Reader Story Fridays: Karyn's Story
Submitted through our Reader Story Submission form. Have a story to share but don't know where to get started? Use the form!
Name
Karyn
How long have you had horses?
Off and on for 30 yrs
What is the funniest thing your horse has done?
Funniest thing: One gelding let himself out of his stall and then all the other horses in the barn and put himself BACK in his stall 3 nights in a row before we caught him in the act.
When you're worn out, what motivates you do get out and spend time with your horses?
They're too costly to own to not spend time riding, grooming and caring for them. Some days after an 8-10 hour work day it can seem overwhelming to go ride two horses, but once I get started, I find they energize me and help me sleep better that night.
Describe your dream horse
Chestnut Arabian with small blaze and star, very classically dished head, long hookey neck, compact body and four small white socks who snorts fire and trots with his knees up to his ears yet can be as gentle as a butterfly when appropriate.
Have you ever had to say goodbye to a beloved horse? Tell us about it.
Yes... My first horse died at 32 yrs of age suddenly from an aneurism on his way into the barn to eat his supper. It was sudden and sad but he lived an incredible life and never knew a bad day in all 32 yrs so I was able to feel happy he never knew a day of lameness, illness, hunger, or mistreatment.
Last year I had to put a horse down due to serious sand colic. He was only 7 yrs old, too young to be gone already. That was a hard thing to do and the worst part of owning a horse but also the one final thing we can do for our horses, let them be free of incredible pain and misery.
Sometimes horse owners have to improvise. Whether it's homemade halters to catch a runaway or making trail obstacles out of whatever's handy, what have you done that's creative with your horse?
LOL what HAVEN'T I done would be more accurate... bailing twine gets used for emergency halters, lead ropes, door locks, trailer ties, bucket ties, tail extensions to swat flies when tails are braided up. Also has substituted for broken reins, saddle strings, and once, was even used to fix a broken latigo. Also tie trailer doors open, tie up barn dogs in a pinch, use as an emergency dog lead, and if you braid enough together, you can make a very strong set of light weight, durable long lines.
Duct tape gets used to repair holes in buckets temporarily, tape polo wraps shut so they don't come undone at an inopportune moment, hold quick release rein ends in place, make a makeshift poultice hoof boot, temporarily fix a hole in the sole of a pair of riding boots and once, patch a hole on a seat of English breeches.
Has a horse ever scared you? What did you do?
NO I've never been scared by a horse.
How have you shared your love of horses with others?
By allowing them to spend time with my own horses.
Anything else you'd like to tell us about you and the horses you love?
Horses have always been a part of me and who I am even if I haven't always been able to have one, I've always been able to be involved with them and they have led me to many different adventures and new friends as well as reunited me with old.
At the end of my day, just before bedtime, going to the barn for one last bed check is my favorite time of day. The horses are waiting happily for one last flake of hay in the winter, or contentedly munching in the fields in the summer and always come running to have their good night treat. Through wind, rain, snow, sleet, heat, cold, and all things in between, that last bed time check has always given me a sense of contentment to see them safe and happy and many nights I've been lucky enough to see a shooting star, an owl silently gliding through the air, the moon in all of its stages, sometimes lighting my way, sometimes glittering off snow or reflecting off my pond. Things I wouldn't notice otherwise if I did not have the horses to take me outside every night late when the world is quiet.
Best sight of all? New born filly taking her first adventurous steps into the world and reaching out to sniff her new canine pal. So trusting, so innocent, so beautiful... so peaceful.
Name
Karyn
How long have you had horses?
Off and on for 30 yrs
What is the funniest thing your horse has done?
Funniest thing: One gelding let himself out of his stall and then all the other horses in the barn and put himself BACK in his stall 3 nights in a row before we caught him in the act.
When you're worn out, what motivates you do get out and spend time with your horses?
They're too costly to own to not spend time riding, grooming and caring for them. Some days after an 8-10 hour work day it can seem overwhelming to go ride two horses, but once I get started, I find they energize me and help me sleep better that night.
Describe your dream horse
Chestnut Arabian with small blaze and star, very classically dished head, long hookey neck, compact body and four small white socks who snorts fire and trots with his knees up to his ears yet can be as gentle as a butterfly when appropriate.
Have you ever had to say goodbye to a beloved horse? Tell us about it.
Yes... My first horse died at 32 yrs of age suddenly from an aneurism on his way into the barn to eat his supper. It was sudden and sad but he lived an incredible life and never knew a bad day in all 32 yrs so I was able to feel happy he never knew a day of lameness, illness, hunger, or mistreatment.
Last year I had to put a horse down due to serious sand colic. He was only 7 yrs old, too young to be gone already. That was a hard thing to do and the worst part of owning a horse but also the one final thing we can do for our horses, let them be free of incredible pain and misery.
Sometimes horse owners have to improvise. Whether it's homemade halters to catch a runaway or making trail obstacles out of whatever's handy, what have you done that's creative with your horse?
LOL what HAVEN'T I done would be more accurate... bailing twine gets used for emergency halters, lead ropes, door locks, trailer ties, bucket ties, tail extensions to swat flies when tails are braided up. Also has substituted for broken reins, saddle strings, and once, was even used to fix a broken latigo. Also tie trailer doors open, tie up barn dogs in a pinch, use as an emergency dog lead, and if you braid enough together, you can make a very strong set of light weight, durable long lines.
Duct tape gets used to repair holes in buckets temporarily, tape polo wraps shut so they don't come undone at an inopportune moment, hold quick release rein ends in place, make a makeshift poultice hoof boot, temporarily fix a hole in the sole of a pair of riding boots and once, patch a hole on a seat of English breeches.
Has a horse ever scared you? What did you do?
NO I've never been scared by a horse.
How have you shared your love of horses with others?
By allowing them to spend time with my own horses.
Anything else you'd like to tell us about you and the horses you love?
Horses have always been a part of me and who I am even if I haven't always been able to have one, I've always been able to be involved with them and they have led me to many different adventures and new friends as well as reunited me with old.
At the end of my day, just before bedtime, going to the barn for one last bed check is my favorite time of day. The horses are waiting happily for one last flake of hay in the winter, or contentedly munching in the fields in the summer and always come running to have their good night treat. Through wind, rain, snow, sleet, heat, cold, and all things in between, that last bed time check has always given me a sense of contentment to see them safe and happy and many nights I've been lucky enough to see a shooting star, an owl silently gliding through the air, the moon in all of its stages, sometimes lighting my way, sometimes glittering off snow or reflecting off my pond. Things I wouldn't notice otherwise if I did not have the horses to take me outside every night late when the world is quiet.
Best sight of all? New born filly taking her first adventurous steps into the world and reaching out to sniff her new canine pal. So trusting, so innocent, so beautiful... so peaceful.
Labels: arabian horse, foal, Reader story
posted by NWHS at
8:09 AM
1 Comments:
Very inspirational story. Well done! You've communicated exactly why so many of us have and love horses. Thanks for sharing!
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