Take a Bow

"Quit horsing around, "I would tell my daughter, Shaini, when she was roughhousing with her sister. Little did I know, just how ineffective that request was. Until, my daughter phoned to ask for a horse of her own. She had been taking riding lessons and using horses provided by the equestrian center to learn. She excitedly said, "Mom, I found a horse for sale, and he has a white spot shaped like the state of Texas on his forehead, can I have him?"

I purchased Mr. T., AKA Texas, for my daughter in 2004. It wasn't long before Texas and Shaini began entering local competitions. Barrel racing, keyhole events, and cross rail jumping became a weekend, family affair. Competition after competition earned many ribbons for Shaini and Texas. Shelearned about English and Western riding techniques. Additionally, she learned about caring for horses and even saved a horse.

Another horse boarded near Texas had colic. Colic can be lethal to a horse. Shaini quickly alerted the equestrian center's owners. An emergency veterinarian was called and the horse fully recovered. If the neighboring horse's ailment had gone unnoticed, he would have met his fate.

To help other horses from meeting their fate, Shaini volunteers several hours a week at the Horse Protection League, in Arvada, Colorado. The League rescues horses that have been abandoned, malnourished, or mistreated. Once a horse is brought back to health, it is put up for adoption. Volunteers help to clean stalls, stack hay, bathe horses, and assist with fund-raising. When Shaini opted to ignore my request to "quit horsing around," I had no idea she would evolve into a teenager with a mission. For the hard work and community service she provides, Shaini deserves to take a bow.