I hung up my bridle today....

This poem touched me to the core. I have so been struggling with this. I brings tears to my eyes every time I reread it.  Keep reading, as the copy I recieved said at the top, it gets better at the end. For those of us that love horses, it really hits a cord.
..................................................................................................................................
I Hung up my Bridle Today

by Kris Garrett

11-11-09



Yesterday,
 for the first time, I was too tired to ride
Yesterday,
for the first time, I was afraid I
would be hurt if I was thrown
Yesterday,
for the first time, I heard someone
say my barn was too shabby
Yesterday,
 for the first time, I let someone tell me I was too pudgy to ride
Yesterday,
 for the first time, I realized I was old
Yesterday,
for the first time, I had to face that I could no longer keep up
Yesterday,
for the first time, I had to let go of my dreams
Yesterday,
 for the first time, I felt my heart break
Yesterday,
 for the first time, I turned my back on my friend
Yesterday,
for the first time, I knew I was done

Today,
 for the last time, I felt warm, braided leather in my hands.
Today,
 for the last time, I ran my stirrups up so they wouldn't bang my mare's sides
Today,
 for the last time, I released the buckles on the girth and watched my girl sigh
Today,
for the last time, I slowly dropped the bit so it wouldn't hit her teeth
Today,
for the last time, I gave my mare a cookie to thank her for the ride
Today,
for the last time, I buried my head in her soft, warm neck
Today,
for the last time, I inhaled the sun and the dust in her long winter coat
Today,
for the last time, I closed the gate and trudged to the muddy porch
Today,
for the last time, I tracked hay and horse hair into my house
Today,
for the last time, I pulled off my boots
and felt the sting of warm blood returning to my cold toes
Today,
 for the first time, I cried after my ride
Today,
for the first time, I felt my hands shake as I set the saddle on its rack
Today,
for the first time, I hugged my young trainer a final goodbye
Today,
 for the first time, I waited for the new owner's trailer to arrive
Today,
for the first time, I set my boots in a box to go to the Goodwill
Today,
for the first time, I sighed at the wear on my riding gloves
Today,
 for the first time, I had no hay in my hair
Today,
for the first time, I did not hear nickering when I opened my back door
Today,
 for the first time, I felt worse leaving the barn that I did when I entered
Today,
 for the first time, I had no one to check on before going to bed

Tomorrow,
 for the first time, I won't have to buy hay
Tomorrow,
for the first time, I can stay in bed longer
Tomorrow,
for the first time, I won't see the poop pile grow
Tomorrow,
for the first time, I won't be able to fly on four legs
Tomorrow,
 for the first time, I will be sorry I listened
Tomorrow,
for the first time, I will regret letting her go
Tomorrow,
for the first time, I will be angry at God
Tomorrow,
for the first time, I will be angry at myself
Tomorrow,
for the first time, I will cry the day away
Tomorrow,
for the first time, I will be glad to die

Day after tomorrow,
for the first time, I will awaken in tears
Day after tomorrow,
for the first time, I will know I was wrong
Day after tomorrow,
 for the first time, I will defy all the judgement
Day after tomorrow,
 for the first time, I will ignore my old bones
Day after tomorrow,
for the first time, I will return the buyer's check
Day after tomorrow,
 for the first time, I will bring my friend home
Day after tomorrow,
 for the first time, I will take my boots out of the box
Day after tomorrow,
for the first time, I will be reborn.

For the rest of my life,
I will have a horse in my yard.
For the rest of my life,
I will ignore the cruel judging.
For the rest of my life,
 I will watch the poop pile grow.
For the rest of my life,
I will have hay in my hair.
For the rest of my life,
I will track mud in my house.
For the rest of my life,
I will bury my face in her soft neck.
For the rest of my life,
 I will let my soul fly.
For the rest of my life,
I will never be alone.

..................................................................................
Today is Emmas 10th Birthday! Wow how time flies! She was a really cute baby!