Haymow to Horse
I loved the haymow. It was U shaped, with the opening at the front of the barn where the big front doors were. The Tarzan rope hung from the peak of the roof over the center of the open area. We kept it pulled to one side or the other, so we could reach it to swing across to the other side. That rope was the first place we took new friends to play. I had a girlfriend named C.K.F. who was never afraid to swing, but she was afraid to let go. We would have to catch her again on the same side she started from. She kept trying, but she never did swing over and let go. If we missed catching her, she could lose momentum and end up hanging over the barn floor, which meant a 10 or 12 foot drop. Then we would have to hurry (though you would be surprised how long C could hang on) down to the barn floor to help break her fall. I never understood why she was less afraid of landing on the barn floor then landing in the other haymow. Except that we were there to catch her. C was always so full of laughter and we had so much fun. We still do, as we have remained close friends now for about 50 years. And, she is still just as much fun to be with.
Treasure hated being left on the barn floor when we played in the haymow. We were up there one day when Treasure showed up. We couldn't figure out how she got up there. So we climbed down the ladder that was flush and nailed to a support beam, and called to her. When she showed up below, she came from the back of the barn. So I climbed back up and called her and the boys followed her. She had used the hay feeder rack to climb up. Now she could be with us when we played up there. When we would swing from one side of the haymow to the other side, she would run around the U to be on the other side too.
The boys loved to move the straw bales around and make tunnels. Then Treasure would crawl through the tunnels with them. When we were younger, the boys had extensive tunnels all over the straw side of the haymow. It was almost dangerous to walk on the straw. You never knew if you would crash through into one of their tunnels. The hay side wasn't played in as much. Hay is coarser and has more thistles in it. And, since hay is food for stock, Dad wanted the hay left along. Sometimes we actually did what he wanted. Sometimes.
When the neighborhood boys became a nuisance, I would find some spot on the hay side to hide. Treasure and I would lie there quietly and I would daydream. I especially loved being in the haymow when rain was hitting the roof. What a perfect way to spend a lazy rainy afternoon. I often took a book with me to our haymow and Treasure would be with me as long as I stayed.
Of course all this hiding from the brothers and their friends was done before I got a horse. Or, at least before I got Gypsy. Once Gypsy and I were together, I didn't have to worry about hiding from the guys.
I talk about the boys, when actually there were two girls on the very next farm to the west of us. C.K. was one year younger than me and her sister, J.K. was a few years younger. They were both pretty and girly girls, where I was always the tomboy. The girls took dance lessons and helped in the house and never had chores or worked with their Dad or were in 4-H. We did get together, but not often. We just didn't have anything in common. C.K. had asthma and alergies and didn't spend much time outside. Then their Father bought them horses. Copper and Sport. I thought they would ride with me, but they never felt confident on their horses and would only ride in the pasture when their Dad was there. I got pretty bored with that real quick. But, my Gypsy was another matter. He kept jumping the fence and going over to visit. Gypsy spent more time with Copper and Sport than I did with the girls. I'd come home from school, get the bridle, and walk over. Then I'd have to wait till he'd let me catch him to ride back home.
I remember coming home from a double date one night. We'd already taken P, the other girl, home. Dad met us at the door, with Gypsy's bridle and told me to go get my horse. The fellows drove me over to the K farm and stayed while I walked up to Gypsy. He let me pet him and I thought he was going to behave himself. But, when I raised the bridle, he stepped back just out of reach. It was dark and late and the K's had already gone to bed and I wanted to catch Gypsy without waking them. I learned a lot about the guy I was dating just then. When Gypsy stayed just out of my reach, G must have thought he was going to impress me by catching my horse. Sure! Right! Yeah! Gypsy played with him while the other guy, who had been my friends date, and I stood back and watched him run himself ragged while Gypsy showed me what a fool this guy was. When Gypsy got tired of the game, he came over and lay his head on on my shoulder and let me know he was ready to go home.
We four had been dating awhile. They were the same two guys my friend P and I were dating when I took a bad fall off Gypsy. I'd stayed after school for a play rehersal. Chores took longer for some reason and I was running late. The weather had been bad for days and Gypsy had been penned in the barn too long. Dad told me I wasn't going on any date till I had exercised my horse. My bridle wasn't hanging where it belonged (must have been a brother who didn't put it back) and I didn't take time to hunt for it. I grabbed a rope and looped it around Gypsy's nose then under and up over his ears, pulled it through the loop under his head and set off bare back with just this rope halter. Gypsy had been cooped up too long and he wanted to run. I gave him plenty of slack and let him run. But, he didn't tire out as soon as I'd expected. We were coming to the main highway and the traffic was heavy. I knew he would run right out in the intersection and someone would hit us. Without a bridle and bit in his mouth, I couldn't stop him. In desperation I gave the rope a hard sudden jerk sideways and leaned the same way. It was just enough to throw him off balance and we hit the stop sign. He slid in the gravel and down we went. I didn't get my leg out of the way and he landed on me and we slid into the ditch. Gypsy struggled up out of the ditch, but I couldn't get up. My Gypsy was the only horse I ever knew who didn't head for the barn as soon as he was riderless. He stayed with me. We were still there when my three friends came looking for me. When I didn't come home and they came to pick me up for our date, Mom sent them off to find me. Gypsy was ok and the boys set me up on Gypsy's back and followed us home. Then W rubbed down Gypsy while the other two got me in the house. Nothing was broken, but my ankle was badly swollen and my whole right side wa scraped and bruised. That date turned into a game of scrabble while my leg was propped up. That is the ankle I still have trouble with. Like the old saying, "If I'd known I'd live so long, I'd have taken better care of myself." It's hard to believe that an injury from so long ago will come back to haunt you in the golden years. I feel every fall now a lot more than I did when I actually fell.
