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Open Poetry #26
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Alice on the Longe Line
| Open Poetry #26 |
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Alice on the Longe Line |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia 
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Watching you running in the arena today, Jim on one end of the longe line, you on the other just wanting to play. But Jim insisted it was lesson time. You're a feisty yearling filly frolicking 'round the barn looking quite healthy, with good conformation, strongly spirited. Orphaned just two weeks after birth, an abrupt sad ending for your mother mare, for a birthing anomaly left you standing there to be hand-fed by surrogate two legged parents. And oh, you were so angry that chilly morning when your mother would not get up, for you were both hungry and wanting to play. You pranced around frantically, nudging mother mare to please get up. But she was already gone. Now you have reached the ripe age of one, an April born filly so full of yourself! I watch you challenging the fully grown man tugging at the opposite end of the rope, whistling to you to come and go, 'round and around we go, then HALT! and around again to the crack of the whip behind, but NEVER upon your rear, encouraging you not to fear but respect and accept who shall ultimately be in control. And as your eyes met mine when you ran past the gate, you seemed to plead with me, whinnying you weren't ready for this just yet. But the man who owns you has deemed it is time for you, sweet Alice, to begin your school career. I wish you well, sweet filly Alice, and keep my fingers crossed that you will keep your inner spirit free, forever. |
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| © Copyright 2003 Kathleen Kacy Stafford - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Kacy, I know that one of our poets is going to enjoy this one so much - as she grew up raising and breeding horses... this was great reading! Thank you! |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
Thanks Karilea! This is a totally true story. I watched Alice on the longe line for the first time last Friday evening. I think she's too young for this, but I am not the owner, and he has years of training time under his belt, so who am I to say? But of course, I just did say it. Alice is too young for the longe line.  [This message has been edited by Midnitesun (05-25-2003 11:46 AM).] |
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QjQ Member Elite
since 2003-04-18
Posts 3756U.S.A. |
thanks for shareing this..  QjQ |
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Ericc Member Elite
since 2003-01-31
Posts 4178 |
A wonderful poetic story. Thanks! Eric |
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Marge Tindal
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
MidniteSun~ Now you just KNEW this horse owner/breeder/racer would LOVE this~ I never put a horse on the track as two-year old ... too hard on the legs~ Never regretted it ! Just a lovely, lovely story, Kacy~ Bought a filly with 'almost' this same story, except she was one of twin foals and lost her mother and sibling. Hand raised by the farm hands ... did quite well at the track as a three and four year old. Thank you sooooooooo much for sharing~ *Huglets* ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
Marge, thank you for that reply! I'm hoping to get some decent quality digital photos soon of this filly, Alice, and of some of the other horses my daughter and I currently 'hang out with' twice weekly. Glad you didn't race the two year olds, for that is way too young for those rapidly growing bones and muscles, and from what I know, often dooms the horse to lameness at an early age. |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
oops! Q and Eric, THANK YOU for reading this one and taking a moment to reply. |
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
what a write! i enjoyed this! |
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ethome Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858New Brunswick Canada |
Hey what a neat write! Very interesting indeed........I've always loved Michael Martin Murphy's song "Wildfire" I bet you have too. |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
Dixie, thank you! Eric, YES! and I saw him perform it live while in Tallahassee a few years ago, and had the good luck to chat with him for a few minutes after the show. The side of his traveling coach is painted with galloping horses. |
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