Years ago I met a little girl who loved animals and wanted a horse. She knew nothing about horses, but more importantly she knew that she knew nothing about horses. She wanted to work to learn.
One other peculiar tidbit about her, not only could she run at incredible speeds, to this day she remains the only person that I have ever seen run up a wooden fence without touching it with her hands. She can also run and jump up on top of a round bale of hay and comfortably unload feed two bags at a time.
To top it all off, she came from a wonderful, supportive family that instilled in her a firm religious faith , a strong moral fiber, a confidence in her abilities and a solid work ethic.
The athleticism, willingness to work, and desire to learn produced one of the best riders that I will ever know, all by the age of 17. Last summer Red Feather launched into a prolonged bucking episode of the kind that I had never seen him do. I had never seen a long spree because Red Feather always deposited riders during the first series of bucks.
Not this time. He bucked until he gave up and Abby remained in the saddle. Horses can look dazed, and he did. Horses can look confused, and he did. Horses cannot look embarrassed, but he did!
He had no reason to be embarrassed. Just as there is no shame in being bucked off of Red Feather, there is no shame in not being able to buck off Abby.
Her parents should be very proud. They have raised the most impressive family that I have ever encountered. And today their middle daughter turns 18.
She and her sister Emily have become like a part of my family and the lives of my entire family are the better for it.
Happy Birthday little girl.
1 comment:
I remember that day with Red Feather--she's a tough cookie! Happy birthday, pretty girl!
love,
E.
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