Sunday, January 10, 2010

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.
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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.

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


12 comments:

  1. Happy birthday Emma - and thanks for the lovely poem!

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  2. OH MY GOODNESS! I was crying my eyes out. I'm right where you're at, too. I'm in the same place. It's too sad to even think about.

    Where did you get this poem? Would you mind if I share it on my blog, too? I think even more horse lovers should read this deply heartfelt poem, too.

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO EMMA!
    Please give her a carrot and an apple from me, ok?


    ~Lisa

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  3. Wow! I love that! No truer words spoken. So many times I've wanted to sell that naughty horse or give up trying but realize I would be lost without a horse in my life! Thanks for sharing this.

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  4. I recieved it in an email Lisa, I just made sure to credit the original author, as I recieved it.

    I cried too....

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  5. I can't read it now. I will have to come back later. I had headache issues with my cold all weekend and trust me, if I read it I will drip like a leaky faucet and my headache is sure to come back! ;)
    I think Emma is SO cute! She's changed since she was a lil pumpkin. Happy 10th birtday, Girl! You are in your prime!

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  6. Oh WOW! (as I wipe the tears from my eyes!)

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  7. Happy Birthday Emma!
    Today of all days ,I so needed to read that , I am typing through tears , I spent some rotten hours this weekend feeling like I might not have "the stuff" to do this horse stuff anymore. The horses as always made me feel better , but this poem is perfect.
    Thank you

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  8. Oh fernvalley, it so hit me like that too, I have made these animals a part of my soul.

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  9. Happy Birthday to Emma!!
    Great poem!! Thanks for sharing!

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  10. I've seen this one before, it touches me everytime. Emma sure was a doll as a baby, and she still is! Give her a birthday carrot!

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  11. It made me cry and yes Emma was a cute baby and she still is. Happy Birthday girl!

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  12. The poem made me cry and don't have horses!

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