Growing up in a small town out in the country, an hour away from any city, riding my horse was what I did with my friends, or alone. I started riding horses when I was 7 years old, and my parents bought me my first horse when I was 11. From the ages of 7-27 years old, I owned and rode horses. I would ride in the woods, along the rivers and railroad tracks, through town, it didn't matter to me, I just went. My best friend and I would even tie our horses outside the town store on the bike rack and go inside, old school style. I did rides at birthday parties for little kids, I taught friends and family how to ride, I even got into 4H and did gaming for a while; I absolutely loved barrel racing, and I got pretty good too. To not have a horse now or to even be around them anymore is very hard, and I feel as if a part of me is missing, there's just a slight void there.
             I was 26, my husband and I had been married for 6.5 years and we finally had our first child that we've been trying to have for nearly 5 years. I felt I had to choose between my son and my horse, and that wasn't fair to any of us. My son was around Dexter since he was 2-3 months old; he was going to the barn with me every day, watched me ride, groom him, and then feed him, and he loved it all! I believe the feeling was mutual between the two of them because my son would put his hand up Dexter's nose, and all he would do is either lick or sniff him. Dexter's ears were always up and perky whenever my son made any noise, and Dexter would want to go check on him, as if it were his own colt. It was very comical to watch actually; a newborn baby and a 16.3 Thoroughbred horse bonding, it was amazing to see. My son was 9 months old when I decided to sell Dexter, and now he is 3 years 9 months and he loves horses. This makes me very happy and excited for our future, because I have a goal to have another horse when my son is 5-6 years old,...