Let’s start at the beginning. I loved horses all of my life. Started out playing with my model horses,
Thunder Bolt, Flame and Poncho. Stables and fencing were made by hand with cardboard so they would not run away. Barbie dolls rode them.
Elementary school days, I had a best friend that won a pony, she named Ribbon. Or really her dad won the pony during a raffle. He was the only entry, because the Pabst Blue Ribbon he drank during the event. That is how the pony got his name. Was not a broke pony, but we loved it anyways.
Eighth Grade Graduation, I received my first horse. Pinto named Bandit. My love of my life. We rode all
over. Every weekend we rode his barn from Garden Prairie to Belvidere. He would stay in my back yard. Me in the tent camping with him. We did horse rides for the neighborhood kids for money to get his feed. My neighbor picked up the poop for his garden. We did everything together. Then he got out of his pasture and tragic accident happened. Do not want to talk about it.
Couple of years passed and decided to invest in my passion. Got my 5-year-old mare “Tanya” from a kill pen. She was bought as a roan. But later turned into a beautiful grey mare. Another love of my life.
We got a truck and trailer and went all over to trails rides and many parades. Joined a local saddle club, Boone County Saddle Club. We got my sister and mother to get horses, so we rode together on many of these rides. Tried couple of horse shows, but that was not our thing. She had a colt, named Shar Dan, registered ½ Arabian. Broke him and rode him on rides but sold him when he was 4 years old because I was expecting. I Had Tanya for 20 + years before I had to sell her to a great family with kids because of a divorce. I Lost everything. No more farmhouse (with the white picket fence). No more truck or trailer. No more horses. My dreams were lost and destroyed.
Ten years went by. Then my cousin asked if I would like to go on a trail ride, she got me hooked. I rode
her husband’s horse Coppe for a long time until he got arthritis and turned into the pasture pet.
Then I decided to get my own horse again. I wanted to show again. So, I got Tommy a Registered paint that did mostly shows. I was told he did trails. But not the full details. Trails classes, not real trails outside. He was a bug freak. When I rode on the outside trails, I had to do a full Cashel bug armor sheet on him. We clicked together at the beginning. We loved the competition at the shows. But then we had a bad accident during a fun show. I ended up with 32 staples in my left leg. Everything went downhill fast. Our bond was not there anymore. He turned spooky at everything. I feared him and he feared me, and he knew it. When I finally got the courage to get on him, I ended on the ground too many more times. Decision to sell him, before I got into the hospital again. He was sold to a family that gave him a job to do without any fear of that person.
A couple of more years passed. I was looking for the right horse again. My love of my life (again).
Needed one that I would not fear. Needed a companion to share our love together. Then I met Rastus.
A solid black registered paint gelding. I had to fill out a reference to buy him so I could buy him. He was a working cow pony. Collected cows out west from the mountains. Did antelope hunting trips out west. Seen buffalo, deer, turkeys and other wildlife. He takes care of me during our rides and camping trips. Loves kids brushing him and being ridden by them. He has a 4-H girl riding him for her lessons. Also went to his first 4-H show couple of years ago. He loves the crowds and attention. Very laid-back horse that things do not bother him. But now my body is taking a toll. My damage leg bothers me along with my knees. I have my other cousin ride him when I cannot do so. I plan on retiring soon and would like to retire with Rastus. So, do everything that you can if you love horses. Things come up you want it or not. Ride as long as you can. If you cannot, still give your horse all the love that you can give. Just you being there with the love and attention is all you and they need.
Chris