Skinned knees

Once upon a time, in the land of hopes and dreams, a young girl was given her first bike.
It was sooo big. Her Dad held the bike upright. Deep breath. Off she flew! A half circle... crash! into the blue hydrangeas! Bike upside-down , biggg wheels spinning. So her dad fitted some trainer wheels and she tried again... and again.. and... There was pain, and small gains... Then out onto the pavement she rode... yes, onto the road. And the trainer wheels came off. And a big crash in the gravel. Oh the pain! The tears. That awwwful bike was banished to the back of the shed. Four days later, her bestest friend Amelia Fuddlebuck rode All the Way to school.
And she had to walk. She got teased by Jason McMurtrie. He nick-named her 'Talker and a walker' (on a scale of nick-names ; not too bad really)
That next Saturday, She asked Dad to lift the trailer off her bike and out of the shed it came.
She tried again.
And again.

Many years passed and she graduated to falling off a horse! Who would have thought that Mastering that bike all those years ago, would lead to this. I've heard that she even fell out of an aeroplane! (went sky-diving!)
But that , as they say, is another story...

 

LOL - cute story, David!

Now, before any more misconceptions(read lovely stories), here is an actual version...

Once upon a time, in a land of achievable dreams, a young, seven year old girl was given a green full-sized bike, just like her older sister's big black bike! She was thrilled - and promptly named it "The Green Hornet"! But it was sooo big!!

Her Dad gave her instructions and held the bike to steady it. She was apprehensive - but her Dad gave her confidence and courage. Deep breath. Off she pushed, wobbled a bit - then down she went! (Hey! - What's with that!?!) Her Dad suggested training wheels! What?! No way was she going to have training wheels - she was a whole seven years old!!....Besides...her big sister did not have training wheels...!! She tried again. After picking herself up, skinned knee and all, she tried again. She saw how her big sister was able to do it. Sooo...off she went again...and didn't fall!! But she couldn't quite keep up with her sister - yet!

Soon she was riding all over the place, and loved to race with her sister...who usually won. But -oh! - when she won - how much sweeter the victory!! She loved her sister very much, though, and hated to feel her disappointment, so she kept most of her joy hidden inside and encouraged her sister - "Next time!" - just like she saw her Dad do.

She was a sweet and shy little girl outside of her family, and learned to have deep empathy for others...just as her parents had taught her by their example. Most of the other kids liked her, and the few over the years who tried to tease her soon learned they were on the losing end, as she would simply return kindness to them, and they would feel ashamed. And sometimes they would become friends. She always gave her parents the credit for their good teachings.

Many years passed, and she finally was blessed with the horse of all her childhood dreams!
He was beautiful and full of high spirits!
Trained as a 'cutting' horse, he was quick on his feet and fast as the wind! He fought her at first, being a leader himself, and was reluctant to trust a human being. But slowly she won him over with love and constancy of purpose...and slowly they came to love and trust each other - for she had to learn to trust him, too.

He was never successful in throwing her off, but one day - when she had her foot in the stirrup to mount - he took off at a gallop and left her in the dust...dragging her behind him, too stubborn to let go of the reins!! He was headed towards the barn - as any horse worth his hay will do - but finally slowed to a stop when he knew she wasn't letting go. Mad as a wet hen, she got up, dusted off - and saw that her beautiful suede, fringed riding jacket was skinned all down the front! This did NOT help! After venting her frustration with well chosen words, she realized that he hadn't meant to hurt her, but was just being his lightning-fast self...and had forgotten to wait for her other foot!! Sooo, they made up and went on to other adventures.

She learned that he had a very subtle sense of humor,too - at her own expense! She had gone to get him from the pasture to go for a ride, but had brought only a rope to lead him back to the barn. Being shorter than he was tall, she led him over to the fence so she could mount. Just as soon as she had climbed the fence and started to throw her leg over his back - he'd take one large step away from the fence - too far for her. So down she'd climb, turn him around back beside the fence, climb back up, and try again. And again, juuust when she'd start to throw her leg over his back - he'd go one large step too far away!! - Cool as a cucumber!(Mister smarty-pants!!) Down she'd get again, turn him back beside the fence, climb up the fence...and start to throw her leg over his back!
Well, of course. you guessed it. This went on for some twenty - thirty minutes!! She was way too stubborn to let him win - and then have to go through this ever again....and he was having himself a lot of laughs!! Yes - horse laughs!!!

But finally he grew tired of his game, and her persistence paid off. And for the first time, ever, she got on his bare back, with only a rope loosely around his neck to guide him - no saddle, more importantly - no bridle in his mouth! She was scared he'd bolt, or who-knew-what! - but she felt his great and loving heart would not fail either of them. And so a new milestone in their relationship was forged as they rode back to the barn together. She had learned to trust him, too.
She was convinced, though, that he was still giving her the horse laugh about his 'funny' prank!!

It was all these tests in her life that gave her the courage and persistence to one day be up to her college classmates insistance that she go skydiving with them...and succeed joyfully in the experience!!

But that, as they say, is another story.....

 

I thoroughly enjoyed this story! Reminded me of my own horse's 'pranks' and brought a smile to my face. What a wonderful thing to find at the end of a long day fighting this virus!

 

Oh, pnp, how good to know a fellow horse lover....thank you for sharing your lovely smile! Hope you are all better soooon. And perhaps can share a few 'horse prank' stories then, too??

 

farmlily - Loved the story too!!! LOL...yes animals (especially horses) have wonderful senses of humor!

pnp - Oh No...a virus getting you down! Shoo Shoo...go away...and leave my dear friend alone!Feel better soon!

 

What a fantastic story. And you have an Avatar! Yahoo! All is well in the world except for poor pnp... Get well soon. I hope you are not sick as long as it took farmlily to conquer the avatar

 

LOL - good one DAVID! I sure hope she's not sick THAT long, either!!

 

I do enjoy these stories, and I love that new avitar...feel better soon pnp, you have quite the friends here that worry for you

 

Thank you all for the well wishes....I am a bit better this morning but did have a tough night. I am getting my FOCD forum 'fix' before leaving in just a few minutes for an early Dr appt.

While I was awake most of the night, this thread prompted some very happy memories of our horses and some of their antics. Thanks for that.....I am not a gifted story teller like some of you are but I'll give it a go when I return later....

 

Feel better pnp Sending healing thoughts your way

Love all the stories, waiting on the newest addition