Magical Unicorns

I was fifteen months old the first time I was on a horse. We were at my father’s family’s dairy farm outside of New London, Connecticut, and our dear cousin Nancy took me for a ride around the yard. There is an elusive photo of me somewhere on that day, bawling my eyes out. Clearly, my first horse experience did not sit well with me. Several years later however, when the Air Force stationed my family in Hof (Saale), Germany, I had my next horse encounter that would change the way I thought about horses forever. After reading books like The Black Stallion, Black Beauty, National Velvet, and Misty of Chincoteague, just to name a few, I was completely smitten with all things equine. I had a bad, bad case of Horse Fever. Horse Fever usually presents itself in adolescent and teen girls, sometimes boys are susceptible too. The symptoms are a deep and abiding love of all things horse, so much so that there is almost a mystical aura surrounding these lovely creatures. They are your best friend, hero, and protector, flying you swiftly to safety and adventure. You pine to be around them constantly and the only place you want to be is at the barn taking care of them. Even scooping manure (a/k/a mucking out a stall) is a labor of love. Crazy I know, but it is a very real thing. I am sure that there is a young person out there reading this right now, with a smile on their face, who knows exactly what I am talking about.

One day, while in Germany, my parents arranged for me to take my very first horseback riding lesson at a stable near our town. Of course, much to my instructor’s consternation, I insisted on riding the biggest black stallion in the stable. I am sure reading The Black Stallion books was responsible for my choice, which was probably not ideal for a small girl just beginning to ride. Nonetheless, he was mine and I was in Heaven, despite a few bumps and bruises along the way. As a special surprise, one day my mother announced that we were going to take a trip to Vienna, Austria, and that we would pay a visit to The Spanish Riding School to see an equestrian presentation by the famed Lipizzaner Stallions and their trainers. When we got there however, we were informed that the performances were not in session at that time. The look of disappointment on my face must have been enough to convince the nice man at the School to allow us to sit in on a dress rehearsal that would shortly be taking place. My family was escorted to the magnificent balcony overlooking the indoor arena and watched the beautiful spectacle before us. Afterwards we were given a tour of the stables - all, a wonderfully unique and unforgettable experience. We had the whole place to ourselves and I felt like Sissi, the little princess, which was my favorite German television series at the time.

Years later, when we returned to The States, I continued my riding lessons at a horse center in Laurel, Maryland. My brother, no longer an infant, decided to join me, and took riding lessons too. He had a natural ability and was, by far, the better rider. Any blue ribbons that we won as kids was probably won by him, but I didn’t mind. We had so much fun. Here is a photo I found of the two of us getting ready for a school horse show. I remember that day like it was yesterday.

Fast forward to present day. I now find myself back in the Heartland of America, not to far from the midwestern state of Indiana where I was born, and I am, once again, surrounded by horses. I have begun riding again too thanks to our sweet neighbor and her horses. Today, my noble steed’s name is now “Mack,” while our neighbor rides her other horse, Mack’s buddy, “Rooster.” She has told John that she is determined to make a cowgirl out of me yet one of these days. I wish her luck with that and thank her for her patience! Things have a funny way of coming full circle, don’t they?

John and I are blessed with six smart, beautiful nieces and nephews, all possessing gifts and talents of their own, and all of them, animal lovers. One of our nieces in particular has Horse Fever just like I did at her age. In fact, I am having a second childhood now, and living vicariously through her, watching her ride and getting ready for horse shows. We are so glad to be here, at this point in time, and to be able to encourage her in her equestrian endeavors with anything from cheering her on to helping set up a jump course on a cold windy day. It’s all good.

She works daily with her horse Creek on many things including training him “at liberty.” Training at liberty means that you have a true connection with your horse, so much so that they are loose, without halter or tack, to interact with you at their will. The horse is set free to communicate with the rider as it would in a wild herd. I personally, just like to call it “Horse Dancing.”

Such are the Magical Unicorns, and the spells they cast upon us mere mortals. And on that note, I will leave you with something magical for your day.

Until next time . . .

K.