My mom started riding horses when she was 8-years-old, the only equestrian in a family who was happy to humor their youngest member. She grew up riding huntseat and jumping, got her first pony when she was 12 and then her thoroughbred Windy when she was 15 ( I think … check the comments as she’ll set me straight if needed). She and Windy parted ways when she was in college. A few years later she was married and busy raising 3 little girls under the age of 2.
When we were growing up, my mom would load the three of us in the car and make the four-hour drive to the town in which she grew up to visit her best friend – who also manages the barn where they rode as kids. Mom and Carolyn had us sitting up on the horses pretty much before we could even walk. We have pictures of me and my younger twin sisters all three perched together on Carolyn’s mare, and my sisters barely toddlers. I learned to ride … walk, halt, trot, steer … on these trips.
Then when I was 9, horses came into our lives permanently. An acquaintance of my mom’s with no horse experience decided one day to bring home two Quarter Horses and a shetland pony, none of whom she could handle. It wasn’t long before mom was invited out to help with the horses. Her first project, a Quarter pony named Smoke, became my first horsey love, teacher, and show horse.
A year later, my mom bought a horse of her own. Gandalf had an unfortunate background and health issues, and after just six months colicked severely and had to be put down. Three months later, Penny came into our lives and remains a fixture in our family nearly 16 years later.
I could go on and on with story after story of me, my mom, my sisters, and horses. Every time I was on a horse I was in a lesson with my teacher – my mom. In the summers, we spent every single day at the barn together – often staying 8 hours or more as she taught camps and lessons and we helped. She took us to shows where she coached us, shined our boots, but always made us braid our horses ourselves and do our own schooling. Later, mom and I co-taught summer riding camps at our barn.
Now that I’m all grown up, I love that horses are something mom and I still share. It bonded us through those potentially crazy teenage years, and only grows stronger.
We can work around horses without having to discuss what we’re doing because we can read each other’s minds.
We have an endless supply of stuff to talk about (sorry Dad and hubby!).
We have someone to call with every little horsey triumph, frustration, or funny story.
She’s the one person in the world I fully trust to ride my horse because I know she rides like I do.
She my Equine Affaire buddy … and next summer when Ace and I start showing – my coach and groom.
Sharing our love of horses – and often being like the same person in two different bodies – has given us and incredibly close relationship. Pretty much every good quality I have was developed by horses and my mom.
And I know I’m not alone in this.
My barn owner got into horses when her daughter started taking lessons; now she owns three horses plus a boarding barn and they spend a lot of horsey time together. The trainer at my barn and her mom are both horsey people. There’s a little girl and her mother who together lease one of the horses and are always out riding together. I had friends growing up whose moms were also into horses.
It’s not just girls and horses, it’s daughters, moms, and horses.
Are you a horsey daughter or mom who shares a love of horses? Please share your thoughts on how growing up together with horses shaped your relationship, and what you are most thankful for!
Oh, and also at the top of my thanksgiving list are the dads and husbands who puts up with our crazy obsession!
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