How many horse crazy girls out there were lucky enough to have a pony of their own. I wasn’t one of the lucky ones. My horse craziness was developed vicariously through the girl’s, boy’s, men and women in the Movies and TV shows I watched. Since I can remember the Horse has always fascinated and captured my imagination. I can recall lying in bed after watching the Black Stallion and imagining I was the one riding the wild horse on the beach of an unknown island, feeling the wind in my hair and the surf splashing on my naked legs. Nothing I was sure could make me feel as good as the simple joy of imagining my own horse.

In my childhood horses seemed an unreachable goal, we lived in an apartment on Main Street, and there was definitely no room for a horse in the postage stamp back yard, although it was a lot like Alec’s yard in the Black Stallion, yet even he couldn’t keep his beloved friend contained. Disappearing into fictional horse stories was my only way of experiencing horses. All I wanted to do was ride a horse - to feel the power of that animal beneath me. Little did I know that you couldn’t just jump up there and ride like the kids in the movies did? It was an unquenchable thirst for me; I would do just about anything to be able to ride a horse.

I can remember when I was pretty young, there used to be horses in the field next to my grandparents’ house. A bunch of us would climb the hill behind the house and duck the fence to get close to the then very large animals; depending on which daring cousin was there I would get a boost up and sit on the quiet animals. They were most definitely more interested in receiving our treats and eating the lush grass then running away with its mount. My first experience with these LIVE horses was intensely emotional and moving. I would often be the only one left in the pasture, after my other cousins got sick of them. None of them had the horsey sickness like I did.

Oh how I longed to have my own horse….or at least escape into one of those stories. I for the longest time wanted to be friends with Pipi Longstocking, just so I could ride Alfonzo with her. I wanted to be Elizabeth Taylor and ride Velvet through the fields and over the short rock walls. I really wanted to be myself and just have my own pony to love and care for and ride whenever, where ever I wanted. It was just never meant to be for me. So for years I would read all I could, watch every movie I could that had horses in it…..still to this day, my very favorite horse movie is The Man from Snowy River, I know the scene when he jumps over the cliff after the wild herd of Brumbies is all camera angles, but my heart always jumps in my throat when he goes over. I could go on and on about that horse movie alone. It does help that it’s incredibly romantic and scenic all at the same time. I’m thankful I had so much material to capture my attention; otherwise my parents would have gone crazy with my asking for lessons and a horse of my own.

I’m quite a bit older now, and although those movies and books sustained me then and still entertain me now, nothing is quite like the feeling of a real live horse between your legs.

I get to go to the barn every day and talk to my horses; hear them nicker when I come to the barn; get a nuzzle of appreciation when I groom the place they just can’t seem to reach. I’ve cried on the shoulder of my big shire gelding, and he comforted me in a way a human couldn’t, with quite understanding. Most people cannot understand the bond between humans and their horses. It’s honestly kind of hard to explain. I know I have longed all my life to have horses be a part of my everyday existence, and I can honestly say I wouldn’t be without them ever again.

I am currently the proud owner of 3 English Shires horses. I am a proud horse owner, who would do anything for these animals, especially because they are making all my horsey dreams come true!

Gatspy is the large gelding, Luke and Willie are the two yearlings and Missy is the pretty sorrel quarter horse above.

See ya next time,
Beth