Ready To Share Now… October 29, 2008

 

It has taken a while but my mom and I are finally ready to tell about our weekend in South Carolina. 

We left for South Carolina on a Friday and made the four hour drive with Skittles to the South Carolina State Faire in Columbia, SC.  We met our very good friend Holly and her show team.  My momand I talked all the way there about how this would be my last show with Skittles and how much we wanted it to go well.  I was excited about the show and tried not to think of it being the last weekend with Skittles.  Over the last two years we have done countless shows with one another and have experienced so much with one another.  I did not want to imagine showing with out my partner.

When we got to the show we unloaded and met up with Holly.  She intorduced us to all the girls and then asked us to take a trip to the Camden Tack Store in Camden, SC.  I had not ever been to such a cool tack shop.  There was horse show stuff everywhere.  The store is huge and they had a little bit of everything.  My mom picked up new hairnets and a new girth for the new pony.  The Camden Tack Store has a discount section and my mom found some new practice pants for me.  We had a great time shopping and then we all went back to the fair to ride.  Everyone thought Skittles was so cute and he was a really good boy.

The next day we were up early and at the barn getting ready.  My mom complained about how dirty Skittles was and started saying she hoped she did not ever have to wash a white pony again.  I tried not to listen.  Finally, it was our turn for Short Stirrup.  My mom was surprised at how high the jumps were.  We usually jump 2′ in short stirrup but these jumps were 2′3.  Holly told my mom it would be alright and convinced her to let us try.  I knew I had to trust Skittles one more time.  

Skittles was fantastic!  He not only did his course like a champ he also swapped his leads every time clean!  We were so shocked.  We placed second in both our over fences classes.  I was so proud of him.  We even had people come up to us and take our picture!  I knew my partner could do it.  We also took third in our under saddle class and third in our equitation flat class.  We were reserve champions of our division and I won a $25.00 Tractor Supply gift card.  It was so much fun.

After the show, my mom and I decided we should say good-bye and leave for the hotel.  She said it would be easier if we did not return on Sunday but just leave and head home.  I guess she knew how bad it would hurt.  My mom left me alone with Skittles to say good-bye in his stall.  I had forgot in all the fun that we would be leaving him here.  I just could not imagine driving an empty trailer home. 

I opened the stall door and looked at him.  He looked at me.  I remembered the day I opened his stall door  and saw him for the first time.  That was a long time ago.  I remembered how happy I was and thought about how sad it was to leave him.  Skittles has been my best friend for so long.  My mom asked me if I remembered not having Skittles.  It was hard to think that far back.  I guess it hit me all of a sudden and I felt the tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat.  He came over and sniffed my pockets looking for treats.  I had his favorite and opened my hand so he could eat it.  I pet him and laid across his back and cried and cried.  My mom told me later she could see me in the stall and that she cried and cried too.   I stayed there for a long time.  He just stood there and let me cry on him.  I thought about all the good times we had together and all the hard work. 

 

After I had a good cry I kissed him one last time and started to walk out of the stall.  I could feel him behind me.  I knew he did not know what was about to happen.  I hoped he would be alright.  My mom was waiting for me in the car.  As we drove past his stall we slowed down to look one last time.  Skittles had his little head pressed against the bars of the stall door.  Good-bye Skittles.  I love you.

 

The drive back to North Carolina was sad.  At first my mom tried to talk about Skittles but her eyes would fill with tears and then she would try and act like she was fine and then I would cry.  I finally went to sleep and slept most of the way home.  When I woke up my mom reminded me that when we got home we would be going to the barn to meet my new pony Rory.  My mom then told me she had been thinking while I was sleeping.  She said we were thinking so much about how sad we were over Skittles that we totally forgot that Rory has a special girl also.  My mom reminded me that Rory’s little girl would be coming with him to the farm to see his new home and say good-bye just like we did with Skittles.  She told me that she was sure that his little girl would be just as sad as us.  All of a sudden it hit me.  Part of horse showing for lots of little girls and boys is learning to share.  We learn to give when it is time to give and to be thankful when we recieve.  I was sharing Skittles with some other girls and now Rory’s girl was going to share with me. 

I started to feel better.  I started to think about meeting Rory.  What would we do together and what would the year be like?   I started to think about his little girl.  I knew I wanted to let her know that I would take good care of her special pony.