DIXIE…

Oh, How could I have forgotten my sweet Dixie?!

That is my Daddy on Copper in the hat…

Dixie was a  Shetland pony I had when I was 10 (I think)  She was a dapple grey with a flax mane and tail. (Flax is like a white blond color) so She was striking! She was quite the pony and had many of the pony traits. Would bite you, yes she kicked and when she had opportunity would take off running and duck her head between her front legs and STOP! Then you would roll off her! She was a choppy ride too! I still have her saddle and bridle. Smile what a fine pony she was! She was a cart pulling machine! She gave me my love of driving! (is it a wonder?) smile!

I remember Grandpa purchased her from Carson Davis (he was 12 I think) and Carson is Jerome Davis’ daddy…Carson passed away a few years ago and we use to reminisce over the trading he and my Grandpa did for Dixie. Seems Grandpa traded a white stallion and $500. for Dixie! Now remember this was the 1960’s and that was a lot of money! Carson use to say he wanted a white stallion like the Lone Ranger had! (I wanted a pony!)  Grandpa made us both very happy children! (Though I thought of Carson as much older!)

(Dixie tied and waiting for the fun to begin)

I learned quickly how to make Dixie leave the yard! Grandpa taught me. She was a barn balker …Means she wanted to stay at home. Grandpa taught me how to hitch the cart and put all the harness on correctly…So he could go to work and I was allowed to drive Dixie till my heart was content! I don’t think he ever worried about me and that pony! He taught me all I needed to know to handle her and boy did I!  (I suspect I might have been a bit hard on the pony) Being a child I did not recognize it…

Betty Hunt Chandler and I rode that pony everyday in the summer. She may remember the year I do not. Momma and Juanita  Betty’s Mom worked in town and left us with our Grandmas for the day. (Day Care) the best kind! Betty’s Grandma lived about a half mile up the road from Grandma and I would hitch Dixie to the cart every morning and go pick Betty up to play…one of our games was The Ponderosa…(remember the TV program that came on Sunday nights)  We had an extensive play house we made in the woods at the end of an old road with whatever was laying round we could find. What imaginations we had. Dixie would be driven all over up and down the road…When it was hot the faster the better the cooler we were!

Then at lunch we were required to go home and eat at our Grandma’s then take a nap (Lord what torture!) then hitch Dixie up and away we were for the afternoon till our Mother’s came and picked us up.

What fun we had with Dixie!

That is my Grandma with her hand on Dixie’s hip…I have no idea HOW we got her that close to Dixie!  My Mother is next to the barn with ole Chipper…. We were dressed for cold weather! So was Dixie!