Tough Love

Running Road

Rodeo is a tough sport, if not the toughest. I grew up knowing that. I couldn't get enough of it. It was in my blood and fed my soul. In high school I knew I wasn't the grade A student everyone hoped I'd be or college bound like my friends. I am a platinum blonde not naturally of course but it fit me fine I stand around 5'8 and have light green eyes. Many people said they were cat like, my aunt, mom and cousin all shared the same color. I love horses and that is all I care about and God of course. After I graduated from a school in small town minnesota I had the chance to move away and be free. Considering I didn't care for the snow or the people I moved all five of my Horses down to Oklahoma to continue my dream. I had a bet with my parents that if I wasn't knocked up by the time I was eighteen I would get the truck and trailer. Well I won that bet luckily with no close calls. So I left Minnesota that summer with the white ford pick up truck and a white five horse gooseneck trailer, it did also have the weekender package including a bed, stove, and a sink all a girl needs right? Expect the toilet thing I kinda need one of those too.

"Hey Momma" I answered my phone as I pulled up to a gas station.

She did the annual how's it going and checking on me like a mother should. Her only child finally leaving the nest.

"I'm almost there" I smile into the phone as I turn the truck off.

"I'm so happy you're finally doing this honey" she says

"Me too Mom, me too" I say

We exchange "I love you's" and I press end.

I get out of my truck feeling the much warm Kansas air. But you could say anything was warmer than Minnesota.

I walk back to the trailer and let each of the horses windows down.

In the first stall was Spirit my eleven year old Palomino Quarter Horse Gelding, no markings but a star on his forehead. I've had since I was fourteen years old. He was a small gelding only around 14.2 hands high. Anyone could ride Spirit I gave lessons on him every summer to earn a little extra cash.
He will do anything from running barrels to english pleasure probably even jump the moon if I asked. The second stall was Avalon my black appendix Quarter horse gelding he also has a star and three socks. I bought as a yearling at an auction raised and trained him myself he is now five years old and stands 16.1 hands tall. Everyone told me "he's to tall to run barrels" He will never make it far and now he's running 2D times with potential to do more. In the third stall was my old man Doc a Nineteen year old solid Bay Quarter Horse gelding with just a few tiny white hairs on his forehead and he has the motor of a two year old colt. I bought him from Indiana my sophomore year and used him for Rodeo, NBHA, and UBRA he's a 1D horse to this day and if you need a some extra money, condition him and haul him to a local rodeo he'll win you a check any day of the week if you sit around the first barrel. Now my last two are projects. Aspen a seven year old solid Palomino Quarter horse mare not a mark on her. She's a big girl 16.2 hands can hold a calf or run a barrel. She has a more golden coat than Spirit. My final horse in the last stall is Diesel, a nine year old dapple grey gelding stands roughly 16.0 hands tall that I'm currently training for barrels. Aspen and Diesel are projects that I most likely would sell if I needed the money. But for now they are keepers.

I go into the tack compartment and grab a bucket and five hay bags. I walk to the back of the trailer climb the side latter and throw two square bales down from the top.

I fill each hay bay with four flakes, I tip my bucket upside down and stand on it to tie each hay bag up. After I'm finished I step back and smile. Such a blessed sight to see all of my horses eating and happy.
I bring my bucket into the tack compartment and fill it full with water, I repeat this four times until all the horses finished drinking.
I leave the trailer windows open while I go into the truck and let Dallas out. Dallas is my Red Heeler that's been traveling with me for about two years now and you could also say my bestfriend. I pour her food into her bowl and water her.
After I finished, I walk into the gas station to pick myself up some supper. I grab a bottle of water and a burger. As I walk to the truck I really enjoyed the view of Kansas. I hop back into the truck with Dallas and make my way to Oklahoma.
At 11P.m. That night I saw the "Welcome to Oklahoma" Sign I teared up at the sight. I've wanted to see it for so long. I wiped away the tears and smiled.