Dear Non Horsey Horse Mom

Dear Non Horsey Horse Mom,

I see you, hooking up the trailer and setting off to shows and clinics. I see you learning how to bridle a horse, because I’m too short and scared. I see you, supporting me, loving me, believing in me. 

You never thought about horses until I was born. You were a musician, a teacher, a yogi, and thought I would be too. But like you say, I came out asking for a horse, and bless you, you did your best to get me one. From the horse shaped cakes to my first pair of cowgirl boots, you supported a passion you didn’t understand like it was your own.  

The early days of my love consisted of brushing toy horses and reading me A field full of horses until we both had it memorised. I still remember you packing me up on my sixth birthday and driving to the other side of town, where you gave me the only thing I’d ever asked for, riding lessons. You learned words like bridle, sidesaddle, Thoroughbred, and chaps alongside me. You were there next to me as I learned to jump, and again as I learned to fall. 

Now I am grown, and don’t need you to drive me to the barn everyday.  I can tack up my own horse, and dust myself off.  I don’t need you to braid my hair and put it in my helmet for me. The days of you waiting outside the ring for me are gone, but the memories of your support are forever ingrained in my mind. I know there were a million other things you could’ve been doing, but you never missed a show or a lesson, reminding me to put my heels down and look forward, not down. You cheered me on, wiped my boots before I entered the show ring, supporting me in every way you could. I may not need you to do those things anymore, but I do still need you. 

I do need you, Non Horsey Horse Mom, to encourage me and support me. I need you to boost my spirits when we have to put a horse down, and celebrate the success with my new prospect.  I need you to push me to keep learning and growing, despite the setbacks.  

You may not understand why horses but you always understood my love and my passion. Thank you for supporting your crazy horse girls dreams.  Thank you for dreaming with me, believing in me, and never calling it silly or a phase. Today my love for horses is still going strong, thanks to your support and love. As you love to say- six year old me would be very excited about what I do now.  And I would add that the me of today is because you believed in that horse crazy six year old.  

Thank you for all of your sacrifices, your hard work, your love that allowed me to pursue my passion.  

Forever your Horse Crazy Child