Protea Painting for Granny

Inspired by a Horse's Love

My love for horses led me to start this blog. I have tasted the overwhelming love given to me by a very gentle loving soul. Yes, a horse – Condobeat or Meisiekind as we called her.

I came from a military family, (parents, grandparents, uncles etc served in the military). Every holiday I will go and visit my grandparents on the farm. You know, when someone tells you to stay away from the horses, you will go to the horses and that is how it happened. My niece (9 years younger than me) and I always sneak away to the horses (her mothers’ horses, a welsh mountain pony and a very old big horse) to go and spend time with them. Then we started to improvise, just sit on the horses. We helped each other on the horse using bins, and stones and whatever is nearby, tractor tyres. We used bale rope to make our own halters. We had so much fun. Her mother then recognise that she is fighting a losing battle keeping us away from the horses, so she gave us the tack.

Few years later my belated grandfather, who ignited the love for horse in me, got me two horses. (with the help of my father). My grandfather promised me that he will personally look after my horses. Every night during the holiday my grandfather and I will lay in his bed and read through my new horsy magazines that he purchased. (Horse Sense magazine).

Rainy days were the best, keeping the horses in a milk stable, my niece and I will spend hours on the horse backs, platting their main and tails. Brushing them, talking to them.

I know what it feels like, being loved by a horse. My horse was my save place, my happy place, my best friend.