DECEMBER 2022 THE RIDER/ 9 INSIDE


I Never Asked For A Pony.............9 WHAO ........................................10 Pro and Non-Pro Reining Series .........................10


I Never Asked For A Pony


By Janice Wright ~ CanteringOnThru I never asked for a pony. For Christmas OR at anytime. My mind never


thought “Oh, yes. A pony please.”…don’t even get me started as I thought about what a mischievous pony would likely turn into — what? Like…a 3,000 pound horse, that’s what! Those things are massive! I can tell they mean business, too. Nostrils flaring,


hoof stomping, the sounds of their screeching-whinnying usually followed by a buck, or, terrorizing the other horses as they all galloped off in different directions. No way! Not for me! And that was just my visual experiences as Dad


drove along country roads. Never the typical youngster who got all giggly and


swooned over the cute little ponies girls would draw in art class, I would slowly turn away. Back I went to drawing Christmas trees. Or, something sensible like stick people with a Christmas tree and labeled it “My Two-Legged Family.” My Dad had dogs around growing up but never


bonded and there was no talk about rekindling that sce- nario. (Well, okay; he did offer to take care of a friend’s dog for three days and was content knowing this dog had free run, contained in our fenced-in yard. But into the sec- ond day, my eight year old baby brother came screaming into the house because that fence was a joke! The dog eas- ily cleared the top of it - flying over it in fact - as it goofily bounced around just wanting to play. On the final day, the friend and his dog drove away


waving a thank you, my Mom was still shattered: “Just re- call that moment, Mr. Wright, before you ever say yes to a dog!”


My Mom was a vigilant protector. “Ssscoot! Ssscat!” You could hear this explosive as


she swished her broom back and forth outside our back door. Some neighbouring cat came slinking by to say hello. I would stand there thinking, well, how dare it even consider trespassing?! I was one of five children and not one of us wanted


a pet. Over the years, Mom lamented the extra chores of dust and dirt, and heaven knows what else with germs and all…


Granted, she was also a foster mother and we al-


ways seemed to have kids sitting at our dining table that weren’t there that morning. Constant chaos!


AND THEN, came “Joey”. Joey was the loud budgie; a blue-feathered bird who


began with cute little chirps — escalating into downright, irritating constant chatter. (Although, we could always sneak a cookie from the noisy cookie jar and get away with it.) Out of nowhere this bird cage appeared, lovingly propped into the living room corner. The living room cor- ner!!


And…hold on. Who stole my Mom and replaced her with this crazy


lady


(“…whooo’s a pretty boy? Who’s a pretty boy?”). Joey’s demands were: that he was ready for clean


water, more food, and even going so far as to sulk until she cleaned out the bottom tray and refresh it with a sec- tion of the daily Toronto Star! And then — to our horror — she would periodically


let Joey out of his cage and he would fly frantically around the room squawking in glee of freedom, settling on what- ever he decided warranted his presence. Including our heads!


I can still remember those claws searching for a


good grip; my Mother holding a smile as she went back to the kitchen. How ironic that after moving from the family home


(now married and living in the country) a friend invited me to the barn where she spent a lot of “chore-time” that took her away from our goofing off with pots of tea, or, quick-bake cookies. And standing in the paddock was…well, this new,


massive horse! There was no hesitation (yuck! animals!) as I gradually found comfort around that horse. Eventually


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Jane Wright Retires .....................11 LongRun News............................11 OTRA News................................12 We Can Hustle Column...............13 Fitness for Riders ........................14 Hooves for Hospice.....................15


ORCHA News .............................15 ORHA News................................16 Between the Ears.........................17 Mid West Co-op Horse Night......17 OXC News ..................................18 OCHA News ...............................19


I was greeting the barn yard dogs with ear rubs, and, even picking up those cute kittens and cooing! I wasn’t creeping out around them! When my riding lessons began, I was in deep! Other


than my Dad — who did like horses and would indulge me at times, or my Mom, when I visited (late) still wearing my brushed down riding gear, her immediate look sug- gested: ‘Don’t even take off the clothes; just get into the shower!’ — there was never really any interest to my manic stories of barns and stables and the creatures I was in awe of… ….’they leave large poops!’ (Yup. My Mom.) Oh, alas. Adulthood was my saving grace. My


beloved, large Collie came first (who sadly had to be put down because of a spreading, cancerous tumour) and years later when my daughter was eight, a White Westie pup. Cute as a button. (and the dog was too!) Through my thirties, forties, fifties…I had the pleas-


ure of riding so many different horses I have trouble re- membering all their names! I did buy a part TB/WB who was on in age but


taught me so much in the time I had with him. I adored Callahan. Imagine if I hadn’t broken my stride on that straight


line I was taught to walk? I didn’t live in fear anymore when approaching most


animals. And as I continued my lessons with enthusiasm among different groups of aspiring riders, discussing mul- tiple articles from The Rider newspaper subscription, (great Christmas gift!) I added fuel to the passion joining Equine Guelph’s education courses: Colic Prevention; Horse Behaviour & Safety; Equine Journalism and Pho- tography to name a few. These were times of indulgence and pure comfort for me; I would highly recommend con- tinued education. So for Christmas (or birthdays) my *wants list* cov-


eted horsey stuff. (Usually I just received money and that was even better for me to pick out that stuff!) I may never have asked for a pony… …but, I made up for it ten-fold with my introduction


to becoming familiar with animals of all sorts along the way, and discovering a passion for the equine world. (My Mother - God bless her soul - is probably sigh-


ing in defeat right now.)


Janice is a freelance equine writer & photographer. She would


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