HorsesSavedMyLife
佚名/Anonymous
I』mstandinginmyranch』sarena,watching14-year-oldMiarideherhorse,Leo.Ashertrainer,I』mgratifiedtoseethewaysheconnectswiththehorse,thewayshecansensehismoodsanddivinehiscapabilities.Toridewellmeanstohaveaninnerradar,anabilitytounderstandwhattheanimalfeels.IseeitwithMiaandtheotherteengirlswhorideatmyranch,becauseI』vealwayshadaspecialconnectionwithhorsesmyself.Tome,they』rekindredspirits.Infact,discoveringthissixthsensewithinmyselfdidmorethanhelpmebecomeanaccomplishedhorsewoman.Itsavedmylife.
Iwasbornin1961withararefacialabnormality.Mylowerfacewastotallydisfigured.Mychildhoodwasdifficult,markedbyconstantsurgeriesandbytheinsensitivityofotherkids.Butatagefourmyparentsputmeonahorsetohelpmewithmybalance(havingonlyoneearcanalledpeopletobelievebalancewouldbeaproblemforme),andtodayIseemybirthdefectsasagift.ItforcedmetoreachintomysoulandallowedmetofocusonwhatIlovetodomorethananything:ride.
Fromthebeginning,Ifoundthatbeingaroundhorsesprovidedmygreatestsourceofsolace.Atfour,mygrandfatherboughtmealittledonkeynamedSultan.AlthoughSultanseldombudged,Ispentmanyhoursjusthappilysittingonhisback.IbeganridinghorsessoonafterandatagesixIstartedcompeting.IjoinedthePonyClubandtookasmanylessonsasmyparentscouldafford.Ibecamealmostobsessiveaboutriding;itwasmygreatestescape.Aroundhorses,Ineverfeltself-consciousordifferent.
Meanwhile,schoolwasanotherstory.Inkindergarten,oftenbandaged,Ienduredlotsofridicule.Irememberkidsmakingfunofmeandstaring.I』dbegmyparentsnottomakemego,buttheyalwaysstoodfirm.Caringandamazinglysupportive,theydidn』twantotherpeople』smeannesstodrivemeintoisolation.ThoughI』msureitbroketheirheartstoseemecomehomeintears,theyalwaysmademefeelthattheyunderstoodmypain.
Bythirdgrademyclassmateshadlearnedtogetbeyondmyawkwardappearanceandtoacceptme,bandages,wiresandall.Fromthenon,Idon』tthinktherewasonebirthdaypartyIwasn』tinvitedto.Aftersixthgrade,mysurgeryscheduleslowed.Mypeerssawmeasjustoneofthem:Iwasvotedpresidentofmyclasseveryyear.Inninthgrade,afterIhadmylastmajorreconstructivesurgery,doctorsstillwantedtobuildupmychinandfinishmyear.ButbythenIfeltsomewherebetweencomfortableandindifferentaboutthewayIlooked,andIdecidedagainstanyfurtherprocedures.I』dhaveanobviousasymmetryinmyface,butIhaddeterminedthatitwouldinnowayaffecthowI』dlivemylife.
Thatattitudecertainlyhelpedwhenanewboy,CharlieWhite,transferredintomyschool.CharlieclaimedthatImadehimchasemeforayearbeforeI』dgooutwithhim,andhesaidhecouldfeelsocomfortablewithmebecauseIfeltsocomfortablewithmyself—andwestayedtogetherevenwhenhewentawaytoMontanaStateUniversityonafootballscholarship.Ifitwasuptome,mypost-graduateplanswouldhavebeenallaboutriding,butmyparentsbelievedcollegewascrucial.AftergraduatingfromtheUniversityofCaliforniaatSanDiegowithdegreesinbiologyandhistory,IwasofferedagraduatefellowshiptostudyhistoryatGeorgetownUniversity.ButCharliehadotherideas:Hesuggestedthatwestartahorseranchonmyparents』landinstead.
WeopenedDiamondMountainStablesin1983.Ibegancompetingprofessionally,butalsogivinglessonsandconductingclinicsandcamps.Almosttwentyyearslater,Istillteachandcompete,andtenpeoplenowworkforusfulltime,astrainers,groomersandadministrators.Fortyhorses,mostofwhichbelongtoclients,resideinourstables—wejokethatDiamondMountainislikeaboardingschool,with40littlekidswhoareconstantlygettingsick,gettinglooseorgettinghurt.