When I was a child of five years old I had a fit for a pony. My Grandpa Delk went to the horse sale and brought home a very nice looking medium sized paint mare pony! Along with a brand new Bonnie Allen pony saddle with tapadoras and a buck stitched bridle ( I still have those) and new pad for the saddle. I had the boots, hat and shirt. Boy was I excited! Nor could I hardly wait to ride that pony. No I do not remember the name of the pony.
Daddy worked in the Mill at the time and must have been on third shift. He came home and Grandpa saddled the pony and Daddy had the lead rope and we all went to the field between the barn and the house at Grandma’s.
It all started by Daddy leading me and Grandpa walking long beside me I was on My Pony! I remember Grandpa saying this pony was not going to do anything and he stopped walking beside me. Daddy and the pony took 3 more steps and the pony flew into bucking! Into the air and on the ground under the pony I went! I remember the bottom side of that pony’s belly to this day! Kick, kick, stomp, tromp! That pony went all over me and my stomach! Lots of yelling and Grandpa grabbed me and pulled me to safety!I hurt real bad and I cried and went to the house. Daddy tore his hands all up holding on to the pony! The rope burned him bad and he was bandaged for a while.
Grandma said I was fine but I wasn’t! Momma was at work she knew nothing of what had happened that morning early. All day long my stomach hurt worse and worse. I was hemoraging inside. I had bruises of the pony’s hooves all over me! And I was real sick!
Momma came to pick me up about 4:00 PM and had a fit! With everybody! She rushed me to the hospital where she fainted! I was real sick by then!
Lucky for me there was a new young Doctor on call his name was Dr. Williford and he was excellent. I suppose he saved my life! He understood what was wrong with me! I spent three nights in the hospital in Asheboro and went home. Well!
Thing is I was scared to death of horses from that time forward. I have through the years come to understand my fear. I deal with it now,for the most part pretty well.
So when I get on this new horse and ride him BY MYSELF ! He has to be a pretty good horse!
You might be thinking “why in the world do you ride if you are afraid?” Good question… See I love horses! I love the way they smell! I love riding! I love feeling the wind in my face, seeing all the things I see! The way they feel when they move. Their eyes and spirits. Nothing comes close to being free on the back of a horse riding in a new area! The soft nicker that welcomes me in the barn! Or that gentle nudge of “Hello!”
I will tell you all more about my new horse tomorrow !
