It’s a Small World: Another Horse Connection

Last week I wrote about the special connection between horses and humans. That particular piece was one of the most difficult to start. How do I put a lifetime of passion and memories in one post? But, after I gathered pictures, picked out memories that meant the most to me, and chose a few of my great-grandfather’s horse stories to share, there was no stopping the words from spilling out onto the page. The connections that were found between the generations of my family and the love we have had for horses for over a hundred years was heartwarming and eye-opening at the same time. However, these connections were not the only ones discovered – another connection was uncovered this past week thanks to the following photo:

Erin on Horse3

In this picture a four-year old version of myself can be seen riding a pony at a friend’s birthday party. Do you see the man with the sweet cowboy hat on? He ended up coming into our lives some 30 years later. I didn’t make this connection until I dug up this picture to use in my horse story last week.

Our Home

My family and I moved into our current home almost five years ago now. We were thrilled to find a place that was just 20 minutes from downtown St. Paul and Minneapolis, but made us feel like we were living in the country. The lot we live on is large enough to have nice-sized perennial gardens, hold our 12 raised-bed vegetable gardens, and keep our free-range chickens happy and chatty. Four doors down from our house is a horse boarding stable, so we walk to visit our friends almost every day. And, much to our delight, we quickly found out that our next-door neighbors have ponies come to stay with them every summer.

Buttons - 2yrs
Buttons and my daughter at 2 yrs.

Why? It’s quite simple – our neighbors have a large lot so they have a friend’s ponies come over to keep the grass in the pasture under control throughout the summer. This friend, I’ll call Joel for privacy’s sake, lives just down the road from us, so he stops by every day to spray the ponies with fly repellent and give them treats. Naturally, my family and I flock to the ponies every summer. We feed them long grass by hand, and when the apples on our apple trees ripen in the fall, the ponies delight in the crisp, sweet treat. Two summers ago I came up with a great idea – yes, it does happen once in awhile, believe it or not.

Joel

One day, as Joel was over taking care of his ponies, I asked him if he would be willing to bring a pony over to our house for my daughter’s fourth birthday. My daughter has always been completely crazy about horses. She decorates her bed with stuffed horses, plasters her walls with horse pictures, and visits the horses in the neighborhood on a daily basis. Going to see the horses is like brushing teeth for her – a habit. A surprise pony ride would be a dream for her. Joel was more than willing to come and surprise my daughter, and he actually seemed just as excited as I was at this prospective event. I had a sneaking suspicion that Joel had done this before. More on this later.

On my daughter’s birthday, it’s easy to say that she was in utter disbelief when a pony started walking up the driveway. I remember her screaming “IT’S BUTTONS!” She knew Buttons well since this pony spent most of the summers in our neighbor’s backyard. The smile that washed over my daughter’s face was beautiful.

Birthday Girl and Buttons

Quick note – Do you see those cowgirl boots with the pink trim? That girl wore those boots each and every day for two years. She only stopped wearing them because she could no longer scrunch her feet into those beloved boots. Needless to say, we have the boots in her memory box because neither mom nor daughter could part with them.

Anyway, my daughter rode the pony for a good hour the day of her birthday before…

Birthday Girl on Buttons

…bringing her brother on a ride that was just as long. Everyone, including Joel, had smiles on their faces throughout the evening. Success all around!

Giving Pony Ride

Last week, as I was rummaging through old photos for my horse post, I noticed a similarity between the man in the sweet cowboy hat in my old picture, and Joel. The man sure looked like Joel, but could he be? The hats they wore seemed similar. Maybe the nose too. Had we crossed paths 30-some years ago?

The Connection

Yesterday I was out mowing the grass in the backyard when I saw Joel pull up in the neighbor’s driveway. I jumped off the lawn tractor, ran up to the house to grab my old picture, and sprinted back down to the horse pasture. “Hi, Joel!” I yelled. He responded with “Well, hello there!” When I reached him, I said, “Joel, this may seem crazy, but is this you in this picture?” He looked and exclaimed “Well, would you look at that! That’s my hat, and my mustache.” He looked at me, pointed at the picture and asked “Is that you?” “Yes,” I replied, “I was at my friend’s birthday part, and four-years old at the time.” He smiled and said “It’s a small world! That’s Sugar you are sitting on. She was a great pony. Oh goodness, thank you so much for sharing this picture with me.”

