Many years ago, there was a little girl who loved horses. She prayed for one over and over, but it never worked out. That little girl was me. After I was married, my husband and I obtained a malnourished and neglected appaloosa mare named Katie. I loved her with my whole heart, and she hated me. We never figured out why. She’d try to bite me whenever I was near her. At times her teeth would make snapping sounds as she’d try to get me through the fence. My husband was the love of her life. She’d nibble at his hair and nicker to him when he came into the barn.
Fast forward to my first granddaughter. Katie loved her like she loved my husband. The picture is Maelyn leading her from one lot to another. Katie would walk gently along with her. She’d nicker to Mae and get lots of attention whenever the grandkids were visiting. Katie is gone now. She never really liked me, but she did stop trying to bite me as she aged. My granddaughter heads off to college in a few weeks, and my thoughts turn back to that simple time of leading the horse to another lot.
I miss Katie. Not sure why since I never rode her without fear of being scraped off on a branch or bitten when I tried to mount, but I do. I must say I miss the little girl in the picture more. She was and still is precious. Her love of animals has lead her to the goal of becoming a veterinarian. It’s so cliché to say, time flies, but it does. She grew up faster than my two daughters. Not sure if that’s possible, but it sure seems like it happened that way.
Today I’m lost in photo albums and memories, so forgive me if I shed a few tears. I’ll be back soon with my heart filled up with beautiful memories and a laugh or two about the horse that hated me.
Touching story. I remember all those same kind of dreams, too. Wanting a ranch, a big expanisve ranch in Wyoming, herding cattle and fixing fences. Never did get there, but have prayed every week or so for a ranch someday, even if in heaven. 🙂 We I have lived on these 2 acres in Oregon for 30 yrs and older, creakier, I still pray that. Then one day the neighbors chickens were flailing. My husband and I took over, and still feed them and collect eggs. We get to share with them the eggs since my husband feeds, waters, and cleans the coop every other day. Then came a pony. Then a horse. Followed by 3 goats. A month later, 19 sheep. Plans to get cows. Their 3 acres join our 2 acres and all we have to do is put in a fence and boom. Instant ranch. Thank you Lord for the prayers you answer. He knows our hearts!