I got a call from a high school grad looking for
someone to trailer her horse up to Gainesville where she will be going to
college. Actually, her teacher Peggy Biram who works at our local high school
vo-ag dept called me first. She said this girl rescued this horse and couldn't
get anyone to trailer her horse for her.
I picked her and the horse up this morning at 7a.m.
The horse was a walking, but very shiny and clean, skeleton. The young lady has
had her for 3 weeks and has already nursed the 2 year old filly through a
colic and is trying to get some ulcers under control. She told me she spent
all her savings and graduation money on this horse. The next director for the
Human Society?
She drives a blue sparkly '66 Chevy pick-up that
says "Country Girl". Her belongings that were packed in the truck were a
suitcase, horse feed, dog food, cat food, bowls, cages, a very large Shepard
mix, a tiny Chihuahua and two cats. I asked her if she had a house and she said
no, she was in an apartment. I said "And your taking all your animals?" She
looked at me so confused and said "Well, yeah" Duh, silly me. She is going
to college for pre-vet and hopes to become an equine vet. She said she wanted to
pay me for the ride and I advised her to study hard, take care of her animals,
become a great vet and then call me. We'll talk then! The next President to
AAEP? Head vet at a ride?
Peggy Biram works very hard at getting some of
these young equestrians involved in endurance riding. Thank you Peggy!! She has
to fight the system to get permission for these kids to go to the rides. She
packs, drives, feeds and sponsors the riders. ( I don't understand why it is
sooo easy to get the football team to away games but a teacher has to jump loops
to take the kids camping?) This girl I met today did her first ride at Green
Swamp with Peggy and is hooked. She loved the trails and camping. The
next Commissioner of Education? Agriculture? Forestry division?
If you have a chance to influence the younger
crowd, take advantage of it. They are the future for us in more ways than we an
imagine. Remember the polls? The future foresters, environmentalists, county
commissioners and others who influence our trails, research and economics are
the ones we need to talk to now. This young lady has already learned how
important it is to get involved in something because it is the right thing to
do. She obviously has already been influenced by some wonderful
people.
Thanks to people like Peggy, Maryben,(Queen Jr.
sponsor) and others who take the time to talk to our young people, there is
hope for our world yet.
Ahhh, to be 18 again and know what I know
now. Well, I don't know THAT much more than I did at 18. I do know true love. I
do know that kids are a blessing and that families are importent. And I
know that a friendship can last a lifetime, as long as you don't
kill them trying to keep them involved in your horse world.
Lisa Salas, The Odd fArm
What whould you attempt to do, if you knew you
could not fail?
