TheBanyanTree: Tori--a return and both feet in

[Tori Wilfred, Draconia Keep]

Today I went to The Banyan Tree on yahoogroups.  I'd been nomail for a 
long time. 

Today I realized just how long.

I was thinking of Youngblood, and I wanted to find a little of her.  
Where better than The Banyan Tree?

For those of you who don't know me, with my writings, you will.  I'm 36, 
mother of 3, happily married for 14 years, a Morgan horse owner/breeder 
and a writer.  The rest just falls in place.

Here is today's Not-Quite-A-Blog entry on our website where I write 
about riding, kids, horses, and writing, and, well, everything else just 
falls into place..

Just How Lucky We Are... .

 

Last night proved to be enlightening.  My neighbor and friend, "Sarah"** 
had called me the night before and asked me if she could bring her 
"Little Sister", Andrea**, over to meet the horses.   Sarah is in the 
Big Sister/Little Sister program, and Andrea had never been seen a horse 
or other farm animals up close.  Of course, I readily agreed.

Sarah and Andrea showed up around 5:30, and we walked out to the barn.  
Andrea is almost eleven years old, and she lives in the city with her 
dad and brother.  Her mother lives about an hour or so away, and Andrea 
doesn't see her very often which is why she is able to be in the Big 
Sister/Little Sister program.  Recently when she'd gone to Sarah's to 
visit, Andrea told Sarah repeatedly that she wanted to come see our 
horses.  

When Andrea came up to the barn door, she stopped cold.  Sarah had to 
coax her to come in.  Andrea uneasily looked at the hay and the horses' 
heads sticking out their stall doors ready to say hi.  She was 
overwhelmed  by the new smells, new sounds that she'd never experienced 
before.  The horses all in a chorus greeted her as they are wont to do, 
and Andrea, with lowered eyes, stayed behind Sarah. 

I thought perhaps we'd start with something small.  How about a young 
chick? Well...

Andrea had never seen a chicken up close, and I asked her if she wanted 
to pet one or hold one, and shook her head emphatically.  All my 
chickens are friendly as they are constantly played with by Mikyla and 
Aleyna and their friends.  However, as I found out later, even the cats 
and dogs made Andrea anxious. 

I could barely get her to pet the horses throughout the evening:  They 
seemed huge to her .  Purposely, I'd left my tallest and biggest mare 
out in the field--Prize 
<http://www.draconiakeep.com/harmons_lick_winingticket.htm>is around 
15.1--knowing that Prize can be intimidating because of her height and 
her big-boned conformation.  Nonetheless, Andrea met several others:  
Lacey <http://www.draconiakeep.com/hctf_lost_in_a_storm.htm>, our dun 
mare; Lea <http://www.draconiakeep.com/winning_ways_princess_lea.htm>, 
tiny Pepper <http://www.draconiakeep.com/draconia_gaelic_blessing.htm> 
(Andrea's eyes lit up when she saw her!), Vivien 
<http://www.draconiakeep.com/windrise_lady_vivian.htm> (who still 
intimidated her even as a yearling.  Viv's going to be easily 15 
hands.), and finally, Dottie (Aleyna's hackney/mini cross), and Sweetie 
<http://www.draconiakeep.com/sweet_revenge.htm>. 

Andrea wouldn't say anything, so I tried to answer her unspoken 
questions.  No matter how much we persuaded her, nothing would change 
her mind--even watching Lance, a two year old, feed the horses. 

Then we went outside to saddle up Dottie, Rosie and Sweetie.  My 
daughters Mikyla and Aleyna had her help them brush the horses a little 
bit--at least more than I could get her to!  I could almost hear her 
soft spoken words as she talked to the girls.  I could see it in her 
eyes that she longed to help, but horses, regardless of their size, can 
be a little frightening, especially to a young child who has never been 
on a farm.

After trying unsuccessfully to get her to pet or brush the horses, I 
thought for sure I'd not be able to get her on a horse.   However, when 
she saw Mikyla riding Rosie and Aleyna on Dottie, Andrea decided that 
riding one would be okay.  So, Doug helped her get on, and I led her 
around the riding arena a few times.  Then, I asked her if she wanted to 
trot.  She hesitantly nodded.  I almost got a smile... .

Andrea stayed on Sweetie for at least half an hour, serious, and again, 
almost a smile.  At first we led Sweetie, then Andrea rode by herself, 
and sometimes she just sat there on Sweetie with Sweetie half-sleeping. 
<G> 

Andrea always listened to my instructions and followed them without 
comment.  Matter of fact, she hardly said 20 words to me the two hours 
she was here. 

Finally, Sweetie and Andrea had had enough, and Andrea got down.  When 
it was time to brush Sweetie and say "thank you", she still wouldn't 
brush her, but she did pet her tentatively and softly said, "Thanks." 

Andrea, Sarah and I went over to meet Mandy 
<http://www.draconiakeep.com/winning_ways_comanda.htm> (she wouldn't pet 
Mandy either) while Mikyla and Aleyna put their horses away too, and all 
three girls and Lance took off for the trampoline while Sarah, Doug and 
I talked.  Sarah told us about Andrea's home life.  Andrea seems to be 
loved and well taken care of.  There is just very little money.  Nothing 
extra.  She'd never been to a county fair or seen cows or horses or 
chickens or donkeys (she loved ours!) up close--and some only in pictures. 

As I heard my girls and Andrea laughing as they jumped on the 
trampoline, I couldn't help but think how lucky we are that we can give 
so much to our children.  And how lucky they are to grow up with those 
horses who wrap around our hearts and give so much back.  But my girls 
don't realize it.  Not yet.  Not until their children are growing up, 
and they see how much they have. 

With full dark coming quickly, Sarah and Andrea said goodbye.  We all 
told Andrea that  she was more than welcome to come back and see the 
horses anytime.  And I finally got the full smile I'd wanted all evening. 

She'd had a good time, and so had we. 

And we look forward to seeing her again.

Tori

 

*I changed names for privacy purposes.

I invite your comments and your questions. tori at draconiakeep.com 
<mailto:tori at draconiakeep.com>

Until tomorrow...

Thanks,

Tori Wilfred




-- 

Tori Wilfred
Draconia Keep
Morgan Horses and Dales Ponies
Exceptional horses in traditional and exotic colors
Seville, OH
330-335-8247
www.draconiakeep.com, tori at draconiakeep.com 
***Check out Tori's Not-Quite-A-Blog at www.draconiakeep.com ***