UPDATE June 30, 2009: To my sorrow, people have been coming to smellshorsey and stealing this beautiful essay, "Because My Daughter Grew Up with Horses," and passing it off as their own work, sometimes for profit. I didn't write it but posted it here with the permission of the REAL author, Tracy Meisenbach. She is taking legal action against people who are using her essay without permission, and since so many confessed to stealing it from here, she has asked me to remove it. Though I'm sorry to delete it, I feel very strongly that an author should have control over her own work, and hope that deleting it helps. Here's the beginning of the original post:
The following essay, written by Tracy Meisenbach on her daughter's 16th birthday, is beautifully written and says everything I've wanted to say about why we encourage our daughter to ride. It is reprinted here with Tracy's permission. Please visit her website at Trinity Appaloosa Farm.
Because My Daughter Grew Up with Horses
by Tracy Meisenbach
DELETED at the author's request.
Thats a great post. Having been one of those daughters that grew up with horses, I can see where Tracy is coming from. Now that I am a Mom, I want the same for my sons, and will make SURE somehow, someway, that there is a horse (or two) here for them to learn with as well.
A good friend of mine in VA has her mare bred to one of Tracy's studs too- cant wait to see that baby!
Posted by: mrs mom | February 04, 2008 at 07:48 AM
What an outstanding article. It is also very true. Horses and actually, in my opinion, all pets enrich our lives in every way. Even through the responsibilities.
Great post!
Posted by: jolynna | February 05, 2008 at 12:08 AM
That is simply beautiful. I'm going to print it off and give it to horse friends.
Pax. Kimberly
Posted by: kimberly | February 05, 2008 at 04:20 PM
This article did not impact me in any way whatsoever! In the part where you are talking about people with piercings and being pregnant not going any where in life is not even close to being true. I have piercings and I plan on going many places in life. Also, when a horse has sex, that is just part of its instinct. Humans have the emotional effects that come with it. It was a nice article, but it did not impact me in any way!
Posted by: Alicia Paulette | February 13, 2008 at 01:28 PM
These same kinds of "poems" have been around since the 1970's. They're just tailored to suit the individuals idea/problem, usually associated with an illness or death, i.e., MS, CF, etc. While the format isn't original or creative, it's not bad. I agree with Alicia, to suggest that the outside world is scarey simply because of piercings or human sexuality, shows that this mother needs to let the truth and the reins out a notch or so. There's a culture shock waiting to happen.
Posted by: Blue | October 29, 2008 at 10:40 AM
Great ideas, great values, but what about all of the guys who ride? I am one of the few teenage males who have been riding horses since we could walk and I think there should be an "Because My Son Grew Up With Horses" article.
Posted by: Peregrine Alexander | January 12, 2009 at 05:26 PM
Tracy is crazy.
Posted by: April | August 13, 2009 at 11:46 PM