Caution: Horses

Caution horse sign and gate at sunset

I was mad about horses. I know almost all teenage girls are but I should have known better. I grew up with a stubborn donkey named Bunny. Bunny would stand patiently—resigned, Eeyore-like. But as soon as I was almost on, she would take off for the nearest low hanging branch and, with Machiavellian intensity, scrape me off. Then, curling her lip, she would bray uproariously!

In spite of her, I read the Black Stallion books and dreamed of meeting My Horse—one who would love only me. Other girls might savor secret fantasies of Prince Charming, I had visions of Black Beauty keeping me warm at night.

Then I got her. Cinderella, a former race horse. She was leggy like a runway model. Her coat was as copper as my hair. We were meant for each other.

Two older friends came to meet her. We slipped into the pasture and stood patting her velvety muzzle. She started to move away. I reached up to My Horse– My Beautiful Horse– and stroked her neck. She began to walk off. I reached out to pat her flank but suddenly she had had enough of the gaggle of girls and with one swift kick laid me flat on the ground.

I lay in the grass, stunned. My friends rushed to me but I ran off crying– not because I was physically hurt but because my dream shattered under the blow from her hoof.

Later, I would ride her bareback into the creek, my legs floating behind me as she swam through the cool water. I would teach her to rear on my command, snorting in the wind with her mane and tail flowing freely. But, also she would puff her belly up big so the saddle would slide loose.

And, I would whine about feeding her and sometimes forget.

I think the hardest part about adulthood is learning–

Caution: Dreams! Keep your hands firmly on Reality.

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27 Comments
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wildstorm
Guest
wildstorm
16 years ago

What a wonderful post. A horse lover myself, I really enjoyed this.

Chris
Guest
16 years ago

What a hard thing it is to learn that dreams of how things could be almost never work out that way. I think I re-learn this lesson just about every day in a small way.

Chris
Guest
16 years ago

What a hard thing it is to learn that dreams of how things could be almost never work out that way. I think I re-learn this lesson just about every day in a small way.

Staff
Member
16 years ago

Wildstorm, thank you.

Ouch, Chris, you are so right. I set the story up as happening once and you learn the lesson but really, it happens again and again.

OriginalDesigner (Avery)
Guest

Nice story!!! That was written very well!!!

OriginalDesigner (Avery)
Guest

Nice story!!! That was written very well!!!

bluelaker4
Guest
bluelaker4
16 years ago

Nice. And so true.

bluelaker4
Guest
bluelaker4
16 years ago

Nice. And so true.

mjean1
Guest
mjean1
16 years ago

But, adulthood is also understanding that we need hopes and dreams to help us deal with our daily reality.

mjean1
Guest
mjean1
16 years ago

But, adulthood is also understanding that we need hopes and dreams to help us deal with our daily reality.

Staff
Member
16 years ago

We do need dreams. And we can’t help having them. It’s just that it hurts so much to get shot down that we need to remember to be clear about the reality, too.

max
Guest
max
16 years ago

Sheesh, Kym, the story was Black Beauty, not Red Beauty. You get yourself a red headed horse, or course you are going to get attitude.

max
Guest
max
16 years ago

Sheesh, Kym, the story was Black Beauty, not Red Beauty. You get yourself a red headed horse, or course you are going to get attitude.

Staff
Member
16 years ago

I should have thought of that! If only I’d got a black horse. . .Wait, my black cat has an attitude, too. I’m not sure hair color is the deciding factor here! Besides, I’m the most amenable person I know. This Redheads have attitudes is put out by brunettes who also put out the blondes are dumb thing.

max
Guest
max
16 years ago

“Besides, I’m the most amenable person I know.”

I see.

:::whistling:::

max
Guest
max
16 years ago

“Besides, I’m the most amenable person I know.”

I see.

:::whistling:::

Staff
Member
16 years ago

My idea of copping an attitude is mumbling under my breath, in bed, under the covers, four hours after whatever it is that makes me mad;>

Jen
Guest
Jen
16 years ago

It does happen again and again. The old adage “Be careful what you wish for, you might get it” comes to mind.
I’ve had this happen to me in publishing. When I began my journey, I kept saying “I just want to be published.” I got a contract from an electronic publisher. I got edits, a cover, a release date, everything.
But every dream has its reality. Promotion, royalties, taxes and so on. Just like feeding the horse, it takes work to keep a dream.
I love this post. It reminds me to keep dreaming even if the reality is less (or more) than I hoped for.

Jen
Guest
Jen
16 years ago

It does happen again and again. The old adage “Be careful what you wish for, you might get it” comes to mind.
I’ve had this happen to me in publishing. When I began my journey, I kept saying “I just want to be published.” I got a contract from an electronic publisher. I got edits, a cover, a release date, everything.
But every dream has its reality. Promotion, royalties, taxes and so on. Just like feeding the horse, it takes work to keep a dream.
I love this post. It reminds me to keep dreaming even if the reality is less (or more) than I hoped for.

Staff
Member
16 years ago

Good point, Jen.

I tend to blow beautiful bubbles and cry when they pop. I need to allow myself to blow the bubbles but also to be aware that they are likely to burst— so what am I going to do to achieve close to what I dream? And how can I prepare myself for less than I hoped for?

headwrapper
Guest
16 years ago

Expect everything!
expect nothing
–walk in that paradox.

headwrapper
Guest
16 years ago

Expect everything!
expect nothing
–walk in that paradox.