If I Had a Horse
If I Had a Horse
by Lindy Gladson
If I had a horse this morning, I would be up feeding, breaking ice, and probably giving him fresh hay. After I go through the morning chores, grabbing a curry comb I begin my favorite part of the morning. As I finish brush and brushing him off, I go to grab his saddle blanket, then I put his saddle on that I oiled and wiped down the night before. He is definitely ready to go, putting on his halter. I lead him out of the pen, the nights rain sparkle on the grass as we started to the barn, stopping to get the mail. I hitch him to a hitching post I put in the week before. He snorts and I know he is ready to go. I reach in my pocket and hand him a treat, while I tell him he’s a good boy. My ride in the morning is my favorite part of the day from brushing to brushing, the morning is filled with sounds, smells and the feeling of a writing of riding my very own horse. As I let him out to pasture one of the cats jumps from the fence to his back and begins to purr with contentent. Another purring, another morning, come and gone with my horse.
May 6: A morning with my horse.
I jumped out of the truck and ran into the barn. Lady was in the last stall and pulling the door open. I grinned. She was definitely ready to ride. Grabbing her halter, I kissed to her and slid it on leading her out, I tied her to the stall. I grabbed a brush and curry comb from the tack room and started my favorite part of the morning “now lady we’re going with getting you used to standing still so I can get on” I said. I tried to talk to her as much as I can so she gets used to my voice. Putting the saddle on my hip, I slung the saddle blanket on her back. I ease the saddle on and started cinching her up. I took hold of her bridal and eased it on her face, and she slung her head and I gave her two sharp jerks “calm down” I gave her two. I told her and finally got it on. I got on her back and started with just walking her inside the barn. The other horses we need their greeting. I gave her up and she started bunny, hopping and rearing so I eased her back into a walk. Eventually, I took her outside and we rode around the barn until I knew she had been written enough. I pulled open the barn door and lady spooked, I jerked her rains and told her to quit it. The chimney sweeps were coming in and out of the barn as I ducked into the fridge to get a sip of water sweat was dripping down my brow as I pulled off, ladies bridal if you had thought I was dripping in sweat then all you had to do was look at lady and you know she was dripping enough sweat to fill a 5 gallon bucket grabbing a treat from my back pocket. I gave her one she knicker and lifted up her lips. “you silly thing” I said, and laughed as I put her up. I heard that old owl and once again, I thought “the Lord has blessed me with a horse and I couldn’t be happier. An answered prayer is what you are, Lady.”
Horse Trading
by Harlen Gladson
On May seventh we acquired a new horse. It all started about a month ago when this new horse was brought to the stables where we ride. This horse is a good sized work/quarter horse mix mare and she is about twelve years old. As we spent time around this horse we began to realize that she could potentially be a valuable farm horse. She was scheduled to be sold at auction on the ninth of May but two days before that we decided that we should go work the horse and see whether or not she was something that we needed to buy. As it turned out she seemed to be exactly what we were looking for. She not only pulled the buggy well but she also was very easy to ride and handle. After the whole family had ridden and handled her we determined that she was exactly what we needed and we bought her. Since then we have gone on our first wagon train with five other wagons and we had a blast.
I am very thankful that SFJ publishes horse articles because they are helpful. I like to see all the tack pictures. We have been reading “Workhorse Handbook” by Lynn Miller. It has helped me recognize the names of the tack. With the help of one of my horse mentors, James Cope, and Lynn’s book I was able to harness our horse by myself when we went on the wagon ride. James checked everything to make sure it was right. James placed our buggy in the middle of 5 wagons because we are beginners. My brother Harlen drive the buggy and my sister Lindy rode on her horse, “Lady.” I would like to do more wagon trains and learn how to drive. I am including my story about the horse that pulled our buggy on the wagon train.
Appaloosa
by Lemuel Gladson, age 13 yrs
The first time I saw her was in April, I was surprised at her beauty and how she had a tinge of blue. When we gave her a bath the blue color really stood out. She is a quarter horse mixed with a percheron draft and has Appaloosa markings. She is 15 or 16 hands and gets her size from the percheron genetics. She can pull a wagon and has a lot of go-power. She is a great riding horse too because she is calm and likes to walk but she will go if you want her to. I am used to riding Tennessee Walking horse, it is a lot different having to post. Our family pooled our money together to buy her and a Amish buggy and tack this May. Twenty days later my brother and I took “Blue” (my dad calls her Azule) on a 15 mile wagon train and it was a smooth ride.
