The Howie Chronicles

I know most riders have horse show Moms, but I had a horse show Dad. I've been writing this in my head since before father's day, so this is a little tribute to my Dad. And, yes, I admit it, I am a Daddy's girl. My Dad was the one the built the stalls in my barn, by the light of a coleman lantern - the one you lit with a match, with NO power tools. Yup, we did it the old fashioned way. And 30 years later, every board was still in place, straight and square, not one needed to be replaced. He did it right the first time. He was the one that drove the horse trailer to the shows until I was old enough and experienced enough to drive myself. He became a pretty darn good hot walker in his day. He and some of the other Dad's would wander around the show grounds with our horses, cooling them out while we packed up the trailers to go home. My Dad was the one the would go down to the barn and feed for me when I wasn't there, he took care of my horse when I went away to college. And he was there when we buried that horse in the pasture under his favorite apple tree. My Dad taught me how to gap a spark plug, how to change a flat tire, how to put in new rotors and distributor cap, how airplanes fly, how gears work, to love math, and that he would always be there for me-no matter what. I see some of the girls at my current barn, and they too, have horse show Dads, I hope their relationships deepen because of the time they spend together as much as my Dad's and mine did. Dad, I love you, and yes, I still have that dime - taped to the roof of my mouth!