Canadutch
A while back a friend invited me to Facebook and I joined to see what it was. Since then I’ve been completely addicted to it because it’s like a time machine! I’ve gotten in touch with so many old friends, and even some family. I’ve caught up with over 50 friends from my graduating class and it’s been great.
Another thing I love has been having contact with my old barn buddies again. One of which (Jennifer Jesty, far right) uploaded these old photos of us from the days at the stables. What a blast from the past! I really can’t believe it.
How can that be over 15 years ago? Where has the time gone?
I haven’t written much about this on my blog but a large part of my childhood and all of my teens was spent completely obsessed with horses. These are the friends I shared that obsession with.
I did all the normal teenage stuff… , but when I wasn’t doing those things I was at the barn. I boarded my horse at a place called Sunrise Stable, which was a gathering place for people of all ages who shared their love of horses. I started riding lessons there when I was about 12 and got my own horse (Lakeview Deny Bolo) when I was in my early teens.
(I am 2nd from the left in the first photo and in the middle in the second. I think it was either VERY early in the morning, which I doubt since we were all there… or after a long day of riding because I look KNACKERED!)
The above photo is myself on Deny (far right) and my friends in the indoor riding arena at the stable. We rode in there during the winter when the outdoor arena was full of snow, or when it was too dark outside.
I also worked at the stables when I was in my early teens, getting up at 5am and going to the stable to put all the horses out and clean their stalls for FIFTEEN DOLLARS for two days work. Insane, but I loved it. It gave me a good excuse to spend more time around the horses and I was happy.
I had Deny until I left Cape Breton when I was 21 and by that time she was getting old and needed a rest. She went to live with my uncle who has three daughters who loved her and cared for her until she died. I’ve never had another horse, as much as I would love to.
I haven’t ridden since I’ve been living in the Netherlands. I see horses all the time around the city, which I think is awesome… that they can be kept in the city, I mean. Everyone here rides English though, what’s up with that?
One day I’ll have one again, somehow… but until then I have some truly awesome memories from the ‘Sunrise Stables Days’!
Very cool! I had a hunter when I was younger, and prior to that I worked as a stable bum in exchange for free rides. I worked as a riding instructor briefly, and also worked at the track. Ah, the good old days!!!!