The Power of Horses

Hey everyone!

Its story time.. with Matty. I want to share with everyone here a story about me and the connection to horses.

Before I was born.. but not that far from it, my mom had a Horse named Smokey. Smokey was her fourth child lol. She had three sons already and was at that part in life in her mid thirties where she had all she needed in life.
As I said Smokey was my moms fourth child and her baby. Together they accomplished wonderful things. They won several ribbons for parade competitions, and living on a ranch Smokey even went out hunting with a neighbour who rode him, and claimed he was the most calm horse he had been on when firing a gun. A feat I have been told that not all horses like.

I heard many stories of how Smokey would roll on his back and love to have his belly rubbed, and even a time when he snuck into the kitchen from the front door. Not sure how a horse could be that stealthy! He would play with my brothers and they would go sledding down hills and Smokey would pull them back up to the top. He was very much apart of the family.

Often when my family would go out in their car.. Smokey would follow them down the long drive way from his field almost like a dog.. or perhaps he wished he could go too, to where ever they were going. I am sure he would have tried to get in the car if he could.

I should mention that Smokey got his name from his coloring. He started off white at his hooves.. turning grey and then black in his mane. I am sure he was gorgeous in person. Oh I am not sure how tall this is.. but he was 16 hands tall.. if that makes sense if I recall.

My father at the time volunteered for the local fire department. I heard a story of how a fire broke out in a nearby home.. Ranch country.. so homes were far apart. The home went up in flames and was destroyed before the fire department got there. The family was safe and no one hurt. My father called my mother up and asked if the family could come over for the night. I heard how Smokey brought some smiles back to the children that lost their home that day when they got to visit with him.

Well.. life happens.. mistakes were made and my father gambled to much.. and my family lost the ranch. Sounds almost like a Hallmark story. My grandfather ( moms dad ) who was not a fan of my Dad told my mom that they could live with them for awhile until they got settled. I could only imagine how my father felt having to leave everything behind due to a few mistakes. Unfortunately Smokey was not able to go with them. The Neighbour that took Smokey out hunting, already had a young Mare named Misty, who was already fond of Smokey and told my mom he would buy Smokey and give him a good home with Misty the Mare. My mom often recalled how much she cried that day she had to leave him, and how he followed them up the drive from his field watching them go in the car.. it would be the last time he followed them. It would also be the last time she saw Smokey. It forever broke her heart. Before leaving that day, my mother asked for one thing only of Smokeys, so she could always feel close to him. She asked if she could keep his horse reigns.

Smokey went on to live a good life.

My mom kept in touch with the Neighbour that took him in, and she got many updates to how he was doing.

Smokey’s reigns always hung in our family home growing up. I got to hear about him from my mom, as she showed me old black and white photos of him, and even had a movie reel of him and my mom during a parade! Classic stuff.

A couple years later after my family had to leave the ranch.. I was born. Surprise! Very unexpected pregnancy!

My father and my mother ended up divorcing shortly after my birth. My father continued to make a few mistakes, more with money and one with a young lady, he left my mother and us for.

Four years ago my father passed away. I always kept in touch with my mom often as all good children should. I am the baby after all, at least after Smokey lol.

My parents had me late in their lives. My mom was starting to get a little more tired than usual, so I would bring her over groceries and flowers. She was starting to miss my father, her younger sister and cousins all of whom passed away before her. She didn’t go out as much, so I did my best to cheer her up. We would talk about Smokey as his reigns were hung up on the wall and where she lived there was a pond so she shared stories of the ducks and neighbours with me over tea. The ducks had more exciting lives!

One afternoon I went over to her house. She didn’t answer the door. Her car was in the garage. I knocked a few times more and let myself in as I had a house key. Phew I said.. as I went to her bedroom and found her fast asleep in bed. My mom was known to always get up early.. like sunrise early and have afternoon naps later in her life. At first I thought to myself.. I should let her sleep as she looked so peaceful. But then I said well, I should wake her up since I was already there. Funny thing she would not wake up. I was so confused, and only after a few attempts of nudging her did I realize she had died in her sleep. I am so thankful she looked so peaceful.

Its funny how things work out with families. You hear the stories. My older brothers moved out from home and drifted away from the family. I don’t see them even now, and spend holidays alone. I suppose some families just aren’t close. When it came time to divide up my Moms belongings it was a nightmare that I wont share to keep the story pleasant. But yes there are some that only see things as a dollar amount. That was a real nightmare. My one brother began tearing apart the house, placing things in piles only two days after her death. Claiming things he demanded he have. I sat there devastated. It was like he was tearing our mom apart in pieces as well. For some reason one of my three older brothers had taken Smokeys reigns off the wall and asked the others what to do with them. They concluded.. throw them in the garbage! They knew how much she loved that horse.. they knew Smokey themselves.
I broke down, bawled like I never have before. I said, “Please tell me that Smokey came and took Mom away to be with all her family she missed that passed away. I went on to say I believed in my heart that Smokey came for her the day she passed away and carried her off so she they could be together again”

My brothers stopped what they were doing at that moment and over the next few days promised me that they would be more respectful in how things were handled.

I took only one thing from the house that day. I took Smokey’s reigns. I told my brothers that they would be staying with me.

I bought myself my very own home. A condo all of my own just recently. I am so lucky that I over look a pond. I have ducks where I live, just like where my mom lived. The first thing I made sure that was done was to hang Smokey’s reigns on the wall with care, respect and love. Friends of mine have horses that helped me to condition his reigns with soaps and such. His reigns are beautiful. They give me such comfort and peace to see them, and touch them. I never met Smokey but touching his reigns is so comforting. I cant really explain it but maybe someone will know and understand.

Oh dear this little story is gotten long.. the reason I am sharing this, is so members on here understand why some pieces I have from Windstones are so dear to my heart. I recently bought my first horse grab bag last fall. I had hoped in my heart that I would get one as close to as how Smokey looked. Sure enough.. I got the dark almost black horse with grey shades. When I opened him up, I was so touched with gratitude. He is by Smokey’s reigns. That pebble horse is special to me. I have a few more horse pieces, and most recently I am very fortunate to have won Silvertree in the Raffle. I know a few of you have already reached out to ask if I would consider selling him once he arrived at my place. It always makes me feel bad to say, “I am sorry, this piece is special to me and will be staying with me” I am sorry to have disappointed anyone.

Sometimes a Windstone piece means more than just having a collection.. or getting a certain colour or piece. For me the pieces I have are like my little family. I suppose I look at my pieces differently then just being a collector growing a collection. They have a sentimental meaning to me, which I can not place a value on.

If you made it this far.. thanks. Perhaps this story will inspire someone else out there to share about the special pieces they have and what they mean to them from the heart. I hope going forward no one is disappointed when I turn down selling a piece like Silvertree.. who I know will be much loved by me and will bring me happiness. He doesn’t complete any collection, nor is he a bragging piece. He is a Pegasus, a beautiful winged horse that reminds me of the power that horses bring to many lives.

Thank you – Matty