The other day I was thinking about all of the great memories I've created with my horses, when it dawned on me that this is my last year of 4-H. I got really upset and began to think about all of the things my mare and I had accomplished. So, here is my letter to my 'heart horse.'
To my heart horse,
I want to first say that after all of these years we are still together. We started off together when I was only nine years old, and today I am nineteen. You're well into your retirement now but that doesn't stop us from creating new memories together. I'm forever grateful to have crossed your path.
It wasn't always easy, but thank you for tolerating me. I know being owned by a crazy, horse-loving nine year old was not the semi-retirement that you wanted but we both survived. Thank you for letting me do dumb things like stand on your back or slide off of your butt. You were clearly annoyed but you handled it with grace.
Thank you for teaching me most of the things I know in the saddle. Having a human instructor is great, but you really knew what you wanted out of a ride. You had no issue with pausing whatever we were in the middle of doing if I was being a brat. You even threw my butt in the dirt a few times to give me a reality check.
Thank you for carrying me through majority of my showing career, and winning me my first blue ribbon (but I still haven't forgotten that you spooked at my first blue ribbon). Even when you were so over the whole showing thing, you still managed to push through just to put a smile on my face. You were extremely ring sour when we first met, but we worked it out. I can now appreciate you did it all for me.
As silly as this sounds, thank you for having a slight attitude. You definitely have your mare days, some being worse than others. Majority of the time your attitude was funny, but sometimes I was convinced you might actually be Satan. As much as it used to frustrate me, I think our attitudes match very well.
Thank you for carting my little brother around, and managing to keep it together for him. It amazes me how stupid you can act when I lead you, but as soon as he takes the lead rope you act like such a dead head. I'm so thankful to have a horse that loves my little brother as much as I do.
Finally, I want to say thanks for this whole experience. There are so many shows, trail rides and just silly days at the barn that I could talk about. You always manage to put a smile on my face even when I'm having the worst day. You're truthfully my best friend. I'm thankful that at almost 32 years old you're still quirky and silly. One day when I'm looking for a horse for my future children, I'll be on the lookout for a horse just like you.
