Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch...
"There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man." Sir Winston Churchill
The Scent of a Horse
In my youth, Saturday mornings were family work days when we spent the day outside, helping my father work in the garden and tend to the animals. Our chores would culminate with my father loading us in the station wagon to go to the local stables to haul horse manure to spread in the garden.
I have to say there is no scent better than that of horse manure and the scent of a horse barn. It's earthy, warm, and to me is the scent of love. The sweet smell of horse manure will forever be associated with those Saturday jaunts with my father to those stables.
For my younger sister, Nancy, I know this is particularly true. As an adolescent, Nancy wasn't interested in playing with dolls. She loved horses and played 'horsey' until my father got Nancy a real horse named Betty.
Okay, Betty was a Welch Pony--but she was 15 hands and full of herself. Betty was with us for many fun-loving years of riding until she died when Nancy was a teenager.
Nancy was devastated when, as so often happens with a horse, in a single day she watched Betty grow violently sick and die. It would be years before she enjoyed the comfort of a horse again.
"In the quiet light of the stable, you hear a muffled snort, a stamp of a hoof, a friendly nicker. Gentle eyes inquire “How are you old friend?” and suddenly, all your troubles fade away." Unknown
How Are You Old Friend?
"Stay away from a horse long enough and you'll start tapping your fingers to the beat of a trot." Unknown
Although Nancy never lost her love of horses, it would be over 40 years before she had a chance to get another as grown-up activities needed her attention in the interim. In that span of 40 years she attended college, and became a nurse, wife, mother and primary caregiver for our parents.
Still, she often tapped her fingers to the beat of a trot....
So when our father passed away four years ago, and with both of her children also grown, Nancy was free for the first time in 40 years to seek a selfish childhood pleasure and she indulged her desire to get a horse.
When Nancy met Gus she felt like she'd met an old friend. Gus, an older, calm horse is a comfortable old charmer who of course loves carrots.
Spending days alongside Gus, Nan has renewed her sense of childhood innocence, with life unfolding in unhurried, lazy days at the ranch. Her days are measured in 'horse time'--caring for and riding horses, while building friendships with other down-to-earth 'horsey' people.
And like days of old, troubles melt away and there is nothing for Nan but being in the present surrounded by the horsey scent of love.
There is something comforting and familiar about an old horse that takes us to a place of feeling safe and loved. And when your first horse was a gift from your Daddy, those feelings of love are multiplied by warm memories that extend back in time.
Nancy has spent her life caring for others, including over 25 years of caring for our parents. When she gifted herself with Gus, it was a present well deserved.
"Let a horse whisper in your ear and breathe on your heart. You will never regret it." Unknown
💜
I wish Nancy a happy birthday filled with horse whispers and horse comfort. May the horsey scent of love follow her home and fill her heart with joy.
💜
"Love is like horse manure...not good unless spread around." Lightarted Sue
💓"He knows when you're happy.
💓He knows when you're comfortable.
💓He knows when you're confident.
💓And he always knows when you have carrots."
Unknown
"When a horse greets you with a nicker and regards you with a large and liquid eye, the question of where you want to be has been answered." Unknown
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