com/.
Happy Zooming y’all!
Posted in She Rides | 21 Comments »
