She never won a race and she never won a ribbon. The only reason we got
her was because her owner owed my father some money for hay. This
barely halter broken 3 year old half arabian became ours. The minute I
saw those beautiful brown eyes I was head over heels. I was told not to
go near as I was only 6 and she was a bit wild, but each day I always
brought her a treat even though she wouldn't come get it I would leave
it for her and back away so she would come. After a few days she would
take the treat from my hand and let me pet her soft nose and so our
friendship and trust began.
She proved too much for my brothers to handle so we sent her to a
neighbor that trained horses. I remember when he called and said to
come and visit. The wild look in her eye was gone my brothers could
easily ride her. She came home shortly after that visit.
My brothers rode her and loved her speed and exurberance. I was still
not allowed to ride her but I never forgot to bring her treats. One day
sitting on the fence feeding her I just decided that I was going to get
on and I did after all she was right by the fence so it wasn't so hard.
She never moved a muscle the whole time I sat on her I tried to get her
to walk like I had seen my brothers do but she refused to move. So
every day for about a week I would just sit on her and ask her to walk.
Then one day it happened she finally walked very slowly and carefully
and all around the pen I was over joyed. The next day I put her halter
on and fashioned reins with the lead rope and learned how to steer. I
soon became bored with just walking and asked her to trot and she did.
I set up little obstacle courses in her pen and rode through them
endlessly. I told my Mom that I had a surprise for her. I brought her
down to HoneyBee's pen and showed her our moves, needless to say she was
surprised, I never did get punished for not staying away from the
horse. My Mom gently told me that I should have talked with her before
riding and that I should not ride the horse out of the pen.
I practiced and practiced in the pen all summer and I really wanted to
canter, but HoneyBee refused. At the end of the summer I was a little
discouraged all this time and no canter, my brothers tried to help me,
but to no avail she simply refused. I did keep trying though and then
it happened quite by surprise a wonderful canter. From that point on
I was allowed out of the pen to ride around the farm place. We never
stopped or looked back.
HoneyBee never cared if I had pimples on my face or no one at school
liked me she always accepted me. We had 12 wonderful years together.
One day when I got home from school on a very cold February day, my
brother came out of the barn saying HoneyBee was sick. He had called
the vet and we were waiting for the vet to come. She was in her stall
trying to roll and in obvious agony. I tried to console her and let her
know the vet was coming. She went down shortly before the vet arrived.
Through my weeping I heard snatches of colic, twisted intestines and no
hope. She was gone.
She is what started me on Arabians and it took 12 years to have the
priviledge to have Arabians again. I am very grateful to be the owner
of such wonderful horses.
This story has been published in the book: An Apple a Day compiled and edited by Kimberly Gatto. This book
can be purchased from Half Halt Press
