Horses and Cowboys

Yesterday was the first day in this plan of "taking my life back."  I had made plans with some of my new found horse buddies to go to the spring sale.  Oh boy am I addicted to auctions.  Since they had never been before I quickly found us seats in the bleachers to watch.  Let me just say, if you're not used to the ways of an auctioneer, then it probably sounds like a lot of noise to you.  I quickly got back into auction mode, even though I haven't been to one in at least 3-4 years.  Never really thought about myself that way but as soon as a new bid began I was right there in the middle of it.  No, not bidding but entranced listening to the bid prices, reading the blurb in the sale book about the horse, checking out the horse's pedigree, etc.  Yep, hog heaven.  No idea WHY that appeals to me but it does.  My friends were not quite as enthralled as I was. I could have sat there until the last horse sold. In fact, I made a mental note to show up at the fall sale for the opening bid and plan to stay all day. But I found out later in the evening from someone that this was the last one at the arena.  Apparently the horse buying world is going to online bidding like everything else.  That just doesn't seem quite as exciting to me :(

So we ended up moving on to the merchandise booths, and then out to the barns.  THAT is where I saw my first ever horse from the Secretariat bloodline.  PICTURE TIME! Imagine that, ME taking pictures! ha ha ha  Lots of "Western Pleasure" show horses but it's fun the peruse through the barns checking them all out.  Saw an ugly little donkey, a "superhero horse" as Warren called it (it was in a protective sheet and head wrap to keep it clean before going to the ring), and a beautiful paint colt that was only a year old and terrified of us standing at it's door.  Overall a good time.

Since my friends were staying in Raleigh for the night so that the boys could check out the gun show today we ended up finding somewhere to eat dinner then back to my house to hang out for a bit.  Kerrie had a horse named Captain Jack whom she rescued about 5-6 years ago.  His actual age was unknown but he was assumed to have been born around 1980.  Unfortunately old age took him about a month ago.  She has created a memorial tribute to him with photos and a beautiful song.  I was privileged to be present for it's debut.  Oh it was beautiful, we all had tears in our eyes and couldn't quit talk right when it was over.  Just amazing!

Some people view horses as time consuming and bank account drowning but to the horse lover they mean the world and we'd give our last dime (and even go into debt) to insure that they have what they need or we'd give our last minute to spend time with them.  There is no therapy like equine therapy.  For me I choose the trail riding side of it instead of ring time.  Whether riding around a farmer's freshly plowed and planted fields, through the woods on a narrow trail barely big enough to pass through, alongside a creek or the top of a mountain ridge, there is no greater feeling.  Only fellow horse lovers would understand.

So, God willing, I will enjoy those feelings once again.  Yesterday was only the beginning....

Oh, and for the cowboys, well, there were LOTS of boots, hats, and spurs there yesterday ranging from young to old.  Lots of great scenery ;)