By SUSAN WORTHINGTON
In 1947, I was born with the “H” (horse) gene. Since I was able to talk, horses called me. I collected horse hair, the trimmed-off hoof parts, and prayed every day for God to bring me a horse of my own, to love and care for forever.
In 1959, my father said, “Honey, let’s go for a ride.” Sitting very expectantly in his yellow El Camino, we drove for 30 minutes (no seat belts in those days!) until he turned off the main road onto a dirt road.
The sign said, “Flying Horse Ranch.” Thinking to myself that a ranch must have horses, my excitement grew almost uncontainable. Finally, Daddy stopped his pretty car and said to me, “Come on!”
Before he could say it again, I was at his side, grasping his hand. In the distance, I could see a big, tall, cowboy man with a shiny belt buckle striding boldly toward us. It was as if he knew my father, or was expecting us.
Hmm, I pondered.
The big cowboy had a gentle, happy smile that he shared with me, saying, “Hello lil’ Susie, I hear you like horses?”
“Yes!” I announced.
Then, the kind cowboy and my father said, “Stay here,” and walked away.
I saw them talking and Daddy gave the man money. Later, I found out it was a life savings of $400. After that, the cowboy gave Daddy a piece of paper. That night, my father would show it to my mother: a bill of sale.
Unbeknownst to my naïve persona, the cowboy directed us to an outside stall with an attached paddock. That cowboy (who I was later instructed to call “Pop”) opened the top stall door.
The most beautiful horse in the world put her big head and neck out of the stall. I thought it was a dream that I would be able to actually touch her. Then, my father gently lifted my quivering chin, his radiant face and sky-blue eyes met mine.
Time seemed to stand still in that moment, as if something monumental was about to happen. “She is yours!” my father’s excited voice proclaimed.
I was speechless. A real horse was mine? I was only 12 years old. Pop handed me a halter and rope, a surreal confirmation.
“Mandy,” a red bay with a big white blaze and tall white stockings, was mine. I was allowed to go into her stall and touch her. She felt like velvet, which became her new name. Although she was just an un-started 4-year-old, our souls united, and my forever life with horses officially began.
Now, at 77 years young, I know how blessed I am to have started breeding horses in 1961, which was followed by starting the horses I foaled out. God has allowed me to develop my own, 113-acre horse farm—with two goats and 17 cows—all of whom live happily here.
At my farm that I’ve owned and developed for 37 years, I raised my three children. They also got the “H” gene, and together, we’ve foaled out more than 450 foals.
Follow your passion, work hard, and never quit praying for your dream.
Through my God-given passion, I have enriched hundreds of people’s lives who enjoy the serenity of my farm or whose lives are enriched with the ownership of one of my horses.
I have never had a trainer, but I’ve had clinics with all the best, gleaning any wisdom these clinicians would offer and incorporating those techniques into my own training and riding style.
I’ve learned there are always trials to consider as well as pure joys. Through the years, I’ve had three broken left arms, multiple concussions, two broken backs, and survived a 7-hour, 50/50 success-rate rectal cancer surgery at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. I acquired a colostomy and, in 2022, I survived a ruptured brain aneurism.
I am still here, with prayer and horses. I rode my big, bay mare Pursue yesterday, and I will ride again today! My goal is to show my just-turned-4-year-old filly later this year in a trotting-over-poles class. My advice: Enjoy your “H” gene, those of you that have been touched with the love of the majestic equine!
Anything is possible. Apply your heart, soul, passion, effort, dedication, and prayer.
This was a submission to the 2024 Equestrian Voices Creative Writing Contest sponsored by The Plaid Horse. The goal of the contest is to promote fine, literary prose involving horses and the equestrian experience. This contest is open to writers of fiction and non-fiction, regardless of any previous publications, and awards 16 prizes. To learn more about the 2024 contest click here.
