Whispers of The Wind

Whispers Of The Wind

As I sit today looking back in time. Remembering the way you came to me, as a whisper of hope flew gently in my mind. I had seen you in my dreams many times running free as the wind called to you. A gentle whisper of wind stirred your soul from the day you came.
After many years of searching for just the right horse, you would be here soon. My heart pounded, my palms were sweating as excitement grew. I thought of how lucky I was to have seen the newspaper ad, and off we had gone in search of you. I had stood in total amazement of your superior strength and beauty. A beautiful magnificent stallion of white, with your leopard spots. Your thick white mane was long and felt like silk through my fingers. Those beautiful eyes pierced my soul; I knew I had found you, my wild leopard appaloosa stallion. You stood seventeen hands tall. I remember chuckling, as I couldn’t see over your back. Your tail was long nearly touching the ground as you stood so proudly as if saying to me, take me with you. Oh I wanted you so very much. We would have some to juggling to do, as I made the deal with the man. He would bring you to us, spending the weekend helping us get to know you. I must say you were more than a mite stubborn; few had ever put a saddle on you, for which I was happy, as I wanted you to be free. Your name was Geronimo, it had been given to you at birth for the fierce proud Indian, who had stood in battle defiant, it was befitting of you. From the stories told of you, through your short five years of life, you had more than earned it. Many had come to respect your magnificent strength and spirit.
Mr. Kenny had not wanted to sell you to my husband and I, as we were not skilled in taking care of such an aggressive horse. He could sense the immediate bonding, after talking for a few hours we would let it rest till the next day. We had gone home that night excited and hopeful that you would soon be ours. Talking late into the night we made plans of what needed to be done to make ready for you, we knew somehow you would be ours. The phone rang early in the morning, Mr. Kenny telling us that we now were the proud owners of you. We were jumping up and down hugging and laughing as we made plans to have you delivered to us. Offering us help in learning your likes and dislikes. Cautioning us that he did not care for anyone on his back he would show us the scars where you had thrown him off when he came with you. Well my heart just seemed to beat faster with all the excitement of you. Wild, I liked that a lot, I only wanted you to love and care for, my husband wanted to ride and tame you. Silently I hoped that you would never allow him to close, as in my heart you were mine alone now. I was bonded to you by just the look in your eyes, searching them and seeming to know your deepest thought; I couldn’t wait till you would arrive.
The other horses out in the barn, seemed to sense things were changing, the dogs were out running around and I knew I needed to catch them, so they wouldn’t frighten you. I had chased Rufus for an hour, seemed he didn’t like me locking him up. He knew he was boss of this place free to do, as he liked. Sleepy my little beagle came right away he loved being in my favorite chair and would sleep the day till I would scoot him out, then he would just plop back up into my lap looking at me with those big sad eyes, oh I so loved him.
Friends had wanted to come over while you were being delivered, we asked them nicely to please let us be alone for the weekend telling them they could come over in the week to check you out. Everyone was excited and wanted to celebrate, share the joy of you. We thought best for it to be quiet when you came to make the adjustment easier for you and us.
We had worked hard getting your stall ready reinforcing it, just in case you decided to get a little frisky. Fresh hay had been put in, your water pails filled with fresh drawn well water. We had gone to the feed store and bought the just the right food for you, the right proteins and vitamins that you needed were added in. All we needed now was you as I heard the truck coming down the long dirt road. The trailer hitting the few holes as the bouncing noise grew close, my heart was going to beat right out of my chest I thought as the moment I so long awaited was here minutes away. Tears of joy flowing now, my dream was real, as I clutched my husband’s arm.
Mr. Kenny pulled the truck up and opening the door, got out and asked if we were ready for some excitement and not knowing what to expect we said yes as he went to the back of the trailer. He told us to stand way back as he backed you from the trailer. Well glory be, I said as you did indeed enlighten us, as you reared and pulled on the rope he held you with. Feet reaching in air and bucking, I couldn’t help but laugh, we sure were going to have our hands full now. After he said a few words to you, it was like magic you stood all proud and quiet as you let us come closer. I had gotten apples for you hoping to win you over immediately. Laying one in my palm, I put it out to you and it one quick bite the apple was gone. Wanting more you quickly looked for the next one as I laughed from happiness. Then you sensed the other horses and got all frisky again, Mr. Kenny asked if we had any mares and we told him yes. Baby Jane was her name and she also was raising cain. Mr. Kenny asked where Geronimo’s stall was and we told him down on the end and he suggested that we move Baby Jane to the other end. As my husband made the necessary adjustments to the stalls, we talked and he suggested that I let my husband tend to him for awhile, saying I could stop and say hello and let him slowly learn me and I him. By this time I was getting a little frightened of the huge responsibility we had taken on, hoping things would somehow work out. Mr. Kenny sensing that I was somewhat scared now, tried to ease my mind and let me know it would turn out fine. Just don’t rush things he said, I was more than glad to accept that for the time being.
