MY BLACK HORSE ...... my teacher

       


        She was my first horse.

        She has been my life long companion.

        Other horses have come and gone, Im not sure I can even
        remember all their faces, for I was a horse trader for a
        time and had as many as 25 at one time. Perhaps it took
        this many for me to realize that all I really wanted
        was just my first horse.

        If your the type that names things, her name is Colima-
        Linda.... at least that is what her AQHA papers say.

        The person I worked for during colledge, I fell in love
        with his horses, and later his daughter. Eventually she
        dumped me, but suprisingly none of his horses ever did.
        For some reason They all thought I was somewhat of a
        horse guru. I guess years and years of stealing pasture
        rides and begging rides openly from friends made me treat
        horses different then others do. I prefered then 
        (and still do) to ride bareback and with no bit. 

        I do remember when I first met my black horse. The boss
        asked me to go look at a couple of new horses he just bought
        off running I go! The black horse was laying down and she
        stayed laying when I approached her. We talked and 
        she didnt mind when I worked my way on ber back. Eventually
        she got up and with my belt arround her neck we rode arround 
        her small paddock. AND I FELL IN LOVE!
        Then the boss came out, and explained to me that while 
        they were supposed to be green-broke, noone could handle
        the black horse, and how much would I charge to tame her.
        I told him id just take my afternoon rides on her (rather
        then beg to ride one of his other horses) .... and I did
        ..... and we had a GREAT time together.

        In time my ex-girlfriend, the bosses daughter decided to
        "help" me train (and show off her horse ability) and got
        bucked off and kicked in the head on the way down. SO then
        all of the bosses so called horse experts came out of the
        woodwork with their bits and spirs and cowboy hats and
        tried to "train" her or trade for her. IT HURT! Weather
        it hurt her or me more I cant say, so without any idea of
        how I would afford her, I bought her for $400 and my 
        dream of owning a horse of my own came true!

        It was a turning point in my life.

        She made me grow up. Perhaps she is responsible for everything
        I have, its hard to see paths not taken. 
        I learned a lot of things from this horse, but most
        important was that I could do whatever I dreamed of, I
        didnt need to impress others. I learned I could do whatever
        anyone else has done, and my world opened up.
        
        If my life before then was spritual, then this black horse
        became my teacher, my guru.
 
        We had our adventures together. We grew up and old 
        together. It would take  28 years to tell you
        of all our time together...a very long time, a lifetime.

                 

        I could tell you of our riding lessons and showing days...
 
        I could try to tell you of the joy and sorrow of her 5 foals.

        I could tell you of her bad leg injury but never fully
        explaine the promise I made to her, one more binding then
        many take marrage vows.

        What I will tell you is she is more than my horse. She is
        me.... or at least a major part of what I am.

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