All I Ever Wanted Was A Horse

The first words out of my mouth as a child were, "I want a horse".

Every year my parents asked me what I wanted for Christmas.  

Every year I said I wanted A Horse.

Every year my parents asked me what I wanted for my Birthday.

Every year I said I wanted A Horse.

My parents went on trips and asked me what I'd like them to bring me back.

I told them to bring me back A Horse.

Year in and year out all I ever wanted was A Horse.

My dream came true when I bought my first horse as I entered into my 40's.  It was a hard-headed and not very popular decision at the time.  But I knew that if I didn't do it at this point in my life that I would never do it.

My life-long dream would be crushed.

...I just couldn't let that happen.  

Soon we had two horses, then three and at one point I recall (gleefully) telling people we had a whole hand of horses (five).

We bought a horse trailer.

We bought a larger truck.  

We upgraded to a brand new horse trailer.  

We upgraded to a bigger brand new truck.  

We sold our house near the beach and moved out to the country where we could keep our horses on our own property.  

We've rescued horses.

We've doctored horses.

We've spent nights with sick horses.

...And we've put horses down.

In the past ten years on the Double S Ranch there have always been two, sometimes three horses on our pastures.

But today we only have one horse - Elvis.  

I've been asked if we're going to add another horse to our family and for the first time in almost twenty years ago, I sense changes in the wind.

I'm 61 years old and am blessed to have a nine-year old horse of my dreams.  He is everything (and more) than I ever could imagine.

I look back on my past with fond, loving memories of the horses we've had.

But our future may be the horse outside my window right now.

I've met and achieved my dream.

All I Ever Wanted Was A Horse.

All Well that Ends Well

On Saturday morning J and I loaded Gal into the horse trailer and hauled him up to the barn where I periodically board and ride.

We hadn't loaded Gal since we brought him home and that load had been a bit rough.  Although Gal was nervous, it was incredible how he settled down as soon as I led him into the barn and down the aisle of horses nickering to him as we passed.

He sighed in glee as I led him into his large stall, immediately made friends with his neighbors, pawed a few times and had some good rolls in the clean shavings.

My Cowgirl Pal had told me that Gal would be attending a de-sensitization clinic with his new owner the following day.  She'd keep me posted on how it went.  Last night I got a text message and pictures regarding Gal's first day with his new owner.

Here's Gal with his new owner.

Good Boy, Gal!

And my very favorite picture - a happy horse...and look at the smile on that happy owner!  We couldn't be more pleased for both of them!

Our journey with Gal is complete.  All is well that ends well.