Dad was an old Brooklyn Cowboy who had never been on a horse in his life and for my tenth birthday he took me horse back riding. I had been watching the series FURY and dreamed of nothing but horses. My birthday is in October which in my humbled child's opinion was a great time to go riding now my Dad on the other hand was not convinced.

The crisp smell of autumn was in the air as Dad drove out to Hundred Acres Riding Academy and my birthday adventure began. We arrived at the barn where our guide Guy was waiting with two white horses, Dad tried to reserve a black horse for me since that was the color of Fury but instead he convinced me that riding Silver of Lone Ranger fame was not a bad second choice. I was puffed up like a proud peacock as Guy helped me to mount and began to fantasize the theme song from Fury in my mind. Dad mounted his horse and off the three of us went at a walk.

The ride took us into the woods and down several paths. What a glorious time it was! Guy showed us how to use the reins to make the horse go forward, trot, canter and gallop, that was great except that all we did was walk the horses for an hour. I wonder to this day if Dad told Guy to go easy since I had never been on a horse and neither had Dad.

Saddle sore is a term that fit very well after we rode for that hour. Western saddles are not real comfortable if you have never ridden a horse before and Dad and I were in that category.
Guy brought us back to the barn and we began learned how to unsaddle a horse and walk it to cool it off although I don't think the three horses worked up a good lather just walking for an hour!

After we left Dad took me out for lunch to our favorite watering hole: Deco Restaurant. Dad asked me how I liked the horse back ride. That was no doubt a question he regretted asking because I dove right in. I told him it was so much fun and that I wanted to learn to ride a horse. Then I got to the part where I wanted to own one. Dad had to set limits and a horse is the backyard was out of the question! I did however convince him to allow me to learn to horseback ride.

When we got home later that afternoon, we both smelled like horses and the order of the day from my Mom was bath time for both of us. The next day Mom made me my favorite birthday cake a yellow cake with butter icing. It was a wonderful birthday for a ten year old.

This year I will be fifty nine years old, my Dad passed away in February of 2000. I found a black and white photo of him sitting on a rail fence strumming on his guitar, my Old Brooklyn Cowboy. I will always remember that day, sharing that experience with my Dad, I wish he were still alive so that I could share more adventures with him.

Learn more about this author, Suzanne Marsh.
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