You’ve heard the old saying, “One mans junk is another mans treasure.” Well God doesn’t make junk.

Every horse owner thinks that they have the best horse in the world, and they do.

We love our horses. We believe they can do anything, and do it perfectly (most of the time). So many breeds, so little time.

Each breed was bred for a reason. Each of them have their own specialty, but in this day and age, with love behind it, we ask our horses to step out of their comfort zone.

Quarter Horses were bred for ranch work. Thoroughbreds were bred for racing. Tennessee Walkers were bred to get around the plantations quickly with a comfortable gate. But our love for each breed has caused us to prove that our beloved horse can do it all, and in many instances, they do.

Mary Mairs Chapot rode her Quarter Horse Mare Tomboy in the 1960’s and took the world by storm. Quarter horses in the jumping arena, let alone the USET was unheard of back then, that was Thoroughbred country.

These days we not only have Quarter Horses doing Dressage, but tons of other breeds accomplishing the same movements.

We’re crossing English/Western lines. Jumper/Dressage lines. The challenges are unending. If you’ve got a horse, love that horse, and want to prove that it can do anything – the sky’s the limit.

We don’t put our horses, or ourselves, in a box anymore. If we can dream it, we can do it. Of course they still excel at what they were bred for, but “May The Best Horse Win” or at least have fun trying.

It is one of my favorite Garth Brooks songs. I heard him speaking about it the other day, and he agrees that the song is special to him too. The music behind it just adds to the alluring thoughts and feelings that touch your whole body and soul.

Several years ago a friend lost her daughter in a car accident. The girl left behind a four year old son, and two older children. My friend was devastated. At the wake a friend of her daughters played “The Dance” on a guitar and sang the words. It was very touching and everyone cried.

Before the funeral, I would hear the words of that song and think of all the beloved animals I had lost. Horses, cats, and especially my dogs. The pain of losing our animals is real. Really real. I guess it’s more so when they are taken suddenly at a young age.

I think I cry more for my animals, who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge, than for some of my family. They touch our hearts and almost become a part of our own self. The pain runs deep. More so if you’ve raised them from babies. They are your babies. They are your heart, and going on without them seems impossible.

That’s where “The Dance” comes into play. “Our lives are better left to chance, I could have missed the pain, but I’d of had to miss The Dance.” Yes we could all do without the horrible pain that even takes the breath out of our bodies, but I’d have missed all the laughs, companionship, learning experiences, and mostly the love and connection they gave us. Not to mention that we gave them.

Thinking back over the time spent with each animal, I would never trade it for anything. If you don’t feel pain, you have never felt the love. The more love you felt for each one, the more pain you will go through. It’s just how it works.

So enjoy the love and good times while they are with you. The pain will come, but the “Dance” is so worth it.

This subject is really getting to me lately.

I saw a picture on Facebook last week showing two women. They were both supposed to be 74 years old. Well I’m not sure about that. I’m not really good at telling a persons age, but this seemed a little far fetched. One picture showed a woman who worked out at a gym, she could have been 74. Obviously she used plenty of weights in her training. The other woman looked to be a lot older than 74. She was sitting in a rocking chair. I would guess her to be well into her 80’s or 90. But remember, they were both supposed to be 74.

Okay they got their point across. A body in motion stays in motion. A body at rest self destructs.

As horse people, there really isn’t a chance of us sitting around and falling apart. Well falling apart from our own falls maybe. Between barn chores, riding, moving grain and hay, grounds to take care of, and of course repairs, there is no chance of us sitting idle.

I know the insurance companies all figure us to be coasting to the finish line, we are not! I hate when they figure I sit and watch TV and eat Bon Bons. Just makes me crazy. (Not that I need any help.)

We are strong men and women who do more than a days work. We’re athletic, and usually very healthy. Except for the scars, arthritis, healed broken bones and such.

Have you ever seen a bunch of old horsemen or women. They may be weathered, but don’t mess with them. They are definitely strong as an ox, with an attitude to match. I always say, “If I can take on a thousand pound animal, I am certainly not afraid of you.”

So don’t buy into “You’re too old.” If you can swing a leg over the top of a horse, keep doing it. I know women who ride into their 90’s. Age is just a number and I kind of like the number 50, so I’ll keep thinking I’m 50. I certainly don’t want to be young and stupid, or old and senile.

We see so much on TV and the Internet. They tell us we should be old and falling apart. With all those drug adds they brain wash us into believing that we have all those symptoms, diseases, and we need these drugs. Hog wash. (Now where did that saying ever come from?)

Ride on horsemen and women. Fly like an eagle, don’t even mess with the turkeys. Thanksgiving is coming anyway.

No not Christmas.

Fall is upon us. Bugs are going wherever bugs go when winter is on it’s way (except in Florida). The cooler days are here and the horses are feeling frisky. We can’t wait to feel that cool air blowing through the horses mane and against our face.

These are the glorious days that I used to spend Fox Hunting (Chasing). The Fox always enjoyed it as much as the Hounds. It was always fun to watch the Fox lay his scent and lead the Hounds on a merry chase. Whenever the Fox got tired of playing they just went down a hole or, in Florida, up a tree.

