Horse Girl
- Jenna Cossey
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
“Your energy and enjoyment, drive and dedication will stimulate and greatly inspire others.”–John Wooden
I did not grow up owning horses. Lots of my kinfolk had them, and I have a few childhood memories of petting their horses through a fence or being led around on one's back. I was almost an adult before horses became a hobby, but I was fascinated with them from an early age.
I cannot remember the first time I ever rode a horse, but I do remember the day I fell in love with horses.
Some of the particulars have escaped me with time, but to the best of my memory, it was in the fall, and I was in about the second or third year of grade school. Our class had a guest speaker come to talk to us about Tennessee Walking Horses. Anything related to animals piqued my interest. Plus, my dad loved western movies, and my brother and I loved playing cowboys/girls. Everybody knows a good horse is central to any great western narrative, so when it was time for all of us to take our places and listen, I found a spot way up front where I could certainly get all the details.
I listened with rapt attention as a lady told us wonderful stories about raising Tennessee Walking Horses. She told us about their colors–the proper names like sorrel, chestnut, bay, etc. She told us about their smooth gaits and how they could carry a rider without them bouncing. She talked to us about how to care for them and showed us photographs. I soaked it up like a sponge.
Toward the end she shared the account of a special horse raised on her farm. It began with an awful tragedy. You see, when the horse was just a colt, he got his hind foot caught in a fence, and came very near to completely severing it. Even today, horses with severe leg injuries must often be put down, and this happened in the 1970’s. However, with the woman's meticulous care, he recovered. He not only recovered, but later went on to become the World Grand Champion Walking Horse! The passion her telling of that story has stuck with me for well over 30 years.
After her presentation, there was one last surprise. We all got to go outside and walk way down the end of the schoolyard, past the playground to where she had brought one of her very own horses for us to see! I’ll never forget seeing that magnificent creature up close. Shiny, opaque and marble-like eyes, muscles that rippled with each movement, a muzzle soft and velvety to the touch– I had seen horses before, but her story had given me a brand new appreciation. I was mesmerized, and I reckon it was one of the most memorable days in all of grade school for me.
From that day on I collected toy horses by the handful. I set them up on my dresser, brushed their hair, and gave them names. A time or two, our parents let my brother and me take short rides when we vacationed. Years passed before I really learned how to ride and got my first horse, but when I did, I felt right at home.
Even though I cannot recall every detail, I definitely remember the story and the lady behind it. Her name was Margaret Anderson. I don’t think I ever got to meet her again, and I never knew her personally, but she was certainly one of the parties responsible for turning me into a “horse girl.”
I dare say just about everyone reading this has experienced a similar moment–a time when someone opened your eyes to something that excited your interest simply by telling a story. It may have been in person or in a book. For me, it’s just a beautiful reminder that there is power in passionate storytelling.
“The stories we love best live in us forever.” – J.K. Rowling
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