Old Pet

I remember a riding pony I had as a lad which was born blind. A filly she was born during an Arkansas blizzard and we did not know that she was blind at first for we kept our horses in our barn for several days because of the winter storm. We all had fallen in love with her by the time we learned she was blind and could not bear to put her down. I remember training her to ride after she was mature enough and I named her “Pet” for she was my riding pony. We spent many happy days together riding inside the green pastures. I remember she never refused to let me ride her even the first time. And she learned very quickly to respond to my voice and she trusted in every command that I gave her. I would say, “easy Pet” when we would come to rough terrain or an eroded ditch in the pasture. She would slow to a careful walk, in response to my voice. I would ride her down into the lower part of the pasture to the creek in hottest part of the day. Pet could of course smell the water and when she would come near the bank of the creek I would again say, “easy Pet” and she would respond by slowing to a snail’s pace down the steep bank. Pet would wade out about belly depth into the water where she would drink her fill of the cool clear water. And I would use her back as a diving board launch and swim to my heart’s delight. After she was through drinking I would climb on her back again and give her head to her and she would trot to the barn where she knew I would give her treats, such as carrots, apples, sugar cubes and so on. I remember I never did have the heart to make her run full speed as I supposed that her blindness was burden enough in her life for her to bear. It is said of truth that one gets to keep in heaven those things of this life that were loved sufficiently. I know that my beloved Pet shall be my precious playmate again in the heavenly ethereal of the Spirit. Pet lives on even now in the depths of my childhood memories. Her loving low neighs as she approached me by smell, and her nuzzles into my pocket for the sugar cubes she knew would always be there for her. In heaven I shall see my Pet again, and this time she will see me, maybe for the first time. For and in honor of Carol Brown and Contest.