Blog 438 – 10.18.2016

In my travels I have seen many wondrous sights, met many unique and interesting people, and often encountered other magnificent and marvelous critters. The first of The Ten intentions For A Better World that I try to live by says, “I see life in all things and honor it as if it were my own.”

A month or so ago I met such a shiny critter called Twinkie. She is a beautiful bay barrel pony that you can see pictured with today’s blog. Twinkie is quite a celebrity in south central Wisconsin because she and her ten year old rider, Ava, have won many ribbons and trophies in barrel racing events. Per Ava’s Mom her equestrian does not enjoy showing Twinkie as much as she and Twinkie just love to go fast. They are to barrel racing what Ricky Bobby is to the mythical world of stock car racing. They just want to go fast.

I asked Ava’s Mom if she rode the beautiful white mare beside Twinkle in the picture. She said no that the horse had an injured shoulder and was a “pasture pet” a companion for Twinkie that the horse farm where they bought Twinkie gave them when the picked out Twinkie.

Ave will soon be too big to race Twinkle in the barrel races.

Twinkie, Twinkie, little star
You run so fast if not so far
Fast in the turns and fast at the start
You’ll always have a place in a young girl’s heart.

And in ours too who have come to know about you, your beautuful form and tremendous heart. Twinkie like all ponies and horses loves to eat grass but is only allowed in the grass pasture for a few hours each day with her pasture pet lest she founder. Founder is what horses do when the eat too much grass and get sick and can even die.

Whew, makes me wonder if I shouldn’t push away from the table a little sooner and a little more often.

Your friend and fellow traveler,
Horse and pony lover,

David White