Originally published Wednesday, March 14, 2014
A good friend of mine’s son, Matthew, is graduating from Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. I spent some quality time with Matthew when he was growing up. I taught him to take day work cowboy’s money, one quarter at a time, on the roping dummy. During his education, I took his money, one quarter at a time, and when his dad found out, I thought he was going to whip us both.
I also introduced him to a new partner in life, whom I know has influenced him to this day. I had the privilege of putting together a string of horses out of Oklahoma for the ranch and in that string I had found a pony for Matthew. We, or Matthew, called him “Poco” and I remember he’d been body clipped, wasn’t very pretty, and was a pony, on which I’m usually not very high. But Poco was differnt. He’d heel like a big horse, go about anywhere, and became Matthew’s partner. Poco was something special and helped create something special in Matthew. Matthew started shoeing horses in high school, has gone on to become a Certified Journeyman Farrier and in addition to helping on the ranch, will be a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine as of this Friday. There are very few DVMs who are also CJFs and next on Matthew’s list is Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. I cannot wait to see what happens next.
My favorite author is Thomas McGuane, who wrote Some Horses. McGuane talks about the special relationships between horses and people, the personalities of both, and the profound influences exerted between the two. An old English proverb says “Show me your horse and I’ll tell you who you are.” If more kids in the world could reflect on themselves through the mirror of a horse, the more positive would be our society and its future. The more Pocos in the world, exposed to more kids, the more Matthews there would be.
Two people making a difference for kids through horses are Paul Dietz and his wife, Christine Cook-Dietz. Paul Dietz Horsemanship is offering a free clinic spot July 4-7 in Kremmling, Colorado to the winner of an essay contest “Why Me and My Horse.” See www.lodgepoleqh.com/essaycontest.html for entry details.
Some Kids have been positively influenced by Some Horses. Let’s all do our best to further that influence.
Tim