The first time I set foot on the ranch, I met Darcy. She walked my dad and I over to her horse Cabernet and her new baby Bella. I’ve always loved animals, but this was something new and I’d never been around this many horses at one time before, or rather, this big of a dog.
It didn’t take Cabernet very long before she decided to enjoy a little bath. So, she knelt down, rolled over, and with all 4 legs up in the air, swivelled and wiggled back and forth on her back in the dust. They’re just big dogs, I thought.
I was in love, and cautious all at the same time. Cautious, not because of the actual horses, but rather because the girls I knew growing up that had horses weren’t always the friendliest, and at that point – that was my only point of reference into the horse world. I didn’t want to ever take for granted what it would mean to be around such amazing animals, so when I was given my first horse Aslan – I tried to take in every moment I could.
Aslan was the tallest (17.2), friendliest, and sweetest boy ever. He used to race and therefore always had to lead whenever we’d go on a trail ride, or anything. He insisted on being first, even if we didn’t know where we were going.
Some days we’d just walk around the ranch, some days I’d take him to the very back corner and then take off in a full gallop to the other side, and other days we’d just walk around his stall. I’d lay on his back and talk to him, and wish how I had a camera to help remember those days. I wish that even more now, I don’t have many pictures left of him, but I do have this one. This is in his older years; one might call it his retirement
There’s nothing like being on the back of a horse, it’s one of the best and most free feelings in the world. It’s the only real ‘sport’ I participated in when I was younger…But if you’ve ever seen me try to catch a ball, frisbee, pair of keys, or any other flying object – you’d be able to tell. I’m not so graceful
I’m only coordinated in the sports world when it involves an animal that’s taller than me and weighs in at over one thousand pounds. But, I wouldn’t have it any other way
Happy Wednesday :)
