Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Re: [haflingerfriends] To those of you struggling with owning a horse.... KIO...

So true. Horses are our lives. God was very good to plan it that way.
Erick keeps me young!

Carol in Snowflake AZ


In a message dated 12/15/2009 7:12:39 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
baturayv@msn.com writes:

Kiolak:

That was so beautiful, it brought me to tears also.

Thank you for sharing.

Vicki Baturay

baturayv@msn.com

From: haflingerfriends@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:haflingerfriends@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of kiolak
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2009 2:37 PM
To: haflingerfriends@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [haflingerfriends] To those of you struggling with owning a
horse....

Hello Friends,

I just read something that a fellow riding instructor posted on a different
yahoo group. It is an eloquent message that she had come across, and it
honestly just brought me to tears.... I would like to share it with you all
as well...

I think that for any of us who are struggling, or have had struggled with
horse ownership, this will really speak to your heart. It did to mine.

Your Haffiefriend,
~Kiola~
Brier, WA

***************************************************

I Hung up my Bridle Today
by Kris Garrett

Yesterday, for the first time, I was too tired to ride
Yesterday, for the first time, I was afraid I would be hurt if I was thrown
Yesterday, for the first time, I heard someone say my barn was too shabby
Yesterday, for the first time, I let someone tell me I was too pudgy to
ride
Yesterday, for the first time, I realized I was old
Yesterday, for the first time, I had to face that I could no longer keep up
Yesterday, for the first time, I had to let go of my dreams
Yesterday, for the first time, I felt my heart break
Yesterday, for the first time, I turned my back on my friend
Yesterday, for the first time, I knew I was done

Today, for the last time, I felt warm, braided leather in my hands.
Today, for the last time, I ran my stirrups up so they wouldn't bang my
mare's
sides
Today, for the last time, I released the buckles on the girth and watched
my
girl sigh
Today, for the last time, I slowly dropped the bit so it wouldn't hit her
teeth
Today, for the last time, I gave my mare a cookie to thank her for the ride
Today, for the last time, I buried my head in her soft, warm neck
Today, for the last time, I inhaled the sun and the dust in her long winter
coat
Today, for the last time, I closed the gate and trudged to the muddy porch
Today, for the last time, I tracked hay and horse hair into my house
Today, for the last time, I pulled off my boots and felt the sting of warm
blood
returning to my cold toes

Today, for the first time, I cried after my ride
Today, for the first time, I felt my hands shake as I set the saddle on its
rack
Today, for the first time, I hugged my young trainer a final goodbye
Today, for the first time, I waited for the new owner's trailer to arrive
Today, for the first time, I set my boots in a box to go to the Goodwill
Today, for the first time, I sighed at the wear on my riding gloves
Today, for the first time, I had no hay in my hair
Today, for the first time, I did not hear nickering when I opened my back
door
Today, for the first time, I felt worse leaving the barn that I did when I
entered
Today, for the first time, I had no one to check on before going to bed

Tomorrow, for the first time, I won't have to buy hay
Tomorrow, for the first time, I can stay in bed longer
Tomorrow, for the first time, I won't see the poop pile grow
Tomorrow, for the first time, I won't be able to fly on four legs
Tomorrow, for the first time, I will be sorry I listened
Tomorrow, for the first time, I will regret letting her go
Tomorrow, for the first time, I will be angry at God
Tomorrow, for the first time, I will be angry at myself
Tomorrow, for the first time, I will cry the day away
Tomorrow, for the first time, I will be glad to die

Day after tomorrow, for the first time, I will awaken in tears
Day after tomorrow, for the first time, I will know I was wrong
Day after tomorrow, for the first time, I will defy all the judgment
Day after tomorrow, for the first time, I will ignore my old bones
Day after tomorrow, for the first time, I will return the buyer's check
Day after tomorrow, for the first time, I will bring my friend home
Day after tomorrow, for the first time, I will take my boots out of the box
Day after tomorrow, for the first time, I will be reborn

For the rest of my life, I will have a horse in my yard
For the rest of my life, I will ignore the ignorant judging
For the rest of my life, I will watch the poop pile grow
For the rest of my life, I will have hay in my hair
For the rest of my life, I will track mud in my house
For the rest of my life, I will bury my face in her soft neck
For the rest of my life, I will let my soul fly
For the rest of my life, I will never be alone

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