Because Her Dad Pulled Her to Horse Shows

Today was riding lesson day. It was also the day the National Guard was flying. A pair of F-16s kept roaring over. It's hard to find them in the sky because the sound is one place and the jets are in another. I tried to take a picture with my cell phone. They were too fast and my phone was too slow. It was a strange but beautiful mix of worlds -- girls riding horses on the ground and jets that stop me in my tracks every time I see them streaking up above, which is often.

I trailered Lily and Buddy to a nearby farm for their lesson, and then got to talking to a father of a teenage girl who lives and breathes horses who was there getting ready for a show this weekend.

The conversation started because I wanted to know how he liked his truck because there's a new truck in our future. And he began to tell me about how he wished that his daughter didn't like horses because of all the reasons we know why it's not the easiest or cheapest sport. And the more he talked, the more the truth came out.

First, there were all the reasons that were so well put by a mother in this post. And then he came to something that was pretty special for a father.

Because he pulled her and her horse to horse shows and Pony Club, they got to spend a lot of time together. Because he gave up his weekends and Saturdays so that she could have experiences and memories, those memories will include being with her dad (and mom). And one day, she'll even realize how much trouble it was for them.

Because he was with his daughter at horse shows in nice places, he sometimes got to sneak off and play some golf at courses away from home, so this wasn't all about self-sacrifice. He showed her how he could have fun and still make sure she was doing what she lived to do.

And most of all, because he spent all this time with her doing something as mundane as driving a truck and moving heavy objects and standing by the ring watching things he sometimes didn't even understand, they've grown closer.

They've got a good relationship. And when she goes off to college and beyond, they'll still have a special connection. In telling me all this, he suddenly didn't feel like he'd driven all that many miles. Instead of going far, he had drawn closer to home.

Horses bring us many blessings. Sometimes we just have to know where to look.

Comments

[Tracey/Desperate Horsewife]

Sigh...would that my husband would do that with our daughter. Seems to be my 'job', and he has no clue the blessings he's missing.

[photogchic]

So right Anne--He is probably thankful for your talk.

[Grey Horse Matters]

My husband went to a lot of 'away shows' with us and he and my son did get some golf in. He is not a horse person but he did make an effort to be involved in more than just the check writing aspect of it. I do remember that he never could understand why it took an entire day of waiting around for a few minutes in the ring. That would drive him crazy. The girls still remember that he made an effort, even though he would have preferred to be at the golf course, and memories are such a nice thing to have when you are no longer a child.

[Angry]

I don't have this blog on my reader list because, to be frank with you (well it's better than being angry with you... tehe) I'm not that interested in horsey things. Then I stumble in and find a wonderful family thing, and not only that a father daughter thing, which as a father of six boys and one girl, I can relate to very well.

Alright, alright... just one more blog to read... I’ll go ad it now... you better keep the standard up to your usual because if you don't, the smell of horse poo will drive me outa here quicker than you could say giddy-up. (Do people say that whilst on a horse?)

[risingrainbow]

Yes, there are lots of pluses for kids being into horses especially when the family gets involved.

I had to giggle a bit about the escape to play golf. I know a few horse dads who do that too.