The sight of the beautifully colored leaves and the simple smells of top soil, and dying leaves still draw me in. Not that we have colored leaves or top soil here in Florida, but the memory is still in my mind and my nostrils.

The horses are ready and willing to play when the temps start to drop. It’s like everyone comes alive from their summer rest. A summer rest is a lot nicer than the winter ones. It doesn’t include mud as a rule.

This is that time in between. The time between summer heat, sweat, and bugs, and winter freeze, ice, snow, frozen hoses, buckets and toes.

So break out the pumpkins (I used to love galloping through a pumpkin field, remember Nancy?) the hot apple cider, mulled wine, and enjoy the beauty of fall.

I’m not even going ahead to think about what comes next. Hope your sheets and blankets are cleaned and fixed for what awaits beyond. I didn’t say that and you didn’t hear that.

Look out I’m on my soap box again.

Well I had another post in mind, but then it all came flooding back. What does this have to do with horses? I’ll get to that.

I was just bringing Bob’s horse into the barn to ride when I got a call from my neighbor, who was also born in Brooklyn. He told me that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. We both figured it was a small plane that would have been landing at the small executive airport near the Ferry at the tip of Manhattan. I used to work right there on the sixteenth floor and often saw sea planes go past the window.

I turned the horse back out and went in to check out the TV. I had just come out to ride and had been watching the news before I did, and nothing was going on. At that point the second plane came in and hit the other tower. The realization hit that we were under attack. They just attacked my home. I grew up in Brooklyn, Staten Island, and New Jersey, Manhattan was my backyard. They attacked my home!!! I ran out to tell Bob who was mowing, as Bob always does. Bob was born in Brooklyn and grew up in Staten Island, worked there all his life. We ran back into the house and watched as the events unfolded. What gets me still is that Bob said to me those towers are going to come down. I said no, they must have safety measures to protect in a situation like this. He, being in demolition for years said, Jet fuel burns so hot that the steel will melt, those towers are coming down. He was right. The whole world was in shock, all except Bob. I sat there and tried to think of who I knew that was working in the WTC. Several came to mind and I put out calls. The WTC was just a few blocks from where I used to work, but I remember them starting to clear the land for them when I stopped working in N.Y. I found out that everyone I knew there was either at a different office that day, or had gotten out.

Bob said to me yesterday “Enough, let them leave 9/11 alone.” I yelled No!, we can’t leave it alone. Yes it still hurts, but we must never forget what happened that day. We must remember that these wacko people are still out there and it will happen again. People are trying to say that the Holocaust never happened. Really? Then where do we get all these horrific pictures from? Why do I know people whose families died there? Why do I know people whose arms were tattooed with their numbers on them. People, now-a-days want to rewrite history leaving out all the bad things that they don’t want to remember, or refuse to believe, but these things happened, and will happen again if we don’t remember and do something about them.

So what does this have to do with horses? Simply that Budweiser put out a Tribute, a few months later, at the Super Bowl that horse people will never forget. The infamous Clydesdales coming across the Brooklyn Bridge and stopping at the foot of the bridge with the New York Skyline in the background. The Skyline where the WTC should have been, and was no longer, then all the horses bowed down. I still cry when I think of that commercial. They didn’t run it again. They didn’t want to make money off what they did, but they did want to honor those lost. If you get a chance go on line and watch it either for the first time, or again. Spoiler alert! bring tissues.

I know exactly where those horses stopped in Brooklyn. I remember that spot from my childhood. I think they now have made a park out of that area. The Clydesdales are so much apart of my life. I miss my two girls very much. That commercial honors my home, the people who died, and the horses I love and miss.

Never forget.

Dodged the bullet on that storm. Good thing.

You’ve heard of the Land of Oz, the Land of Milk and Honey, well we live in the Land of F.O.R.D.

Now I’m not talking about the car/truck company, I’m talking about the Land of Fix Or Repair Daily.

As horse people we know all about that life style.

I know I’ve told you about when Bob and I bought our first farm together. Now I grew up with horses and knew the deal. He believed that once he finished the barn that he would never have to go back there again. (This was before he got involved with horses.) I, of course, laughed at him and said “You don’t know horses.” The next day he came home from work and I showed him the half dutch door that one of the little beauties removed from the hinges. Well to this day he can’t believe what they can destroy in a matter of minutes.

He has not sat idle since his back surgery. The doctor said at last weeks visit “I have a feeling you are doing more than you should.” Ya think??!!! We have a horse farm, enough said. He still (there’s that word again) comes home and says “Well what’s new around the farm?” Translation – What did the little angels destroy now?

As horse people we can all appreciate this. If you don’t keep after it, the repairs can really pile up. With everything getting so expensive, boards, wire, even nails, it takes it’s toll on the bottom line, and that’s not to mention hay, grain, medications, and all the other necessities.

You’ve just got to think about it as just part of the job. It goes along with the damage they do to their bodies. You just accept it and go on.

So in that Fairy Tale Land of F.O.R.D. there is no way around it, just smile and nod, and see what they can get into tomorrow. After all, they will never stop amazing us.