My Friend Holly

by JS
(Tennessee)

Eric and Holly

Eric and Holly

Holly was my first horse (I now have three more). I was forty-eight years old and she was six. I never had horses, but ALWAYS wanted a horse. Holly knew when I walked up to her that I knew nothing about horses. She took care of me, but she was in charge! We would ride the trails she wanted to ride and go eat the patches of grass she wanted to eat. One day she snatched the reins out of my hands and went over to a dark green patch of grass OFF the trail into the woods. As I was ducking to avoid being hit by branches, I thought, "THIS IS MY FRIEND FLICKA"! I found a young trainer to take Holly for thirty days, with me coming every day. It was not Holly that needed the training, it was me. As I learned and became the leader, Holly responded. Holly is now sixteen and a wonderful horse. My nine year old Grandson has been riding her since he was three in just a halter. She is tenacious enough to make him use his aids, and respectful when he does apply the aids. She has truly become "MY FRIEND HOLLY".

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Jul 02, 2013
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Happy to Lead and be Led
by: Happy horse Training

That's such a nice story, and what a sweet mare Holly is. It's wonderful how horses can be so adaptable in the roles they take with us - being the leader when they need to be, and then accepting for us to lead them when we learn how to do it.
Your grandson looks like he already has a great position, and Holly looks so resposible with him!

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