Smokey

by Bailey
(SC)

I started riding around the age of 5. I started out at Eden Farms. I rode a horse named Simon. We stopped going there because it was too far and too expensive.
Later, I started riding at Stuart Jin Stables. I went twice and never got back to going there.

When I turned 10, I started to take lessons at Brookbend Farm. This barn was owned by a man at my church. I started off on a horse named Freckles. She was sorta short but I didn't mind. I was riding at least.

When my friend, Reagan, bought Freckles, Melvin got me riding Bud. Bud is an old gelding. So he was pretty easy to ride and handle.

One night, my close grandfather died. I stopped riding for about a year, depressed about my grandfather's death.

When I got back to riding, Melvin thought I was ready for a new challenge. That challenge was Smokey.
She was stubborn. She never would do what I told her to. I wished that I could have stayed with Bud.

Amazingly, I fell in love with this mare!

I rode her every Saturday and occasionally on Thursdays and Sundays. I got to the stage where I could call her and she'd run to me. We both really loved each other.

I came up to ride one Saturday to find Smokey already tacked up. I told her "Hey!" and hugged her. I didn't know what was going on.

My mom took me back home and told me the news. Smokey was being leased by a woman who was there. She was probably going to buy her.

That night, I lay in my bed sobbing. After a month of pure depression, they cancelled the deal and Smokey was back!

In 2008, 4 days before Christmas, I asked to go and ride. My mom called and Melvin said that he had sold Smokey.

I was astounded! This was the second time!
I cried and prayed that it would happen like it did last time.

On Christmas morning, I got a saddle, rebel flag saddle blanket, bridle, horse treats, etc. I was happy with this, but now that Smokey was sold, which horse would I use it on? - Bud? He was too old and easy for me now.
I was a very experienced rider by now. Which horse could I ride?

My family started coming to our house to eat lunch. My mom found a present for me behind the couch. She said I must've missed it.
I unwrapped it. It was a box from JCPenny.
"Great," I thought. "Clothes. Boring." I pulled open the box. On top was a laminated paper that said:

"Every horse deserves, at least once in their lives, to be loved by a little girl!"

I was confused. Not sure what to think.
I put the paper aside and dug through the remainder of the tissue paper.
Wrapped up in that paper was a picture of a tall, gray mare with a big, red bow around her neck.--

Smokey! How was this possible?! He sold her!

"I didn't say who bought her," my mom told me, tears in her eyes.
I just nodded, trying to stop the tears from seeping out. I looked up and realized I wasn't alone. There wasn't a dry eye in the house.

I went to see my new horse that afternoon. I didn't call her. Instead, I ran all the way to the back of the pasture and hugged her and told her how she was finally mine!

I put my new halter on her, hopped on her back, and rode her back up to the gate.

Smokey is a 10 year old appaloosa mare who currently stays at Brookbend Farm in Clemson, SC.
She remains my horse and will stay as my horse until she places her hooves on the streets of gold and passes those pearly white gates.
I love her so much!

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

~Bailey~