>>>>the kids voted to buy a riding horse <<<<
I grew up riding - my father being a troubled store manager for Sears, he always insisted on giving a pony away to some customers child at Christmas. Well, It was my job to ride and test each one for about a month before Christmas.
Then when I started to school, we had draft horses (long story for another time) but I had one ‘Dolly’ a huge dapple gray Percheron mare that I rode to school (one room schoolhouse - grades 1-12) (See I told you I was old as dirt) I used to tie her by the barn door and climb up on the door and swing out so I could get on her - then at school I would stop next to the hitching rail and climb down onto it.
My parents each had Tennessee Walking Horses and I was given a 5 gaited gelding - we were visiting a friends father who had a caretaker take care of the horse when they traveled, and he was afraid of the horse and he whipped him one time, and after that whenever he came near the horse, there were going to be some boards missing from the side of the barn as he would kick them out.
Anyway, he asked me if I thought I could ride him and I said that I was sure I could... He said if I could, he was mine... I picked up a piece of baler twine and made a loop for around his nose (he was neck reined) and jumped on bareback and rode him 4 miles home. Best horse ever... (but I am partial).
In college, I got to ride a lot in Brandywine and Cheshire hunt country - with jumpers. We still have a hackmore 3/4 sized pony that we keep her back with the Dr.’s three horses.
I love horses.
Wish I could have seen you on your giant of a horse.
I think my earliest memory is rushing out to meet my uncle when he came in from the range, he and the other cowboys.
I couldn’t have been more than two, but God stayed on the job and and I never got trampled.
And I stuck to him like glue, LOL, I am sure that he took a lot of ribbing from the cowboys, as that is what every 20 year old man wants, a two year old for a shadow.
I did have a couple of horses 20 years ago, so had my older fling.
It amazes me how smart they are and how careful they can be of someone who is not a trained rider.
Yes, if every child had a horse they loved, this would be a better world.