The Flight Deck

The Free Horse – NOT

Inspired by Lex’s trip to the horse show, I just have to tell you this short saga – It was 1984 – I’m deployed to Spain and I call home to see how everything is going. All is better than well because uncle Bob is bringing Sham – purebred Arabian that my second daughter has ridden and loved for years to our house sometime after my return and it will be hers – free of charge – no strings attached. What a great deal – just need to find a place to keep him because my house doesn’t have a horse barn. No sweat – already checked with the folks around the corner and they have a stall for $50 bucks a month – good price – what a deal. Sham arrives – gets to the barn – we buy the hay ($ 10.00 bucks a bale – still a great deal) and he’s in. They have a great pasture for her to ride – she can take her bike to feed him and muck the stall ‘cause it’s close and so all is right with the world.

Then we learn about pony club – its one thing to just ride around in the pasture but another to compete. Unfortunately pony club is not at the barn where Sham is so we have to figure out how to get him there – easy – horse trailer – let’s go buy a horse trailer.

Horse trailer guy says this will work – what are you going to pull it with – what difference does that make says I, but respond with – my jeep. Then I won’t sell you the trailer. WHAT???  You’re in the business of selling horse trailers – why won’t you sell me one? Jeep’s wheel base is too small – you go down the highway – trailer starts to fishtail – you do something wrong – trailer tips over – jeep tips over – people die – horses die – not a good thing – I won’t sell you the trailer!!! OK says I – what do I need? He responds – a ¾ ton pickup. OK – I’ll be back tomorrow….

With Chevy Sierra in hand we pick up the trailer and back to the barn – Sham doesn’t want to get in the trailer – what’s this all about???? 2 hours later and late for pony club we get there and the world is ok.

Now pony club at the school site is a combination of dressage and jumping – dressage is pretty boring and the jumping is over a stick that’s about a foot in the air – not the most exciting thing I’ve ever seen… but we’re learning and that’s a good thing. Then we learn about the “shows” – we are going to participate so the only question is what do we need:

Riders Outfit – caching $$$$
Saddle pads – caching$$$
Boots – caching $$$$
Horse’s leg things –caching$$$
New halter / bridle / all to match – caching$$$$
More hay – caching$$$$

So here we are at the first show – everything in line and I watch as she takes the animal around the course – her half halts (technical equestrian term a little like the LSO saying “…need a little power –not too much power “ ) not too good cause of the experience level you know and so Sham kinda says – “OK – I’ve got it and over the jump he goes… she’s just aboard for the ride and they both know it…

Cost of the free horse – $0.00
Cost of the free horse – $ 12,000.00
Cost of the glint in the eye and the pride of accomplishment with the animal – love both ways – absolutely priceless….

And we had the great opportunity to have that priceless memory – many memories – engrained forever many times over.

She’ll probably have to put Sham down this year – age and cancerous tumor that will make it happen – but we will share that day together as well – we will recall those priceless memories.