Horse Girls

A true Horse Girl never loses her passion for the creatures. My niece has apparently inherited the recessive, horse-loving gene that I, too, share. My love affair with all things equine controlled my life from about age 9 until age 15. I've talked about it before. I stopped riding when I was in high school, but I've never lost my love of horses. This is an actual picture that I took yesterday at the Hood River Classic, a hunter/jumper show that draws over 400 competitors from all over the West. I can't exaggerate how gorgeous this location is. This is pretty much the very first thing we saw when we walked in. That's Mt. Hood.

It's kind of fascinating to get a glimpse of a life you could've had, if things had been different. I never owned my own horse, but I dreamed of it, had stomach-aches over it, and kept notebooks chronicling fantasy horses/tack/saddle blankets/pedigrees and stable names for most of my childhood. Watching the girls walk around in their breeches and oxford shirts and tiny stud earrings I remembered what it felt like to be agile and single-minded; they are as cool and alluring now as they were then, though I was always only a weekend rider, riding rented shufflers on well-worn trails or over tired school fences, and as such only barely one of the tribe. Also, I was an inconsistently talented  rider -- I think I had some natural aptitude for it, and good balance, and a gentle touch; but I lacked confidence, and fell off regularly. One day I'd be wonderful, the next I'd be tossed head-first over an oxer and wander home wobbly-kneed, covered in mud, and tears. My parents patiently indulged my obsession for as long as it lasted -- it was very expensive to ride in the city, and the stables we frequented were not close to home. I was forever envious of girls who were in 4-H, which was something I had only read about; it was something that country girls got to do, along with everything else that was wonderful. I thought nothing could be better than sitting on your own pony bareback, reading a book while Pony contentedly munched dandelions in the shade. I'd seen a picture of a girl doing just this, and the image burned itself into my brain to the extent that my mind's eye visited it frequently, and I got flustered with longing if I thought about it too much. I could only imagine such a life of luxury, could only imagine what it would be like to stay in the saddle for longer than my one hour a week. I rarely, rarely missed a Saturday lesson in six years.

When I was ten, I was in my first horse show. I won a pink, 5th-place ribbon, and it was the happiest day of my life. I mean, I clearly remember standing there, having my picture taken, thinking, "This is the happiest day I've ever, ever, ever had." I was probably only in six or seven shows after that, and I can't remember if I got any other ribbons, though I think I did. That pink one was the best. I know I have the picture somewhere. This picture, taken yesterday during the Grand Prix, pleases me. I can't figure out how to get my camera to open the shutter exactly when I press the button -- there is always a delay while it focuses that makes taking action shots difficult. I have to go read the manual, for the sixth time. Doesn't that mountain look like some kind of fake alpine backdrop? It's real though. Didn't even Photoshop it. This shot was just pure luck.

This shot, on the other hand, is pure clown. A camera-shy nephew under an inside-out horse sweater. If you look closely at the picture above, you can see my niece  holding her little stuffed horse, Buttermilk, as she claps for the ribbon-winners of the tot class. She worked on her horse activity workbook all the way back to Portland, as we wound through the breathtaking  Gorge. I don't know what she was thinking about, so quiet she was in her seat. What a wonderful day.

Comments

[Anne]

Alicia,
I'm so pleased you blogged this! My mom and I didn't have time to squeeze in this event on her busy birthday weekend, but she is still a horse girl at 59 and will be tickled to see these gorgeous photos. It poured rain on us there last year, and we still had a lovely time. Your posts are a daily treat; thank you!

[Anna]

Such beautiful pictures! I love horses, they are som graceful! I'm also a big fan of your blog and your work, very inspirational!

[k8tykat]

this brings back wonderful memories of my childhood. i lived in the central valley of california and had the sweetest little pony missy, that i loved dearly. however, even though i rode almost daily i still got thrown, as ALL riders are.

[Lucinda]

My favorite thing about growing up on a 80 acre farm in Ohio was Cimeron. A horse that taught me about patience, loyalty, hard work, and confidence in overcoming difficult challenges. My first vault off his back and and vault back on while he was trotting was both frightening and exciting. Our first 5' jump over a brick wall after many refusals, and severals awkward falls overtop his head was one of our best moments together.

There isn't a better feeling when you are a young girl and having a horse that comes running up the pasture when you approach the barn.

I got such pleasure at the end of a hot, summer day showering off all the dirt and odor from mucking stalls, training in a dusty arena, and just hugging my gentle beast. I couldn't wait to do it all over again.

Thanks for sharing your fabulous day, and continuing to remind me about lifes great pleasures. On days when Mt. Hood is that glorious I feel quite blessed to be living here.

[Anna]

I just told my husband this weekend that I want to take riding classes. He loves to ride motorcycles and I just can't get into the whole motorcycle thing, but I've ALWAYS wanted to ride horses!

[Lilli]

One of my happiest memories is when I was 11 and my mom sent me to horse camp for 2 weeks. We would go on wonderful daytrips through forests, up and down hills, gallop across expansive fields.

I really found out what I was made of. If only I didn't have allergies! I was physically miserable most of the time, but blissfully happy on the inside :)

[hannah]

you just made my inner nine year old heart skip a beat. that first picture is unbelievable. wow. i too had the yearning, but never got anywhere near as close as you did.

[wendy]

these photos are fabulous...the top photo especially!!
ahh...horses!

[Mary]

How interesting to see pics of my childhood home on your blog! I grew up a horse-loving girl in the shadow of Mt. Hood and even volunteered at that event when it was just starting out. My Mom works at the hospital, which was their main sponser for many years.

It's never too late to take up riding. I had to wait 22 years to get a horse of my own, but I wouldn't give it up for the world now.

