For my Daughters and Son

For my Daughters and Son

Because My Daughter (Son) Grew Up With Horses...........

Written By Tracy Meisenbach
(A few words have been changed)

Because my daughter (son) grew up with horses she (he) has compassion. She (He) knows that we must take special care of the very young and the very old. We must make sure those without voices to speak of their pain are still cared for.

Because my daughter (son) grew up with horses she (he) learned responsibility for others than herself (himself). She (He) learned that regardless of the weather you must still care for those you have the stewardship of. There are no "days off" just because you don't feel like being a horse owner that day. She (He) learned that for every hour of fun you have there are days of hard slogging work you must do first.

Because my daughter (son) grew up with horses she (he) learned not to be afraid of getting dirty and that appearances don't matter to most of the breathing things in the world we live in. Horses do not care about designer clothes, jewelry, pretty hairdos or anything else we put on our bodies to try to impress others. What a horse cares about are your abilities to work within his natural world, he doesn't care if you're wearing $80.00 jeans while you do it.

Because my daughter (son) grew up with horses she (he) learned about sex and how it can both enrich and complicate lives. She (he) learned that it only takes one time to produce a baby, and the only way to ensure babies aren't produced is not to breed. She (He) learned how babies are planned, made, born and, sadly, sometimes die before reaching their potential. She (He) learned how sleepless nights and trying to outsmart a crafty old broodmare could result in getting to see, as non- horseowning people rarely do, the birth of a true miracle.

Because my daughter (son) grew up with horses she (he) understands the value of money. Every dollar can be translated into bales of hay, bags of feed or farrier visits. Purchasing non-necessities during lean times can mean the difference between feed and good care, or neglect. She (he) has learned to judge the level of her (his) care against the care she (he) sees provided by others and to make sure her (his) standards never lower, and only increase as her (his) knowledge grows.

Because my daughter (son) grew up with horses she (he) has learned to learn on her (his) own. She (He) has had teachers that cannot speak, nor write, nor communicate beyond body language and reactions. She (He) has had to learn to "read" her (his) surroundings for both safe and unsafe objects, to look for hazards where others might only see a pretty meadow. She (He) has learned to judge people as she (he) judges horses. She (He) looks beyond appearances and trappings to see what is within.

Because my daughter (son) grew up with horses she (he) has learned sportsmanship to a high degree. Everyone that competes fairly is a winner. Trophies and ribbons may prove someone a winner, but they do not prove someone is a horseman. She (he) has also learned that some people will do anything to win, regardless of who it hurts. She (He) knows that those who will cheat in the show ring will also cheat in every other aspect of their life and are not to be trusted.

Because my daughter (son) grew up with horses she (he) has self-esteem and an engaging personality. She (He) can talk to anyone she (he) meets with confidence, because she (he) has to express herself (himself) to her (his) horse with more than words. She (He) knows the satisfaction of controlling and teaching a 1000 pound animal that will yield willingly to her (his) gentle touch and ignore the more forceful and inept handling of those stronger than she (he) is. She (He) holds herself (himself) with poise and professionalism in the company of those far older than herself (himself).

Because my daughter (son) grew up with horses she (he) has learned to plan ahead. She (he)knows that choices made today can effect what happens five years down the road. She (He)knows that you cannot care for and protect you investments without savings to fall back on. She (He) knows the value of land and buildings. And that caring for your vehicle can mean the difference between easy travel or being stranded on the side of the road with a four horse trailer on a hot day. When I look at what she (he) has learned and what it will help her (him) become, I can honestly say that we haven't "wasted" a penny on providing her (him) with horses. I only wish that all children had the same opportunities to learn these lessons from horses before setting out on the road to adulthood.