52 Ancestors: Transportation

This week's blog prompt is Transportation.  I've already written a few times about transportation - Machines and Roadsters and Cars, oh my!  and Cruising so I wanted to focus on something different.  While some might have been obsessed with cars, planes, or trains, what little girl wasn't obsessed with HORSES?

We started with one horse, Smokey Joe.  I think we got him in the summer of 1964, shortly before my 10th birthday.  I don't remember how or why my parents finally let us take the plunge but boy were we excited to bring this mellow guy into our lives.  I think he was about 3 years old (or maybe 5?) and for whatever reason, I seem to remember my parents paid $300 for him.  His former owner was about 15 or so and while she loved Smokey, she wanted to move on to a different horse that she could train herself.  We kept Smokey at the same stable so she was fortunate enough to be able to see him and watch his progress with two new owners.

Me, Sister, Little Brother with Smokey Joe
c. 1964

It didn't take long for our parents to figure out that two girls obsessed with horses couldn't really share a horse so we were quickly on the lookout for another one.  I don't remember any specifics of bringing Snapshot (nee Snip) into our family but there he was!

Snapshot AKA Snap

Boy did we have fun with those horses.  Mom and/or Dad would drive us (about 20 minutes, I think) out to the ranch in the morning and we'd spend the day until someone would arrive back to take us home.  There were many kids with horses so there was always someone to "pal" around with.  Three are etched in my mind - Sue (who was Smokey's former owner) and her horse, Cleo; Rick, and his horse, Cy; and Kathy and her horse.....darn, I can't remember the name although I can see him/her clearly in my mind.  Oh wait, I found some pictures.

Sister, Snap, Kathy, and, and, and....

Sue and Cleo

It didn't take long before we got involved in 4H and showing our horses.  While there was one show arena we could actually ride over the hill to get to, Dad was a good sport and actually drove us to some shows.  We didn't own a truck or horse trailer so we must have borrowed those or, at times, someone let us add our horses to their trailer.

All dressed up and ready to go!

I always loved having Smokey decked out with a blue saddle blanket and a matching rider - sure made his grey dapples standout.

I have a few favorite memories of showing these two - one which involves another form of transportation, the horse trailer.  Snap was not easy to get into the trailer and it always involved a lot of coaxing, crossed fingers and prayer.  Smokey, on the other hand, loved to get into a trailer - we'd throw the lead rope over his neck, give him a little nudge, and into the trailer he went.  Good boy!  Although I'm not sure the owner of the neighboring horse trailer was too happy with him when without any coaxing, he decided the grain inside the trailer must taste mighty fine so he loaded himself in and started munching away.

Snap and sister were very successful at the shows and garnered many ribbons and trophies.

First place trophy!

I didn't excel in the award department but boy did I have fun!  The highlight of my career, though, was my first place trophy in Showmanship.  What a thrill!  And because my number that day was 99, it led to my favorite number from that point forward being 9.

My one and only first place trophy - I still have it!

At some point, even little brother joined in the fun.  I have zero memory of this but he must have been called into action once sister went away to college so Snap could get some exercise.

Look at those cuties!

And look at that, Mom even took a turn.  But what's with Smokey wearing a hat???

Dad, too, got into the act.  Wait - WHAT????

Now THAT'S a different breed of horse!

I sure have some wonderful memories of my years with Smokey - the way he could eat an entire apricot and spit out the pit, the way he would come running when he heard me knock on his stall door, or the hours I'd sit on him backwards resting my book on his rump while I read.  We had a few not-so-good memories, too - the worst being the time my sister's friend fell off Smokey and broke her shoulder.  Thankfully, she healed up fine and the friendship between the families didn't go south.

As time went on and two young girls became interested in other things (college, cars, and boys), riding those horses became arduous and we decided it was time to give someone else the joy of owning a horse.  I don't remember what happened to Snap but I remember vividly making the "deal" for Smokey to head south for someone else to love on.  I remember once a few years later taking a drive by where he moved to, not sure if I was wishing I would see him or hoping I wouldn't (I didn't).

Sure, I had other forms of transportation over the years like cars, boats, trains, planes, and roller skates, there has never been any other form of transportation that brought me so many hours of joy.

Me and Smokey Joe
AKA Smoke-alot-of-cigarettes