Joel and I ended up sharing horse stories for at least a half an hour. I told him about my favorite horse memories, my parent’s farm, and my great-grandfather’s stories about Rowdy, his horse. Joel told me about growing up on a farm that was located very close to where we currently live, and how his grandfather bought him his first horse when he was 15 years old. Joel named his horse Charity because he liked to share the horse with others. He also told me that he had an interest in horses from the time he was five. I told him we have a lot in common.

Ever since the day Joel was given his first horse by his grandfather, Joel hasn’t been without a horse. In fact, he has spent many of his weekends giving pony rides at fairs, birthday parties, and community events. Joel said to me “I’m getting older now, so I’ve pretty much quit traveling with the ponies, with the exception of one event each summer – pony rides at Gillette Children’s Hospital.” He loves seeing all the children come out of the hospital to enjoy time in the fresh air atop his cherished ponies. I knew he was something special when I saw how good he was with my own children at my daughter’s birthday party. What a special soul. I can’t imagine how many children’s lives he has touched throughout his years of giving pony rides.

As I sit here and write, I’m still in disbelief that Joel, the kind man that brought his pony over on my daughter’s fourth birthday, is the same man that gave me my first pony ride when I was four years old. As Joel said, “It’s a small world.” We parted ways after our talk and he thanked me again for sharing the picture with him. I told him that it was lovely sharing horse stories, and that if he ever needs volunteers to help care for his ponies, he knows where to look. Another connection made thanks to the magnificent horse.

Carter Holding the Reigns

 

 

 

 

 

16 Replies to “It’s a Small World: Another Horse Connection”

  1. The relationship between generations, is so special and I love your mix of old and new photographs!

    1. Thank you! I’ve been having so much fun making those connections. Very special indeed.

  2. What an awesome coincidence and great story!

    1. Thanks so much, Ritu!

  3. angelanoelauthor says: Reply

    Chills. I am sitting outside drinking a coconut milk macchiato in the sunshine and I’ve got chills!
    What a beautiful story. I do believe there are coincidences in the world completely unconnected to things- but I don’t think this is one of those. I have no idea what more it could mean beyond this lovely blog post, but something tells me there’s more.
    What a treat to read this.

    1. Thanks so much, Angela! I have the same feeling. What shall be will be.

    2. I do feel lucky to have the connections we already do. ☺️

  4. Seriously, what a small world! This is such a sweet story!

    1. Thank you, Becca! It was a fun discovery, and pretty crazy!!! Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment.☺️

  5. Love the pics that accompany your post!

    1. Unbound Roots says: Reply

      Thank you! It was fun going through the pics and reminiscing. x

  6. I used to be scared of horses. Recently, though, I’ve decided they aight 😜🐴❤️

    1. Unbound Roots says: Reply

      You’ll be riding before you know it. Then, you’ll want your own. Watch out!!!😉🐎

  7. This is SUCH a sweet story!

    I love the mix of old and new piccies. You look so much like your daughter and I love her pink boots!

    I have always been nervous around horses. I like them, I just can’t help but feel wary around them. When I was really little I saw my sister get thrown from a horse. I don’t even remember it but it seems to have left a lasting impression! It’s funny that things that happen to you when you are young really do stay with you. You (and your daughter) are lucky to have Joel and great first experiences with ponies!!

    1. Unbound Roots says: Reply

      Josy, thanks so much for your kind words! x I’d be lying if I said I am never nervous around horses. I helped my neighbor with her horses last winter, and she works with big draft horses. I feel so tiny next to them, and let’s be honest, they could crush me with one of their hooves. They really are gentle giants though. Horses do spook, and this is when most accidents happen. My daughter has no fear around them. Every time we visit the horses down the street, she gives them big hugs. The horses seem to know they are dealing with a tiny human, as they are extra gentle with her. It’s fun to watch! Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to comment, Josy!

      1. You’re welcome. I love your posts so I can’t help but comment! 😉

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