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[RC] What did my horse teach me? - spiritwood@xxxxxxxxxWhat my horse(s) have taught me, My first horse that I got at age 11 taught me perserverence, patience, and that amimals can have a sense of humor also. He also taught me the meaning of courage and really finding the right "nitch" for each horse to enjoy its work. My first horse was put down in April 2001 just 6 weeks short of his 41st birthday. I rode him for the final time at age 37 when he made a "farewell appearance" at the local horse show as the guest of honor. Although he was suffering from arthritis and his vision was failing, he walked up to the starting line (he was a timed event horse for over 20 years) and then took off and ran a beautiful, smooth pole bending pattern. He got third place and I was never more proud of him! He had been the horse to beat since 1975! He was never ridden again and enjoyed several more years at pasture with his "girlfriend" of 30 years. My current horse has taught me even more! He has taught me I CAN ride 100 miles even on the toughest of trails. (When I got him my goal was to complete a 50 in under 8 hours.) He taught me that even if I can't exactly see where we are going in the dark, if he can, we can go FAST! He taught me that we can even ride for 75 miles of my first 100 by ourselves and keep each other motivated and upbeat. He taught me that going over Sheman's gap, alone, by glow sticks is quite a feat, and there is nothing more magical than fording the Shenandoah River in the pitch dark with glow sticks in the floating milk jugs to mark the way! Now he is adding new dimensions in the courage and perserverence areas as we prepare for his final 100 mile adventure. Don't know what the future may hold, but as someone famous once quoted, "God forbid that I should go to a heaven in which there are no horses!" Becky and Bacardi -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ . =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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