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I stood motionless, terrified to move and I’d be there still if the lady on her horse hadn’t spoken, “Get on, he won't bite." Her words rolled out as gently and easily as she rested in her saddle. Her horse was lovely, a dappled appaloosa, and towered above me as I cowered in my mind wondering if my horse really would bite. “My” horse was rusted brown, dark and gigantic. The brochure didn’t say anything about giant horses. 5
This horse was much larger that hers and the saddle’s stirrup was up about chest high. I tried to lift my leg up like I’d seen in the movies and fell back on my rump with a resounding dusty thump and my face flushed hot. My instructor told me to “grab the stool from the stable” as she smiled down at me and the only thing hurt was my pride and she added “Toby is patient, he’ll wait for you.”6
Well, at ten dollars an hour, I decided to run and when I got back I swear Toby was grinnin’ at me. I placed the stool on the ground; “Other side,” she said. Darn, I thought, I am looking more and more like a fool as I went to the other side whispering to Toby, “you better not move and don't you dare bite.” Okay, I thought, that wasn’t too bad, the view is quite nice on top of a rusty brown mountain.7
I honestly don’t remember the rest of the lesson. I was eleven and the long summer was ending. School would be starting soon and I wanted to learn to ride like a cowboy; the ones I saw on the television at night. What I remember instead was Toby as a gentle giant, patient and tolerant of my inexperience at riding. 8
There are times when I get frustrated with life, its stresses and not being able to keep up with all the changes which seem to be coming so quickly these days; so many new things to learn and just not enough time. Then I remember that day when I tried to ride Toby. I know this will sound funny but that horse taught me patience. Not about patience with riding and not about life, but patience with me. 9
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Author notes
Capturing memories while the memory still holds
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Comments
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Excellent
If you learned patience then you learned a lot. (I'm stil trying to learn myself) And knowing where you learned it was an even great lesson! This is a wonderful story and great write! Well done! -
Patients is something that has to be learned,earned and taught. We aren't given patients. I have prayed for patients and then wished I hadn't, for I was stopped by a train at every railroad track. I had to drive round and round to get a parking place that was less the half a mile away. THe list goes on and on. I never thought of having patience with my own self. Very wise words my friend, and you earned your wisdom.
S♥m
Edited on Feb 16, 2:08 p.m. because ''. -
Lovely
This was a delightful reminise...Toby did teach you more than how to ride him ...patience cannot be taught...the mind is too fractious...it has to be shown over and over until it becomes a habit
...I did enjoy this very much, as always your poetry adds dimensions to an ordinary world 
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Simply Refreshing
That must have been some experience for you, one that will surely remain in the memory forever. I have never been very close to horses, as a matter of fact I'm donw right afraid of them. I once passed by one in Central Park and I thougt for sure he was about to kick me, so I moved away really quickly.
This is a really beautiful sentimental write. I enjoyed reading and discovering a little something about your childhood. Thankyou for sharing Richard,
Cherish the memories,
Avril
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Exquisite as only truth can be
Ah, Richard! You have done it again. Cut right to the heart of what I've been wrestling with for weeks and made me see with such clarity the truth of my own heart. I think, for some of us, the hardest person to love and be loving with is ourself. You have spoken such eloquent truth with such beauty and grace. Even writing prose, you are the inveterate poet...and the heart always shows through.
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Oh, how I enjoyed reading this memory you have so beautifully shared with us. I remember my first horse, her name was Baby ( a shetland pony). I did hate that horse. She would never do what I wanted her to do, so I didn't keep her very long at all. My dad then bought me a brown and white paint horse. Her name was Claudia, and she wasn't much better than Baby. At least I did get to ride Claudia more, the whole time she ran me into the mailboxes on the road. She also laid down in a canal with me on her back. I guess she just got a little warm that day.
She was a tempermental creature. I think we all are a little tempermental at times. This story of yours helped bring back some memories for me. They are quite humorous memories after all this time. Thanks for sharing your story of Toby. I did enjoy it.
becca
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a collector's item
I'm going to start collecting your stories, I get more out of them than from any classics. You're outpacing yourself with your beautiful prose writes. Cheers.
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