Our Favorite Things #16 – Horse Breeds

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March 1884

Today may have been one of the most amazing days of my life. I was working with Sunny and Shasta, teaching them how to be led around on a halter and have their feet picked up, when Riley came over leading his horse, Dakota.

“How’s the haltering going?” he asked.

“They’re getting there.” I rubbed Sasha’s shoulder. “I reckon they’ll be the fastest horses around when they grow up. They had me running all over the pasture this morning.”

“Can’t be faster than Dakota.” Riley smiled. “I don’t think I’ve ever ridden a faster horse.”

“Oh, really?” My eyebrows shot up. No horse was faster than Taffy, or for sure Mitch’s horse, Chase. I mean, really. He isn’t named “Chasing After the Wind” for nothing. Mitch and Riley should race, and then he’d see how fast–

“You can ride him if you want,” Riley broke into my thoughts. “And that’ll prove it.” He smiled wider. “That is . . . if you can hang on.”

“Of course I can hang on, thank you very much!” I tried to keep my irritation inside. He’s teasing . . . he’s teasing . . . I reminded myself. Of course, I was actually excited that he’d offered to let me climb up on his precious horse. He’d told awhile back that Dakota was an appaloosa, a rare horse breed raised by the Nez Perce Indians up in the Idaho region. I’d never seen one before, and Riley had laughed. “No, you wouldn’t have.” Then he went on to tell all about them.

So, I let Shasta and Sunny back with their mama as quick as I could, all the while thinking about this unusual, spotted horse breed. When I returned, Riley had Dakota saddled and bridled and ready for my ride. Tingling, with excitement (yes, and gratefulness to Riley), I swung up onto the appy’s broad back.

And boy, was it a ride! My hat flew off, my hair whipped behind me as Dakota surged into a gallop. The scenery was all a blur of brown, green, and blue. When I returned and brought Dakota to a stop, I turned toward Riley, breathless. “Is he always like that? He was near to flying with how fast he was going!”

“Told ya.” Riley grinned. He held Dakota’s reins while I hopped off.

“ANDI! I need your help with dinner!” Melinda shouted from the ranch house.

I sighed. “Well I’d rather help with Dakota, but clearly my sister has other ideas.”

“You’re welcome to ride him again, sometime.” Riley said.

Believe me, I will take him up on that offer!

16. Our Favorite Horse Breeds

Andi’s Favorite Horse Breed: Appaloosa

So I ran into the house, still all excited about the ride, and Melinda asked me what was up. “I think I have a new favorite horse breed!” I exclaimed. “It’s appaloosa!”

Melinda looked at the dirt that I had scattered over the floors. “You also got dirt everywhere after I finished sweeping.”

“Oh, sorry. I’ll clean it up.” I grabbed the broom, still talking. “I just rode Riley’s horse, Dakota. You know, his spotted appaloosa. Anyhow, he’s been telling me a lot about appaloosas lately. Did you know the Nez Perce Indians have been hiding their special breed of horses in their mountains for years? They never, ever let anybody buy their breeding stock. And do remember reading about Lewis and Clark in our history book? The book never said this, but Riley knew. Lewis and Clark saw the appaloosas and called them ‘fine English coarsers.’ Do you know what a coarser is, Melinda?”

Melinda sighed. “I actually do, Andi. A coarser is a war horse and–“

“Right! And appaloosas are so smooth and pretty, and they’re all spotted, but with different patterns. Each pattern is unique, so no two horses look the same.” I grinned. “I bet you didn’t know that. And Riley told me there are are bay appaloosas and leopard and red roan and–“

Melinda coughed. “Slow down. You’re sweeping so fast the dirt is turning into dust!”

I looked up and noticed she was right. I groaned. “Great, now I’m gonna have to dust everything.”

My sister shook her head. “I’ll help you.” She got the dusters and rags and helped me clean up all that thick dust that had settled everywhere. “You know,” she said. “I have a favorite horse breed too.”

I was so shocked I nearly dropped the vase I was cleaning. “You have a favorite horse breed, Melinda?”

Melinda’s Favorite Horse Breed: Saddlebred

“Don’t look so surprised,” Melinda said. “It’s the Saddlebred. If you’ve ever seen one, then you’ll understand why I like them. They’re the perfect ladies’ horse.”

My mind faintly recalled a picture of a horse with a high-stepping knee action, tail and mane flying in the wind, and head proudly arched. “I think I’ve seen them. They’re one of those gaited horses, right?”

Melinda nodded. “Right. Many of them were used in the Civil War. They come from Morgans, Tennessee Walkers, and Canadian horses. Did you know that General Ulysses Grant rode a Saddlebred?”

I’m afraid I did not know that. I shook my head.

“Saddlebreds are known for their showy knee action, and guess what? There’s a rumor going around that they’re trying to start a breeder’s association for the Saddlebred, so that they can conserve them.”

“How do you know all this?” I asked. Melinda was sure being chatty about this breed. She looked a little dreamy, as if stepping high on a Saddlebred horse would be the height of fashion.

“I saw one while we were in San Francisco. It had such a lovely mane and it looked like it was almost floating.” Melinda swept up the last of the dust. “All right, now that we’ve cleaned up the mess you’ve made, we really should work on dinner.”

***

I gotta say, journal, that some days my sister can really surprise me I would have never guessed that Melinda has a favorite horse breed! I wonder what else I don’t know about her.

Well, it’s getting late. I can’t wait to ride Dakota again, and who knows? Maybe Melinda will get a Saddlebred one day.