Ponies

Every year I watch the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes. I love horse races. When I was a little girl I used to go to the races with my grandmother, her sisters, and my mom. When I walked into the track at Parx, the same one I went to 40 years ago, I remembered the feeling like it was yesterday…

Earlier that day Lil Cowboy and I were at The Parkwood Therapeutic Center watching young riders take their lessons. The beauty of it was there were riders of varying levels of different abilities bonding with the horses. Watching a child who is autistic smile and bond with his horse while riding makes me appreciate the equine wonders even more.

These are the same horses that my son rode at summer camp. These beauties adapt so easily to the rider. They provide the gentleness and stability that a new rider needs to build confidence in the saddle. But they also love a good gallop and run around the barrels. 

It just reaffirmed my desire to own a horse and run barrels one day. I will probably never leave this area but it is still my goal to have a farm with horses, a donkey , some goats, maybe a mini horse.  Who knows?

So after visiting with all of the animals on the farm, brushing down a couple, and putting the tack away Lil Cowboy and I headed over to the track. This would be his first track race. We were there for the annual Pennsylvania Derby and Cotilion. The PA Derby is a precursor to the Breeders Cup. This was my chance to see Nyquist , Exaggerator, and Gun Runner. 

There were 12 races with the Cotilion 10th and the Derby 11th. So we had plenty of time to take in the sights. It was family day so there was a whole outdoor picnic area and play space with pony rides and a bounce house. There were people grilling and drinking enjoying themselves. And the memories all rushed back….

As I walked across the lower grand stand area moving toward the paddock I remembered 5-6 year old me running around collecting discarded betting slips between races. No it wasn’t anything sordid like I was a child left to fend for herself while her father gambled away the grocery money on the ponies. They were memories of spending warm afternoons outside watching the horses run surrounded by the great matriarchs of my family. 

I went home after all of my boys failed to win, even though Gun Runner did at least show, to talk to my mom. The feeling standing by that track was so visceral, but I needed to make sure it was real and not conjured up from spending the day surrounded by horses.  And it was all real. 
When I was a little girl my mom would drive her mom and aunts to the track. We would have what is now called a girls night out. They would bring their folding chairs and picnic baskets and we would spend some time watching the ponies run. I was right, it was the same track we went to regularly. 

My day went from wanting to see the spectacular equine athletes from America’s biggest races and share that with my Lil Cowboy led to remembering some of most cherished times with my mother, grandmother,  and great aunts. The horses at the riding center build memories for those children. It goes to show once you fall in love with horses no matter where life takes you on your journey you’ll always remember. 

Yes we rodeo and race big in the North!

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