If you want to get a little sh*t on your boots and ride a bomb-proof mare on safe trails, I'm only an hour and a half south of you ;-)

[hillary]

yeah Chicagoland isn't really conducive to horse girl fantasies is it. Although sounds like you had a fun go of it. Your niece is a lucky girl! So this is perfect timing. I am sitting here trying to think of a 'horse girl' name for my new bunny. Any suggestions?

[anja]

I was the same - scraping together money for riding lessons (the nearest riding school was a three-hour drive away, for a while all my pocket money went to weekend visits), keeping notebooks, fantasy horses, everything. They still seem magical to me. Mary is right, it never really is too late, perhaps I should try another riding lesson now? Just the one, to feel the old magic.
And that landscape is just breathtaking. Makes me want to start saving for air tickets instead :)

[Jill]

Oh, the memories! As a child I hated dolls but loved my Breyer Horses. I never got to have my own horse, but my daughter turned out just like me. So, she started riding when she was 10. Her dream was to be a professional show jumper. She was single-minded in her goal - was at the stable everyday, rain or shine. She showed frequently and was quite good, but at age 18 realised what an EXPENSIVE sport it was. It will be interesting to see what she does with this talent as she grows older. But I must say, being a horse "mom" is practically as much fun!

[Vicki in Michigan]

With my camera, if I push the shutter button halfway down, it will focus on whatever is in the middle of the screen, and then when the shutter is completely depressed, it will take a pic right then (without re-focusing).
(Don't let up on the shutter -- half way down, hold it there, then all the way down, then you can let go.)

This eliminates at least part of the delay. Stopping motion is not my camera's forte, but the pre-focusing does help. You could focus on the fence, before the horse got there......

If your camera works this way. I read this hint on a camera site, so maybe the pre-focus thing is fairly general, I don't know.

You can use this for getting a focus somewhere other than the middle of the image, and with my camera it also affects how much light it lets in. So if something in the pic is a lot lighter or darker, just where I point it when I do the focusing affects the exposure, too.....

What a GORGEOUS setting!!! Wow.

-- Vicki, another horse lover from way back

[Beth]

Oh wow.. those pictures we so wonderful. I will hae to show Emma when I get home. She adores (do not think that is strong enough either) horses. You can see it in her eyes. We went to see Sue the T rex this weekend and guess what she wanted from the gift store... a pony.. She has at least 5 stuffed animal horses and then tons of my little ponies, and then the hand painted ones from Germany... I cannot wait until she is older because she knows she is going to get riding lessons (and my parents WANT to buy her a horse....so)
Anyway, those pictures are just gorgeous, thank you so much for sharing. Gives me one more reason to want to visit the area!

[LeS]

Yes, these photos are amazing and beautiful. Even more beautiful to me, though, is the way you can write a few short paragraphs and be so poignant with that little touch of melancholy. It brought a tear to my eye and made my heart ache a little.

Thank goodness you reside in this little corner of the web :)

[Jenny Rebecca]

Wow - what spectacular scenery!!

[Toni]

Mt. Hood is one of the most majestic mountains I have ever seen. I never, ever looked at it with out being amazed when we lived there.

My daughter would have loved to have been there. She is a horse lover and has been taking lessons for almost 2 years now. She is such a natural. I'm always in awe of her confidence.

My camera does the same thing. That delay thing. It's quite frustrating at times.

[larissa]

A pink ribbon for horseback riding - that is the s*it. Lovely pictures and a great story. Now I want to read a book and sit on my pony too.

I only took a year or two of lessons in a hunt-cap-and-stud-earring way back in New Jersey where I grew up. The stable was called Seaton Hackney. Ahhh, the good old days.

[shanna]

what a lovely post, alicia. thank you for taking me on such a pleasant, if bittersweat, journey.

[molly]

this post makes me squeal a bit inside as my Emma just started her second week of riding lessons. I love watching her out there, in her black velvet riding helmet and boots, poking around the ring on a pony that would probably roll over if you asked it to. And I love how I sometimes catch her giggling and dancing around the room because she's "thinking about when her next riding lesson will be."
I think I was one of those 4-H girls you envied. And I probably envied you on the mornings when I was up feeding lambs and horses, while my 'city' friends got to sleep in and watch cartoons!

(your photos in this post are so beautiful, alicia, they almost look surreal! love them.)

[Stephanie]

these photos are just stunning! does your camera have a "sports mode" where you just hold down the shutter and it snaps away?

[Delsie Chambon]

I can't get rid of the delay on my camera either! It is so frustrating I am about to go back to the old kind, you know, with film. Does anyone have suggestions on this?

Your photos look really nice, dispite the slow shutter.

[Charmaine]

Found your blog through Wee Wonderfuls...I too was an avid rider when I was younger, stopped in high school after I started feeling badly for the horses/way they were being trained at the stable I used to go to. Sometimes I get nostalgic about horses, and I want to finally have one or ride more, but it's harder to get started when you are older.

Beautiful shots. The mountain in the background is very impressive.

[Yvonne]

That's so funny you write about that, and may I first oooh and aaah over the beautiful scenery, I've never had that horseback riding bug most girls my age had but lately I've been really wanting to. Maybe I should now ... And those ribbons are just fabulous to look at aren't they?

[Denise]

I loved horses when I was a girl but never got an opportunity to ride. When my daughter was 5 she wanted to ride because her cousin did. We started her lessons then. Now 8 years later I am amazed at what she's learned from riding and being around horses - not just horsey lessons but real life lessons. I've benefited also because my dearest friends I met through her riding pals. We are looking for her next horse now but I'm going to keep her sweet mare and have her teach me to ride. I'll leave the jumping to her though - I just want to be safe on a trail ride.