My husband taking the ropes lead you back to the stall, having to pass Baby Jane, and acting up a bit you settled down going into the stall with little trouble. Buck and Clyde seemed to pay no mind to you as all they wanted was fresh hay and feed, they were always easy going. Coming back out my husband was gleaming from ear to ear, as we talked and sat around learning tales about you and your habits along with a list of dislikes. We learned quickly that sudden noises sudden movements would startle and frighten you. After awhile Mr. Kenny said goodnight telling us he would be he back the next day. He would show my husband your routine of the work out you loved doing. We couldn’t wait it seemed like forever right then as we said goodnight to him, thanking him for his time and caring we went into the house. Needing to let the dogs out, my husband took them out, walking back to the stalls, Rufus followed him back to the barn where you were housed knowing another horse was there he started barking and raising cain. Up setting you as you kicked the walls in your stall, he was quickly pent up for the night. Sleepy would stay by the door waiting for his chance to get back in my chair. After all he just seemed to like the rabbits that came from the woods.
In the days coming Mr. Kenny had shown us much, life settled in a steady pace as you had finally settled down to your ways, so we thought. My favorite thing with you was giving you a bath. You seemed to love the soapy water all lathered up and the scrubbing you would get. I would spend an hour brushing you and your long mane and tail, getting all the tangles out had become one of your favorite things for me to do. I supposed that you just liked the brushing and pampering I gave to you. Then after we would have that all done, you would go back to your stall and roll in the fresh hay that had been laid for you. One weekend, my husband yelled for me to come out and there he was sitting on your back, well I liked to have passed out right there. You seemed to be just fine as he put you through the paces he had learned I was in total shock. He had wanted to surprise me and well I must say he did as he told me of the long hours put in while I was at work with you. I had to admire him for being brave enough to get up on you. You were truly enjoying the outing your wonderful routine was pure enjoyment to watch. Mr. Kenny happened to just come by then, he was amazed that my husband had been able to ride you quite so soon. Telling us if we wanted to breed Baby Jane he would come and help us with that. Waiting for her to come in season passed quickly and we soon called him. Everyone had gathered at our house that day. All wanted to witness this breeding, we all were excited at the prospect of a foal. Mr. Kenny told my husband to lead Baby Jane out to the back to a place there, he would bring you around, telling the rest of us that were watching to stay back. When he had you out of your stall, it was if you knew what and where you were going. Your neck arched like a Lippizan Stallion, you quickly followed. I had never seen such a magnificent animal, as you were that day. It would be awhile before we would know if there was going to be a fold. Months later we would be awakened in the night by noise coming from the barn. As we rushed to the barn where the noise had not stopped, their lay a beautiful little foal just born as her Mom cleaned her. As she stood for the first time, her little legs trembling and shaking I was in total awe of this great beauty of life and wept tears of joy. Baby Jane was going to be a great mom as she stood over her foal nurturing her.
My husband was out cleaning the stalls feeding all the horses and playing with Rufus and Sleepy, when a crash came from behind him, turning all he could do was jump out of the way. You came charging past him. With your long white mane flowing your tail streaming like a breeze you were off down the long dirt road right into traffic. He ran for the truck and I ran to call Mr. Kenny and ask him for help. Mr. Kenny got to us fast as he could. Both men now went off to try and find you. I was crying for fear you would be hit by a car or truck. Our first horse called Son had been killed when a car had hit him. I couldn’t stand the thought of that pain again. It was too much for me as I broke down and sobbed my tears of fear. Calling Sleepy to come to me I hung on to him waiting. They had been gone for hours my fears were getting the best of me, when I heard a noise coming from the woods. There you were in all of your magnificent glory standing proud, almost seeming to smile at the freedom you had just enjoyed. I didn’t know what to do but leave you be. I could only hope they would get back soon. Finding you a patch of grass. You rewarded yourself grazing till you heard the truck coming down the dirt road. Standing there looking at them, you just turned back to the grass. Joy was all over both of the mens faces as they saw you, being surprised that you had came back they put a rope on you leading you back into the stall. After saying thank you to Mr. Kenny we went into the house and laughed at the scare we had endured, knowing it might happen again.
A few months passed I could never get the image of you running free out of my mind. Bracing myself for a fight, I engaged my husband in the prospect of finding you my wonderful Geronimo a place where you could run free. He didn’t want to and I really didn’t, as we argued back and forth all night, finally he agreed as the thoughts of your mane flying in the wind that day touched my heart. I knew it would be right to try and set you free. Another month passed, finally we found a place for you to be. It was a big ranch to the south of us, with lots of room, you could run and not feel fenced in anymore. You would be able to graze all day if you wanted. The man taking you would only use you for stud; your legacy would live on. What more could I now ask for, I had been given a great gift, now it was time to give back. Talking it over now we both knew it was coming to an end, it would be bitter sweet. As I cried myself to sleep that night, I dreamed I saw you running and free against a backdrop of blue skies and green meadows. The big truck and trailer arrived while I was gone. I couldn’t stand the pain of knowing you were leaving that day, I had called a friend to spend the day with her to try and ease my pain. Coming home that night I couldn’t even look to where the barn was, the dogs were quiet, my husbands was in tears as was I. He promised he would take me to see you soon. I never went, I couldn’t. I would settle with my dream of you in beautiful grassy meadows where you would hear the whispers of the wind as I imagined you running with your long white mane flowing, your long tail whispering in the wind.
©Tobie Haga Roy