Everything sublime is as difficult as it is rare. Baruch Spinoza

Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Knee High

Lori posted a photo of her first horse so I thought I would do the same. Knee High, my Belgian cross and the best horse in the world. I got him when I was a kid and he was middle-aged. We had some wonderful adventures together, in the days when a kid was simply set free to do whatever. My dad gave me some basic lessons, but otherwise, you're on your own, kid. I was driven to and picked up from the stable, but left there for the day. My father was a horse lover, which is how I was able to have one. I was probably nineteen in this photo and able to transport myself by then. I was interested in a barely trained pinto but was led to Knee High by my father's rarely-shown-to-me wisdom.


Knee High died an old man in 1975. It was about 17 years before I got another, Shaka. My wild child. That fellow was a handful and that is an understatement. He turned into a great horse full of talent. He loved me and the feeling was returned and then some. Then, the crazy journey began..........

29 comments:

Val Ewing said...

Oh wow! What a great idea for those of us who have equine right? Photos of our first horse and a little about them?
If not a horse then a pet perhaps?

I didn't own my first equine until I was an adult and a mom. But one never forgets that first one.

Thank you for sharing this and for Lori who started it!

Boud said...

I like your horse posts. This one's lovely. You have such a connection with them.

Marlane said...

We horse people have some amazing recollections !!

Sandra said...

I thought following Lori's lead an excellent idea, Val! Now I wait for you. And yes, non equiners should put up a first pet if they had one.

Sandra said...

I've spent the majority of my life in their company, Boud. You can learn a lot from an animal.

Sandra said...

We sure do! Some of it sorta painful in many ways.

Far Side of Fifty said...

I loved the neighbors horses, I got my own horse from a sale barn...my Dad picked it out, I would have not picked her as I had my eye on a nice gelding. She was a biter...and I hated her and she hated me and I have no pictures of her...cannot even recall her name. Dad sold her and I went back to riding at the neighbors:)

Sandra said...

Far Side, my contrary self has always liked the "personalities" 😄 At least the two of you had equal hate working for you! My dad was right about my first horse, I would likely have killed myself and maybe him, the pinto.

"Tommy" said...

Thanks for posting to my blog .Thompson

"Tommy" said...

Thanks for posting to my blog .Thompson

CheerfulMonk said...

Thank you! ❤️

Lori Skoog said...

I had a friend's Belgian here for years. His name was Smithfield Joe and he was like a driving school master. His owner also rode him and I took a couple of classical dressage lessons on him. He made it to 30 and was a doll. I would also love to see others first horses or pets!

Anvilcloud said...

You've had awesome relationships with your horses.

Sandra said...

I enjoyed your post. I guess I'm a yankee democrat!

Sandra said...

😉

Sandra said...

They are certainly solid horses, Lori. Knee High was a great fellow. He was calm, yet he had spark. I learned a lot from him.

Sandra said...

I have learned a lot from them. Patience and understanding a large part of the learning.

The Happy Whisk said...

Great story to shave on the blog! I love that you've learned a lot from them.

peppylady (Dora) said...

I use to show horses. We had a couple of Quarter horses.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

I have not owned a horse and onky ridden on once, once. I did enjoy reading Biut yiur first and certainly not lost hose, Sandra.

Rita said...

Thanks for sharing those memories! :)

Sandra said...

Thank you, Ivy.

Sandra said...

I didn't know that! I showed the Arabian circuit in huntseat and halter and dressage. Lots of memories.

Sandra said...

You are welcome.

Sandra said...

Dorothy, I think most people have not owned or even ridden a horse.

nick said...

Yes indeed, "in the days when a kid was simply set free to do whatever." Nowadays parents would worry that you might fall off a horse or get trampled by one.

Sandra said...

I am happy to have been left to my own defenses as a kid, nick. We got into some things we shouldn't but figuring things out for yourself really was good for us.

e said...

Oh, my horse fix for the day! Thank you...

Sandra said...

You are very welcome!