J Fox Bedford Books

To the Wild Mares Who Are Our Mothers

You always wanted a pony for Christmas. Every time you asked for one, your mother said it wasn’t possible, but she looked hopefully at your dad. Then on your seventh birthday, after the cake, candles and balloons, she took you for a drive that ended at a stable. And on that day you had your first riding lesson.

Every year in July a carnival came to town. Your favorite ride was the merry-go-round. The first time your mother set you on the white horse with a black mane and tail, the one whose neck was curved high and whose mouth was open, ready to neigh and snort, you were a little scared. But she climbed on the horse next to yours, and everything started to move. The carousel went around slowly. The horses moved up and down. Your mother was laughing, one hand on her horse, the other firmly on your back. You jumped up and down to make your horse go faster.

You came home from school one day and found a note on the kitchen table. Your dad had hastily scrawled a message saying your mom was okay, but she had fallen from her horse and he had to take her to the ER. You stood there frozen, trying to imagine life without your mom. But then the car pulled into the driveway and there she was, being helped out of the car. You hugged her tight when she came through the door, heard her insisting she was fine, it wasn’t a bad fall. She had just asked too much too soon of a young horse.

Your mom is getting older. She retired several years ago and you hoped she might give up her horses and riding by now. But she hasn’t. Every time you bring up the subject, she listens politely but can’t seem to commit. She tries to make you see that horses are the theme of her life.

I have two “older” friends who fell in love with two wild mares one hot summer in Texas. These mares had never been handled, couldn’t be caught, and ran from the slightest human gesture. But these intrepid ladies took a chance and hauled them home anyway. Their grit and determination inspired me to write a story that I entitled “Wild Mares.” You can read it in the literary journal Amarillo Bay; the link follows. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you enjoyed this post, please share with your friends. I love to hear your comments as well.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the wild mare moms out there!

https://amarillobay.net/