Yes, Gramsie gets it. I do not remember learning how to ride, but I was very young. I blame it all on my dad who learned how to trade horses when he was about seven or eight. His father was the foreman on a very large ranch called the Painter ranch in southwest Wyoming. My dad, Rulon Nixon, sat on the corral fence and watched as the ranch owner was trying to sell a horse to a prospective buyer. The prospective buyer asked the name of the horse. The owner said his name was Prince. My dad started to say his name was Old Jake, but was silenced by a finger to the mouth calling for silence. Prince sounds like a horse worth more money than a horse named Old Jake.

I have survived biting, being stepped upon, runaways that included jumping over gates (I did not fall off), being bucked off, bulls with no mercy, being shaken by the shoulder by an irritated bay horse who did not wish to be petted and bugged, and all the cool stuff, and I still love horses. My favorite childhood memories included having races while standing up on a bareback horse and going faster and faster to see who would fall off first -- my brother or me. Of course, we did not fall onto the ground, but only to the back of the horse. I have been knocked unconscious by a saddle (that had a broken cinch) and been awakened by a kind old horse trying to nudge me awake with his nose. His name was Popeye. The neighborhood thugs would pile on his back and Popeye would always buck them all off. When I was aboard and if I slid an inch off center from his broad back, Popeye would stop until I was once again squarely seated in the middle. I think he loved me, and I know I loved him.

My dad and I put Shelly on top of a horse in the middle of Christmas vacation when she was only fifteen months old. The horse was part of a team that he used to pull a sleigh full of hay for his cows. We were both very proud of ourselves, though I am confident my mother and his wife was probably wondering about our sanity.

However, one must put that into perspective. When she was about seven or eight, she looked at her father's prized quarter horse and decided it would look much more beautiful with a scalloped mane instead of a regular haircut. My Grandfather Cornia did not agree with her decision. So yes, I get it.

Don't worry,
My dad is on the same page,along with my mom.She says, "I know how to hail a taxi cab, but as for horses I don't know." But she pays for my wonderful boy, and I am thankful for that!
Abby.

Hey didn't Maddy do this very thing like twice this year? I think she's got experience in this field!

To Dad:
You have my sincere sympathies but, that said, I'll also 'fess up. I have been horse-crazy since I was 2 and I'm now in my 40s. I have a little girl who shares my passion. And my husband is equally perplexed. But I'll say to you what I said to him -- boys cannot compare to the joy a girl finds in the warm brown eyes of a beloved pony or horse. Malls have no allure compared to the tickling whiskers of a beloved muzzle. And the cell phone chirping cannot compare to the deep-voiced whicker of a . . . well, you get the point. There's something very healthy and clean and vital about working with and caring for horses, bucketloads of manure aside. Being outdoors, in the company of equally passionate and enthusiastic people, the physical labor, and so on, are awfully good for anyone. But studies repeatedly show that they're amazingly beneficial for young girls. The self-confidence girls gain by working with horses cannot be duplicated in any place I know of -- tell me soccer or another sport and I'll retort that teammates cannot compare to the unconditional love a horse provides. If you have a zit or you're retaining water (horrors to a teen girl), the horse doesn't care and loves you all the same.
As for the terrifying photos you showed -- they're all eventing. And while I did event for the first part of my life, I discovered about halfway through that I don't like bouncing. So I switched to under-saddle classes and competition (i.e., no jumps). Dressage is a lovely discipline, but you need to find a barn that doesn't cater to DQs (otherwise known as Dressage Queens - temperamental, prima dona types). Yes, there's still risk, but find a trainer and instructor who can teach safety first (and above all else), with good horsemanship skills, and you're well ahead. Riding comes only AFTER learning how to safely and consistently handle a horse, anticipate its moods, anticipate its reaction to the environment, and so on. Basically, you earn the right to climb up.
It sounds like your daughter is well beyond this stage, but forgive me for a brief moment on my pedestal - so often, trainers/instructors hurry a child onto the horse's back, without any of the critical "ground learning."
Anyway, best wishes to you and your horse-crazy women. I feel for your perplexity, but applaud your support.
-- Elise

Dear Dad,

When I was a little girl, my dad didn't understand, so I waited another 20 years to pursue, what I have discovered, is my life's true passion and purpose. Congrats to giving that to the women you love so they don't have to wait 20 years.

A warning to horse lovers: You are certain to be offended by this comment. Read, just like you ride, at your own risk:

Although I hung out on my grandpa's farm as a kid, where we got to feed and observe his horses (my favorite was Old Sport), my closest association with horses has been in France. That's where my family and I lived during the last year, in a village outside Paris, where we were about as likely to see horses as cars trotting along the winding road that led to our home. When I went out running, I'd pass by many pastures where horse heads would turn up as the entertainment of the morning passed by.

When I lived in France many years ago, I befriended a sort of ranching family that had a barn full of horses and loved to hear about where I grew up, what they idealized as the horsified American West. They insisted that I go out riding with them one day, and so I did. You should try everything at least once. My clearest memory was the very odd sensation of sitting atop another body in motion--all those muscles and joints oscillating and protruding. Unsettling. The other part I remember was the allergic reaction--running eyes and nose. Also unsettling.

