I've ridden, owned and shown horses, since the age of 7...(I'm 60 now). My family consisted of 7...mom, dad, 3 brothers, a sister and me. I'm the "baby girl". I lived in South Alabama, and was part of the generation, where Mom stayed at home and Daddy worked. She would can vegetables, sew our clothes, cut our hair, etc, while my Daddy worked as an electrician, wherever he could find work. Looking back, some might say we were poor in some ways, but always had enough to eat, a roof over our head and clothes to wear. We always kept a milk cow or two, raised a hog for pork and a calf for the freezer. From the time of learning to talk, I wanted a horse. Of course, the programs back then, were Roy Rogers, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, My Friend, Flicka, Lassie and so many others that featured animals throughout the episodes. Animals were my closest friends and the horse was the one that I wanted most, to be my "best friend". When my dad sometimes had to travel out of the state for work, as a toddler, I would always ask him to bring me "a Sugar Daddy and a horse" back for my "gift" on his return! I've often found it strange that my siblings never found horses to be as magical as I did. I was the only one that had that deep, need and yearning, to touch, smell, ride, bond with, that wonderful creation called the "horse". I had always been very close to my dad...he was 55 when I was born and I was always in his "back pocket"! Although gruff and very hard nosed on the outside, he had a soft spot for me! He'd stop at neighbors, for me to be around their horses, we'd spend an extra few minutes at a cattle sale, if there was a stall with a horse thrown into the mix. He'd marvel with me at Roy Rogers' Trigger. He'd talk about work horses that he grew up with...all the time, adding "fuel to the fire" of my dream! I asked for a horse of my own until the age of seven, not knowing that money in our household went for utilities, groceries, doctor visits (when needed) and that money wasn't for the "luxury" of owning a horse. One day, while listening to a local AM radio program "The Trading Post", there was an individual that had a grade mare for sale. Healthy, kid safe, dead broke, 15 years old, $150.00. This was the one! I begged my dad to go look at her, but he wasn't able to for about 3 weeks due to his work schedule. When we finally called to plan our visit, it wasn't just the mare anymore, she had given birth to a beautiful little filly...that had not been mentioned. We drove down to look at the pair. The mare was everything described and more...she was a dark sorrel, with a blaze and 2 white socks on the back. Soooo gentle, letting me go into the stall with her and the new baby, never spooked, never backing away, but always watching with those beautiful brown, calm, trusting, loving eyes. When it was time to go, I saw my daddy shake hands with the owner. He explained as we left, that we were going to buy the pair and that the man would deliver them the next day (we had no trailer). I couldn't sleep that night and from that day on, I've never lived a day of my life without having a horse with me. "Tammy" was my best friend and lived on our farm until her death at the age of 25. Sweet memories of her are never far from my mind and the secrets we shared, the miles we traveled are the best in my life. Her foal, "Owassa" was my first attempt at training...I rode her for years, she also stayed on the farm until her death at the age of 24.
It was years later that I found that my dad couldn't afford the $150.00 for the mare and foal. He'd made other arrangements with the owner. We had raised a fine, Charolais bull for the freezer for the year. He was healthy, filled out and ready to contribute to our family's needs. My daddy traded that bull for my "dream"...I've never forgotten that gesture and I never will. My dad died a few years ago at the age of 95. He never failed to encourage my riding...he would take time to cheer me on at every local saddle club show, brag about me to his friends, take plenty of pictures when I rode in parades. I know that because of him and my mom, I have my life, but because of him and his selfless sacrifice of the "fatted calf", I've shared it with the most special of all breathing things, the horse.
THEN...while digging out from the Georgia blizzard of 1993, we made the "bread and milk", trip to town...on the way, we noticed a neighbor had a brand new mule foal, in his front pasture...the mare and baby, were enjoying a frolic in the new world of white!! I was mesmerized at this little sorrel, long legged, long eared creature, running, bucking, teasing her worried mom! On the way back home, we stopped, asked about the baby and was told to check back in a year, she might be for sale then!! We did...and brought a beautiful yearling molly mule to our farm!!! I bet you think I was an expert on mules, after having a year to read, ask, research these hybrids!! No. Knew absolutely nothing about anything relating to mules...THAT ignorance is what prompted me (and at my oldest son's suggested urging), to start this blog...a rendering of my writings...hopefully including humor, suggestions, advice, new ideas and some daily tales, that will focus on my mules, their purpose and the many happy times they bring!!
Stop by! Ask questions! Make suggestions! Give ME advice! Share YOUR tales! I'll love it ALL!!
I do ask for any comments to be respectful, in language and tolerance toward others...we're all learning!!
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