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A Father's
Explanation of Why He Had Horses for His Children …….author unknown
My daughter turned sixteen years old today; which is a milestone for most
people. Besides looking at baby photos and childhood trinkets with her, I took
time to reflect on the young woman my daughter had become and the choices she
would face in the future.
As I looked at her I could see the athlete she was, and determined woman she
would soon be. I started thinking about some of the girls we knew in our town
who were already pregnant, pierced in several places, hair every color under
the sun, drop outs, drug addicts and on the fast track to no-where, seeking
surface identities because they had no inner self esteem. The parents of
these same girls have asked me why I "waste" the money on horses so
my daughter can ride. I'm told she will grow out of it, lose interest,
discover boys and all kinds of things that try to pin the current
generation's "slacker" label on my child. I don't think it will
happen, I think she will love and have horses all her life.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she has compassion. She knows
that we must take special care of the very young and the very old. We must
make sure those without voices to speak of their pain are still cared for.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she learned responsibility for others
than herself. She learned that regardless of the weather you must still care
for those you have the stewardship of. There are no "days off" just
because you don't feel like being a horse owner that day. She learned that
for every hour of fun you have there are days of hard slogging work you must
do first.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she learned not to be afraid of
getting dirty and that appearances don't matter to most of the breathing
things in the world we live in. Horses do not care about designer clothes,
jewelry, pretty hairdos or anything else we put on our bodies to try to
impress others. What a horse cares about are your abilities to work within
his natural world, he doesn't care if you're wearing $80.00 jeans while you
do it.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she learned about sex and how it can
both enrich and complicate lives. She learned that it only takes one time to
produce a baby, and the only way to ensure babies aren't produced is not to
breed. She learned how babies are planned, made, born and, sadly, sometimes
die before reaching their potential. She learned how sleepless nights and
trying to out-smart a crafty old broodmare could result in getting to see, as
non-horse owning people rarely do, the birth of a true miracle.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she understands the value of money.
Every dollar can be translated into bales of hay, bags of feed or farrier visits.
Purchasing non-necessities during lean times can mean the difference between
feed and good care, or neglect and starvation. She has learned to judge the
level of her care against the care she sees provided by others and to make
sure her standards never lower, and only increase as her knowledge grows.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she has learned to learn on her own.
She has had teachers that cannot speak, nor write, nor communicate beyond
body language and reactions. She has had to learn to "read" her
surroundings for both safe and unsafe objects, to look for hazards where
others might only see a pretty meadow. She has learned to judge people as she
judges horses. She looks beyond appearances and trappings to see what is
within.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she has learned sportsmanship
to a high degree. Everyone that competes fairly is a winner. Trophies and
ribbons may prove someone a winner, but they do not prove someone is a
horseman. She has also learned that some people will do anything to win,
regard-less of who it hurts. She knows that those who will cheat in the show
ring will also cheat in every other aspect of their life and are not to be
trusted.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she has self-esteem and an engaging
personality. She can talk to anyone she meets with confidence, because she
has to express herself to her horse with more than words. She knows the
satisfaction of controlling and teaching a 1000 pound animal that will yield
willingly to her gentle touch and ignore the more forceful and inept handling
of those stronger than she is. She holds herself with poise and
professionalism in the company of those far older than herself.
Because my daughter grew up with horses she has learned to plan ahead.
She knows that choices made today can effect what happens five years down the
road. She knows that you cannot care for and protect your investments without
savings to fall back on. She knows the value of land and buildings.
And that caring for your vehicle can mean the difference between easy travel
or being stranded on the side of the road with a four horse trailer on a hot
day.
When I look
at what she has learned and what it will help her become, I can honestly say
that I haven't "wasted" a penny on providing her with horses. I
only wish that all children had the same opportunities to learn these lessons
from horses before setting out on the road to adulthood.
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