Just the little things

Horses have injured me, made me cry, made me swear, pissed me off until my breaking point, made me do stupid things, made me hate myself, made me hate other people, made my heart break, put my heart back together, been there when I was alone, been there when I didn’t need them, always tested me, tried me, put me in bad situations, made me think, made me work, push myself, push them, work harder, faster, better than anyone else, made me jealous, made me self-centered, made me happy, abused me, used me, torn me apart, healed me, helped me, loved me, snuggled me, made me laugh, helped me up, put me down, made me a better person, made me want to help others. In every aspect of who I am, horses are there. They have made me the person I am today. If you like me, thank them, if you hate me well too bad they don’t give a shit.

—Unknown (via getupasb)

This is for the girls with the square toed boots, Harris spurs, and 20X hats. For the girls who skip the malls in favor of tack stores. For the girls who can smile like a beauty queen after 3 hours of sleep. The ones who will bleed, sweat, and cry for just one more point for a Top 20 Day. This is for the girls who can drive their own rigs. For the girls who fall for pickup trucks over pickup lines…. This is for the girls who can communicate with eyes, body, and spirit, words just aren’t enough. This is for the girls who could write a book on the many uses of bailing twine and duct tape. For the girls who put their make up on over dirt and sweat and smile like a million bucks in rhinestoned outfits and chaps, no matter how tight their hat is. This is for the headaches we get when someone asks us automatically “Do you jump over things?” or “Do you run really fast?” when they hear we ride. And the fake smiles we try to give when we receive countless dangling horse earrings and unicorn t-shirts from our friends and family. For the girls who sit in the bleachers and eat their lunch while intensely watching other people ride. Who can name exactly what they wore when they showed to what judge in what pen on what day and exactly how they placed. This is for the girls who base their dreams on the biggest gamble on earth. This is for the passion they hold, the drive we all share, and the WILL to WIN. We know about love and loss in a way that most will never understand. This is for the girls who close their eyes at night and still feel like you’re loping. We’re a special breed.

(Source: littlethingsofcountryliving)