My Noble Friend, Mac

Peachy Lil' Mac. He has been my horse for about 20 years. Today, Ruben and Matt Knight took Mac down to College Station so he can be a member of the Fightin' Texas Aggie Parson's Mounted Cavalry. We finally made the very difficult decision to donate Mac to the Cav, and believe it will be a great place for him for the next 5 years or so. It took me a while to come to grips with the fact that with the arrival of our precious daughter, the chances of me riding him much in the next few years is pretty slim. He has been on vacation for quite a while, and it really isn't fair to him to not have the attention he deserves. Mac is a great horse.

I went out to Weatherford to say "good bye" to him last night, and I am so glad I did. I am not sure most people would understand what I am talking about when I say that horses are good for your soul. I am a horse person. Always have been and always will be. Horses are strong, sensitive creatures, and I beleive are capable of a deeper understanding of people (at least more so than most would give them credit). Mac knew something was up, or that something was changing. He was especially sweet and stayed close to me as I brushed him out and untagled his wild, red mane. I didn't have my saddle or bridle with me, so I went back to my early horseback riding days and created reins with his lead rope and hopped on bareback. I had a feeling he would behave for me this evening. We took a stroll around the pasture like old times. His ears pricked forward and he strided out with his long thick legs. He was never the smoothest of rides, but I never minded. The sun was setting and the only sound was the chirping of birds and the rythmic thump to his hooves hitting the dirt. This is were I love to be. I wondered to myself if Emme was going to have that passion for horses that I was born with? I hope so. I would love to share with her these great creatures when she is old enough. I also thanked God for giving me parents who supported my passion for horses all those years growing up. My best childhood memories are those where I am on a horse, out riding by myself, probably riding too fast but loving every minute of it. It was a beautiful, poignant moment with Mac. I finished up my ride, and led him to the pasture to meet his bud, Chauncy. I gave him a big hug, he nibbled my boots like he has been doing since he was a baby, and told him that he was headed off to college again. When the Cav retires Mac, they plan on giving him back to us, so I didn't say "good bye", I just said "see you soon, good friend". He stood at the gate as I drove off, so thankful for my life and my time with Mac. That is what I mean about horses being good for you soul... Until then, Mac.