France is home to one of the world's most formalistic, but also expansive, culinary traditions, where about every organism found within its borders can also be found on its tables. A mainstay of this tradition in times past, and still today for those with a discerning palate, is a filet or other cut of cheval. Pre-cooked, it has a near ultraviolet red glow, such that, if you don't see the horse head mounted on the butcher shop as you're walking along a market street, you'll certainly notice the red red in the window when you pass by. So, horse lovers, have I indulged myself while in France? As I said, you should try everything at least once. Or, in this case, many times--especially if it doesn't taste like chicken, but better.

So, unlike the dad here, I do get horses. I don’t like them under me, just in front of me on a plate.

JOHN!!!!!! you are gross, and I let you make me eat frog legs?!?!?!?!?!

I have to say I tip my hat to you. I am in the same situation as you except with no children. My girlfriend is horse obsessed. Her whole world is horses. I have to say though I am treated like a king at the horse shows by all the other females because I am always there to help out and their husband/boyfriends want no part of it. My girlfriend makes me feel comfortable and a part of the experience and doesn't treat me like a piece of horse equipment so I help out where I can. Yes, horses and riding can be dangerous but you take a chance everyday in life just climbing out of bed. There are quite a few horse riders that are male where I am at. They are all good riders and are cool to hang out with even though they sport the gay looking riding tights and boots. Boy do they get the female attention too. I am sort of a clean freak, so the smells that acompany the horse activities stay at the barn. My girlfriend has respect for me there as well. In return I keep her tack nice, clean and oiled. For me, horsepower is under my 1970 Chevelle. My girlfriend understands and doesn't harass me about trying to ride. Best wishes to you. They say, once your bitten by the horse fly, it affects you for life. As you are married and have kids, I think you might be stuck. I believe you can make it work as I have and everyone can be happy.

You should be nicer about horses "Dad"!
They are hard to take care of. Sure there are big risks of being thrown off; but, the relationship with a horse is something you'll do anthing to get. Mabey you should
be nice to Maverick! :-)

I agree, Dad, you should be nice to Maverick!

This post cracked me up! I will say you are looking at horses in the wrong way - but then again in the right way... Let me explain.

My daddy is a cowboy. The COW loving guy. Loves cows and ranching. He told me he was never a "horseman" though he definitely has a way with horses.

Anyway, he told me when he was in high school it didn't take him long to figure out how to get all the girls he wanted. After school, he and a buddy of his would get near a group of pretty girls - close enough so they could hear my dad clearly say, "Well, it is time for me to go. I have to go catch up a horse and go check the fences and feed..."

He said with nearly 100% percision the girls would immediately turn and ask, "You have HORSES?!" Slam dunk conversation opener and then...

"Yeah, we have about twenty out at the ranch. Would you like to come out there and ride with me?"

And with a near 100% success rate - DATE CONFIRMED.


So you see...? My dad totally GOT it! And I think you actually get it too as you have two girls in your life that adore you AND the horse :)

" just in front of me on a plate. " I don't mean to sound rude. But i am going to. Why on earth would you say something like that on a horse loving little girls blog? BTW horse slaughter has been banned in the us.

Also , don't people get hurt in cars? In planes? In sports? Well horseback riding has no exception. Everyone will fall off at one point. But most of the time you brush yourself off and sit tall in the saddle. Everyone will get hurt doing something. So as long as you ride correctly you probably won't get too burt by falling off.

HA! If those horses are on your land, your gonna start feeling a little something for them!
Whoever wrote about horses in front of you on a plate,
that is just plain sick and mean!

it's ok i have horses and ponies trust me they can be wild sometimes but u have to let them know who's in control i know by viewing the pictures u might lose confidence but if u fall off get right back on and make them do it the right way and yes people have had accidents from falling off horses espically jockys but did u ever see a jockey say tats it i'm never ridin a horse again obhiously not. and about all the smells u get used to them because i don't think ur daughter or ur wife are gonna stop lovin there horses any time sonn

I don't think that my parents really "get it" either when it comes to horses. sure, my mom thinks they are very pretty but my dad.. not really sure what he thinks, other than "it's too expensive" which has always been the answer to my questioning to get a horse ever since I could talk. I am 19 now and still have no horse. every Christmas or birthday I still always have to add my "ya know, a horse would be a great present" but by now it's kinda just jokingly because I know that our family can't afford to have a horse due to how expensive they are to keep. But a girl can still dream can't she? some people think that a little girl will get over her "horse loving phase" but I don't think I will ever stop loving horses. I have a whole wall covered with pictures and posters and I have even bought a saddle blanket and hung it up. Yep, a saddle blanket but no horse. I see it as motivation, that I will use that blanket on my own horse someday in my life. So although you don't quite "get it" at least you let your wife and your daughter indulge in their love of horses, and I'm sure that sooner or later you'll come around.

don't be so sexist! my boyfriend rides! when someone dies on a horse it's normally the rider's fault!

Well, I'm just popping by and I thought Dad made a hell of a funny post!Although being on the daughter's side I still get what Dad means. My Dad, brother, boyfriend, like soccer too, and I- I like horses! That's just the way of the world!
Myrte from the Netherlands

thank you very much..