It's a wonder I lived to grow up.
Treasure hated being left on the barn floor when we played in the haymow. We were up there one day when Treasure showed up. We couldn't figure out how she got up there. So we climbed down the ladder that was flush and nailed to a support beam, and called to her. When she showed up below, she came from the back of the barn. So I climbed back up and called her and the boys followed her. She had used the hay feeder rack to climb up. Now she could be with us when we played up there. When we would swing from one side of the haymow to the other side, she would run around the U to be on the other side too.
The boys loved to move the straw bales around and make tunnels. Then Treasure would crawl through the tunnels with them. When we were younger, the boys had extensive tunnels all over the straw side of the haymow. It was almost dangerous to walk on the straw. You never knew if you would crash through into one of their tunnels. The hay side wasn't played in as much. Hay is coarser and has more thistles in it. And, since hay is food for stock, Dad wanted the hay left along. Sometimes we actually did what he wanted. Sometimes.
When the neighborhood boys became a nuisance, I would find some spot on the hay side to hide. Treasure and I would lie there quietly and I would daydream. I especially loved being in the haymow when rain was hitting the roof. What a perfect way to spend a lazy rainy afternoon. I often took a book with me to our haymow and Treasure would be with me as long as I stayed.
Of course all this hiding from the brothers and their friends was done before I got a horse. Or, at least before I got Gypsy. Once Gypsy and I were together, I didn't have to worry about hiding from the guys.
I talk about the boys, when actually there were two girls on the very next farm to the west of us. C.K. was one year younger than me and her sister, J.K. was a few years younger. They were both pretty and girly girls, where I was always the tomboy. The girls took dance lessons and helped in the house and never had chores or worked with their Dad or were in 4-H. We did get together, but not often. We just didn't have anything in common. C.K. had asthma and alergies and didn't spend much time outside. Then their Father bought them horses. Copper and Sport. I thought they would ride with me, but they never felt confident on their horses and would only ride in the pasture when their Dad was there. I got pretty bored with that real quick. But, my Gypsy was another matter. He kept jumping the fence and going over to visit. Gypsy spent more time with Copper and Sport than I did with the girls. I'd come home from school, get the bridle, and walk over. Then I'd have to wait till he'd let me catch him to ride back home.
I remember coming home from a double date one night. We'd already taken P, the other girl, home. Dad met us at the door, with Gypsy's bridle and told me to go get my horse. The fellows drove me over to the K farm and stayed while I walked up to Gypsy. He let me pet him and I thought he was going to behave himself. But, when I raised the bridle, he stepped back just out of reach. It was dark and late and the K's had already gone to bed and I wanted to catch Gypsy without waking them. I learned a lot about the guy I was dating just then. When Gypsy stayed just out of my reach, G must have thought he was going to impress me by catching my horse. Sure! Right! Yeah! Gypsy played with him while the other guy, who had been my friends date, and I stood back and watched him run himself ragged while Gypsy showed me what a fool this guy was. When Gypsy got tired of the game, he came over and lay his head on on my shoulder and let me know he was ready to go home.
We four had been dating awhile. They were the same two guys my friend P and I were dating when I took a bad fall off Gypsy. I'd stayed after school for a play rehersal. Chores took longer for some reason and I was running late. The weather had been bad for days and Gypsy had been penned in the barn too long. Dad told me I wasn't going on any date till I had exercised my horse. My bridle wasn't hanging where it belonged (must have been a brother who didn't put it back) and I didn't take time to hunt for it. I grabbed a rope and looped it around Gypsy's nose then under and up over his ears, pulled it through the loop under his head and set off bare back with just this rope halter. Gypsy had been cooped up too long and he wanted to run. I gave him plenty of slack and let him run. But, he didn't tire out as soon as I'd expected. We were coming to the main highway and the traffic was heavy. I knew he would run right out in the intersection and someone would hit us. Without a bridle and bit in his mouth, I couldn't stop him. In desperation I gave the rope a hard sudden jerk sideways and leaned the same way. It was just enough to throw him off balance and we hit the stop sign. He slid in the gravel and down we went. I didn't get my leg out of the way and he landed on me and we slid into the ditch. Gypsy struggled up out of the ditch, but I couldn't get up. My Gypsy was the only horse I ever knew who didn't head for the barn as soon as he was riderless. He stayed with me. We were still there when my three friends came looking for me. When I didn't come home and they came to pick me up for our date, Mom sent them off to find me. Gypsy was ok and the boys set me up on Gypsy's back and followed us home. Then W rubbed down Gypsy while the other two got me in the house. Nothing was broken, but my ankle was badly swollen and my whole right side wa scraped and bruised. That date turned into a game of scrabble while my leg was propped up. That is the ankle I still have trouble with. Like the old saying, "If I'd known I'd live so long, I'd have taken better care of myself." It's hard to believe that an injury from so long ago will come back to haunt you in the golden years. I feel every fall now a lot more than I did when I actually fell.
It's a wonder I lived to grow up.
posted by LeeAnn | 6:26 PM
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