A Girl for the Horses

     Let's face it.  I need help, and help seems to come.  Somewhere out there is another girl for my horses.

    Even before we moved to our Buckley location, I had a helper.  I can't remember how we found G.  It was as if she had come with the horses.  We wanted to breed and compete with our Quarter Horses and Miniature Horses.  I was gifted with a pretty blond girl with oodles of 4-H experience.  We paid her a pittance to train and show our horses.  She was a superb rider, and also a carriage driver.  When we moved to Pierce County, she was our faithful employee for a few years.  We even bred a warmblood for her to own and train to jump.  But then, marriage and childbirth led her life in a different direction.

    I needed another girl for the horses.

    B would be our next employee.  With a personality as brilliant as her red hair, she, like G, was a treasure.  In spite of the age difference, we became companions.  As well as shows and training at the farm, I took her to clinics when I was participating.

    I especially recall one weekend when I was the injured person, but she was the individual who suffered nightmares as a result of seeing the fiasco.  We were attending a clinic.  I was riding our Shire, Mac.  We had enjoyed a lunch break, and B and I were leading Mac from his stall to the arena.  I was concerned because some workers had started a huge bonfire in a pasture we had to pass.  I was ahead of B, walking my horse, paying close attention to the flames.  What I failed to notice were the "killer" cows in the pasture on the other side of the road.  Mac did.  He shied on top of me, directly in front of B.  I was shoved, and I tumbled to the ground with Mac's hooves slamming against me.  I was up in a short minute, but I knew I had several lacerations.  Nothing was broken, and fortunately there were medical folks participating in the horse clinic.  I was quickly and efficiently helped.  It was B who would have the most trauma, though.  She had been convinced I would be totally squished by the ton of horse.

    She stayed with us for several more years, but she, too, left to start her own family.

    Occasionally, one of my students would step up and help.  N certainly did.  She would go on to study equestrian practices through her university studies.  AB was a somewhat indifferent student, but she became an amazing helper when she grew into a young adult.  J began lessons as a youngster, and she still comes to ride, always offering to stay.  She is willing to drive to the farm when her job schedule allows.

 

    K visited her grandmother down the road, and she often came to help.  Eventually, she would enroll in veterinary school.  AG had to do community service to graduate from high school.  She returned  for years after she had completed her allotted hours, giving up almost all of her weekends to assist me.

    T was older than most of my "girls."  She was already in her 20s when she came to help.  At the time, we had multiple volunteers.  She organized them.  In an emergency, she was always available.  Her skill with heavy machinery, as well as horses, was put to excellent use.  She would, in one way, stay with our organization, even after she moved to the Mid-west.  T became a board member.

    One of the girls became family, in the heart sense of the term.  She originally came to the farm tagging behind her horse-crazy older sister.  The sister would outgrow us, but not so AH.  She would stay.  Even as a pre-teen she had a gift with the horses, especially the shy, timid ones.  As she grew, so did her abilities.   I could always depend on her.   If my husband and I took some time away, this young teenager faithfully attended to the horses, even when she was running a high temperature.  She understood caring for the animals came first.  She married, had a child, and stayed in close contact.  AH is a daughter and another board member.  Unfortunately, she doesn't live close enough to be her on a daily basis.

    As I have aged, I find I need more help.  I was unable to teach because I was under the care of so many doctors this past summer.  I had four trips to the hospital.

    I leaned on another young woman.  This one, is my granddaughter.  KA stepped up to look after the animals for me.  Occasionally she gave lessons.  I don't think the farm could have continued without her.

    She is now planning for the arrival of her first child, and I know her time will be limited even though she assures me she will continue to help.  She has expressed interest in taking on the organization.  Time will tell.

    Meanwhile, I need to send out another plea for help.

    Wanted:  A girl (or boy) for the horses.