Honest Scrap...hmmmm

Like so many of you out there, I've recently been scrapped by Vaquero Girl down there in California. She is one heck of a cowgirl and is a talented writer as well. So thanks California Cowgirl!! Here goes nothin'!! I've been postponing this for a while now. I find it quite difficult for some reason to write down things about myself that someone might actually find interesting. The deal here is to write down 10 honest tidbits about myself. A challenge to be sure, but I will give it a go.

1) My mom and dad got me my very first pony when I was 3 years old. The Beatles were popular then and I named him "Ringo". He was a brown and white Shetland pony with a very strong desire to kill me. Whenever I would lead him up to something and try to mount him, he would wait until the last possible minute and then move and I would fall down. If I did manage to get on board, he would immediately take off at a dead run and try to rake me off on a fence or a low-hanging branch or whatever it took to ditch me. Finally my dad taught him to lie down when he tapped on his fetlock and I'd climb aboard and hang onto his mane and my dad would lead me around on him. After a while of this, he refused to move without being led. My dad sold him after a few years and I cried and pitched a huge hissy fit and vowed to hate my dad forever and ever for selling off my very best ever friend.

2) I have been absolutely bonkers for horses for as long as I can remember. I think that after Ringo, I definitely had the bug and until I turned 12 and got my first real full-sized horse, I was relentless at begging my mom and dad until they finally gave in. I'm sure that I nearly drove them to the brink of insanity and they realized they had no other choice. So on Christmas Day in 1974 I received a very small present all wrapped up and inside was a note that said "Flexy and saddle and bridle are yours. Love, Mom and Dad". I will never forget that day, it was one of the best days in my life. (There's a story here, but I'll save that one for another time)

3) One time I blew a horse "sale" for my dad by putting burrs under the saddle for the prospective buyer's trial ride.

4) The only time I've ever been injured by a horse was at my very first horse show ever. I fell off in a bareback equitation class at the extended trot. My mare was in heat and didn't like this particular gelding that kept passing us up, so she let fly and I fell off and she jumped on my ankle and broke it. I felt nothing except for extreme embarrasment. (Note to self: Do not ride in a bareback class after spraying Show Sheen all over your horse.)

5) I never wanted to have children. I got pregnant at 18 and had an abortion. I've never regretted anything more. I do however, still believe that women should be able to make this choice for themselves.

6) My husband and I have been married for 25 years this coming July. I think that anyone whose ever said that marriage is easy is a liar. Nothing worth having is ever easy.

7) There are 3 kinds of people that I could hate: Abusers of children, animals or old people. I think that if you want to be a bully, you should pick on someome your own size who can fight back: otherwise, you're just a coward.

8) I have lots of patience with animals, but need improvement when it comes to patience with some people.

9) I was extremely shy as a teenager and as a young adult. I was always afraid to stand up for myself unless I became very angry. However, this has definitely changed in the last 20 years or so. I am now quite opinionated and am not afraid to speak my mind and stand up for whatever I believe in.

10) My horse Ladde and I were included in one of Ray Hunt's calendars. I started Ladde as a 3-year old in Ray's colt class and it was truly one of my greatest challenges and most rewarding experiences. I was both exhilerated and terrified most of the time, and on the last day got heat stroke. It was a blast!!

Well, there you have it. Whether you were interested or not. I guess I could have just done simple things like, I love chocolate or I love to read...but I've never done anything the easy way, and I think I'm much too old to start now. Hopefully I haven't bored anyone to tears.

I know that many of you out there have already been scrapped but there are so many interesting people that I would like to pass the torch to just a couple who I find rather interesting. So, I would like to know a little more about:

Life on a Bison Farm
Fern Valley Appaloosas

If you would be interested, then give it a go. And if you don't feel up to sharing, well then that's perfectly alright too. No pressure at all.

Have I mentioned lately that I think this blogging stuff is a good thing? No? Well, I do. I think it's fun and entertaining and enlightening on so many different levels.

Blessings and over and out for now.