|
THE BIRTH OF SUMMERWIND FARM - LIVING A DREAM By Emily L. Bridges My story is not unique to other horse lovers. I was raised on a farm where I enjoyed the company of horses, but when I was old enough to leave home and move to the city I did, leaving the farm life behind. My childhood with horses became a part of my past as I married, raised my family and started a career. Then in 1992 my employer enrolled me in a self-awareness weekend workshop in which the most amazing thing happened. I re-discovered my childhood horse, Dolly, and through my memories of her I connected once again to the lifestyle I had denied for so many years. As soon as I could after I arrived back home, I began riding again and haven't stopped since. My husband Ron and I had divorced and he moved to Tennessee in 1994. Even though we were no longer married, we continued to be best friends. I had a successful career in North Carolina, but over the next year we began talking about our desire to spend our lives together and to try to recapture what we once had together. However, there was one big difference in my lifestyle now. I owned two Arabian horses and had no intention of living my life away from them. Ron had never been around horses and as far as I knew, he had no ambition to change that. It's funny how priorities change. Mine had been shopping and socializing; his had been hunting and fishing. We talked at length about the possibilities of making a change and finding a purpose. We made the decision to try to find a farm where we could make a new life with each other. Of course, there was one big stipulation. Ron would have to accept my horses or the deal was off. He did. In August of 1996, we bought a farm in Tennessee and re-married in the same weekend. I didn't even see the farm before we closed the deal. Talk about blind faith in your ex-husband! Imagine the look on the Realtor's face when he asked how I liked the farm and I replied, "I don't know. I haven't seen it yet". Two months later, I sold my house in North Carolina, abandoned my career and moved without the horses to the farm in Tennessee. There was a pole shed on the property, but it was not in any condition for horses yet. My husband set about to change that so that we could be a family. With the help of his father, brother and brother-in-law, Ron dedicated his nights and weekends to building a barn. This is a tremendous task even if you have construction experience, but the combined total of experience in our case was zero. Yet, with a diligence only love can measure, they spent every waking hour working on the home for our equine companions. It was completed in time for the horses to arrive in November. I mention my husband's lack of construction experience, but I also want to talk about my experience with horses. As a child, I rode horses that someone else saddled for me and I learned very little about their everyday care. The only horse that I groomed was Dolly and she was definitely an easy keeper. So when I decided that I was going to spend the rest of my life caring for horses, I did this with absolutely no idea of what I was doing. I think the word novice was invented solely for me in this instance. I had received some
very helpful advice from my trainer friend in North Carolina and I wrote
everything that she said in a notebook. After I moved to Tennessee, I
read every book about horse care that I could find. And what I read, I
passed along to Ron. I will have to admit that my dream of living with horses was deflated a little when I realized just how much expense was involved in the barn construction, feed, stall supplies, tack and medicine, just to mention a few of the costs involved. Also, it was frustrating to find a good farrier who kept appointments. For two years we struggled until we found a young man who is still with us and has become a good friend. Luckily, it only took a year and three veterinarians before we found the perfect equine practitioner. This, too, has been a good partnership and he has saved our horses' lives more than once. During our first year we added a run-in shed to the barn, cross- fenced the property, built a round pen and an arena, witnessed the birth of our first Summerwind foal and agonized through our mare's illness with Potomac Horse Fever. In the midst of all of this, I had to have emergency surgery for a ruptured appendix. I'm told that my first words upon regaining consciousness were "How are my horses?" What else would they have been? Suddenly Ron and I were not novices, but real horse people who could talk to others about a wealth of subjects. We made a lot of mistakes but we have learned from them. None of the mistakes were at the horses' expense, but we looked less than smart most of the time. But when we tell other horse owners about our complete lack of experience at the outset, we receive rave reviews. As for Ron's acceptance of horses, he has made a lot of progress. I smile to myself when I look at the picture I snapped of him standing between my two horses before the move to Tennessee. I refer to him as "the deer caught in the headlights". But Ron is the one who now imprints our foals, picks the horses' feet, worms them and gives injections when necessary. And he's the first one who heads for the barn to hold a nightly vigil for a sick horse. Has it been worth it? You bet! Because regardless of the trials and pitfalls of our first year, I believe that we were meant to be together at Summerwind Farm. One thing is for sure: the reasons for staying with it far outweigh throwing in the towel when things go wrong. I am living a dream come true and my husband is along for the ride. And what a ride! Life is good at Summerwind Farm! Home | About Us | Breeding & Foal Management | Our Horses | Photo Gallery | Articles & Books 6005 NE Liberty Lane
|