So if you read the last post you are probably wondering how it finally all happened. How did I ever eventually finally end up riding horses? Here it goes.
You probably figured this already, but every letter to Santa, every birthday wish list, every time I got all A’s on my report card and my parents offered me a present – EVERY TIME, all I wanted was a horse. In 6th grade it finally happened. The hottest guy in school – the one who made even the teachers melt – owned and rode horses. Let’s be honest; I was completely and embarrassingly obsessed! My parents finally gave me the blessing to take riding lessons so I called the only person I knew that had horses – Colby. I ended up talking to his mom and we arranged for me to come take a lesson with her!!! Upon hanging up the phone I immediately burst into tears. So many emotions for an 11 year old to be going through. I had just called the house of a boy I had been obsessed with for years (humiliating!!!), BUT I had also FINALLY after years of begging and pleading and being the perfectly behaved child with hopes my parents would give in, was going to take riding lessons. I had about 3 (excruciatingly spaced out) lessons with his mom before she recommended me to a public riding barn. In those days I didn’t care what kind of riding I did as long as I was on a horse. It turned out the barn was a barrel racing barn, and boy were we serious about it! Almost all of my horsemanship was learned on the barrel pattern, and those lessons have taken me a long way as a rider.
The greatest LIFE lesson happened that first year. My trainer was pretty classic. Almost as soon as I started riding out there she was pushing my parents to purchase a little gray Quarter Horse mare named Misty (quite a coincidence since my favorite book was Misty of Chincoteague). My dad had also promised me a horse when I turned 12. Of course he had always promised a horse a few years in advance thinking that I would eventually grow out of this “phase”. This year was different! This year I was taking lessons and had a trainer and thought for sure he had spoken the truth (he probably didn’t even remember the promise from 3 years before). My birthday came and of course I had visions of being asked to go get the paper (in my little suburban Mississippi neighborhood) and there being a horse tied to the mailbox at the end of the driveway. As the day drew to a close and still there was no horse I asked my dad about it. He said, “when you get all A’s on your report card I’ll get you a horse.” He successfully put it off for a few more months.
My report card finally came, and of course I had all A’s. I sat with bated breath as I handed it to my dad at the dinner table. If I remember correctly, he read each class out loud with the grade and comment. I looked excitedly at my dad on the edge of my seat barely able to contain my excitement! He leaned forward and slowly reached into his back pocket to reveal… a money clip. He gave me a $100 bill My world was rocked. Dinner finished in a blur and my family all went to their own place in the house. I laid in the kitchen floor and sobbed. It was finally my time! I was supposed to get a horse! It was all I wanted in the entire world! My oldest brother walked in – he was 6 years older and at this point in my life seemed like the meanest guy in the world. He looked down at me wallowing in my puddle of sorrow and self pity and asked menacingly why I was crying. I told him Dad had promised me a horse for all A’s on my report card but instead I got $100 bill. Nathan then imparted the greatest words of wisdom that he probably doesn’t even remember saying, “Stop crying, and do something about it. Go talk to mom and dad.” I glared at him. How could my evil brother be right? But he did seem to have a good point. I laid on the floor until he walked away and then I slowly got up and made my way down the hall to my parents bedroom. I knocked on the door and they said I could come in. I don’t really remember what all was said, but after a few minutes my Dad picked up the phone and called my trainer. We bought a horse!!!
Lesson for the day – Stop crying, and do something about it. If we want a change in our lives, it’s up to us to make it happen!
Disclaimer for the day – I have a wonderful and supportive family and the best brothers in the world! Everything I’m sharing is from my 12 year old viewpoint.
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