H is for Horses

November 8, 2023 /

I’ve written about my love of horses before, how I love their beauty and strength. How I’m not much of a rider, and think it would be wonderful to have a horse as a companion pet. Maya and I have decided we want a miniature horse, and we will name it ‘Clip Clop’. Clip Clop would trot around our little townhouse, probably doing damage to our laminate flooring. Clip Clop would come upstairs and sleep at the foot of the bed. Our neighbors would be outraged at first, but then would fall in love with Clip Clop and his/her adorable antics. I would take Clip Clop for long walks and let him/her eat grass (but no pesticides!). Clip Clop would be potty trained and only poop outside. Perhaps Clip Clop would have a fondness for popcorn and 90s Rom-Coms, we could have a lot of fun on rainy Fridays together. Imagine my joy when I saw that Arnold Schwartzenegger has a miniature horse that spends time inside the house.

In a previously unrelated note, I have kind of been wanting a necklace with a coin shaped charm for a couple of years now. More specifically, I wanted it to be gold, and bonus points if I could buy it for myself on vacation, so I would have a memento of my trip. I started keeping an eye out for such a necklace when we were in France in 2018, but didn’t see anything that spoke to me. Every time I went to Macy’s or Nordstrom I would look around, but I never found anything I loved, and besides, I wasn’t on vacation. I looked a bit when we were in Maui in 2021, and then again in France in 2022. Nothing.

Imagine my delight, then, when I found the perfect necklace in Juneau this summer! I stopped by a little locally owned gift shop, where my brother Richard bought me some earrings that I love last year. I thought it was a local Alaskan jeweler, but it is not, just a locally owned store with lots of gifts.

I fell in love with this necklace. It’s gold plated, not solid gold, so it wasn’t too expensive. I hope that doesn’t mean it will fade and rub off, but if it does I will survive. I have decided that the horses on the front are Wildfire and Gabilan (aka, The Red Pony), and they are both alive and well, thank you very much. Side note: Making middle school aged kids read The Red Pony should be considered child abuse. I still haven’t recovered.

30 Comments

  • nance

    November 8, 2023 at 5:05 am

    Are you sure you wouldn’t rather have a lovely little minicow? I know I would. LOL

    I know lots of girls go through a Horse Stage. I never did, and I wonder about the whole thing. I never even read a horse book, like Black Beauty or The Red Pony or any of those. (Now I’m glad I never read The Red Pony since you have such PTSD from it, seriously.)

    I think your ClipClop dream is wonderful, and the fact that you share it with Maya is even better. Maybe someday! And I’m glad you found such a perfect necklace that marries two of your Wishes.

    • J

      November 8, 2023 at 6:04 am

      Clip Clop might NEED a mini cow friend! Moo Moo!

      Thank god you never read The Red Pony. I thought for sure as an English teacher you would have had to, that is the class that forced it upon us. It’s not a horse book per se, it’s short stories and only one has the titular pony. BUT IT’S HORRIFIC! Steinbeck should have just spent that day doing ANYTHING ELSE rather than writing.

  • Zazzy

    November 8, 2023 at 7:09 am

    A friend of mine and I think we’d like to have backyard bison. I think if we named them Spot or Rover, no one would notice.

    I read the wiki article on that book. You couldn’t make me read it today and I’m not a middle school child.

  • Sarah

    November 8, 2023 at 9:19 am

    I never went through a horse phase, although most of my friends did. I am kind of hoping one of my kids will because we live right by some really great stables- they do birthday parties, even!

  • Beckett @ Birchwood Pie

    November 8, 2023 at 10:39 am

    Your necklace is gorgeous. I’ve been looking for the perfect gold circle for a while – I have a sparkly circle and a large gold circle but I feel like there’s still room for a plain gold circle.

    I can only remembering riding a horse once as a kid, but I’d like to do it again some time. It’s on my travel bucket list.

    • J

      November 8, 2023 at 1:43 pm

      I like that you also are on the hunt for your ideal circle necklace. Keep your eyes open, maybe you’ll find something on one of your trips.

  • Jenny

    November 8, 2023 at 11:52 am

    I was listening to a podcast recently where the host said she saw something odd in her neighborhood (she lives in a rural area.) She saw someone out for a run with their horse. Like the person was all dressed for running and the horse was running alongside them, kind of like the way people run with their dogs. So when you get Clip Clop, you’ll have to take him/her out for runs! Think how fun that will be.
    i love the necklace!

    • J

      November 8, 2023 at 1:44 pm

      I’d have to take up running for that, so no…BUT I would totally take clip clop for walks every day, and if he/she needs to go faster, I could ride along on my bike.

  • Melissa

    November 8, 2023 at 12:32 pm

    I love the picture you painted of your life with Clip Clop. My brother has recently bought a farm and my sister-in-law was talking about getting a miniature pony. I’m not sure whether they’ll do it though. I never really wanted a horse when I was younger and although I do think it would be wonderful to ride a horse well, I’m not going to do anything about making that happen

    • J

      November 8, 2023 at 1:45 pm

      Isn’t Clip Clop perfect? I want them.

      Horses are SO expensive to keep, probably best to just get a ride when you can. Rent one, or take lessons. I did the lessons route almost 10 years ago now, and it was great spending time with the horses, but that’s when I discovered I don’t ride very well.

  • Suzanne

    November 8, 2023 at 3:14 pm

    What a lovely necklace and story behind its purchase! Mementos that are meaningful in multiple ways are so special. I love horses, too. They are so strong and beautiful and have so much personality. Plus, their noses are so soft.

  • Margaret

    November 8, 2023 at 5:43 pm

    I never had to read “The Red Pony” but I’m assuming it was sad? I love the necklace; it’s perfect for what you were looking for since it carries meaning on several levels. Arnold’s miniature horse is adorable!

    • J

      November 9, 2023 at 6:47 am

      I’m shocked at how many people never had to read The Red Pony. I assumed it was universal torture. Perhaps because Steinbeck is Californian.

  • Ernie

    November 9, 2023 at 2:53 am

    I love your interest in a miniature horse. I’ve seen an interview of Schwarzeneger and they showed footage of his mini pet. So funny. Hooray for finding the perfect necklace while on vacation. How great that it checked all the boxes. I’ve never read The Red Pony and I’m relieved. It wasn’t exactly on my bucket list of must reads or anything, but sheesh – it sounds dreadful.

  • Stephany

    November 10, 2023 at 6:01 pm

    That necklace is so pretty!

    When I saw that the URL for this post is /h-is-for-horses-2/ – I had to find out if you had posted about this topic originally! Your love for horses goes deep, my friend. I love it! I am someone who loves horses from afar but the thought of having to be responsible for a horse is overwhelming to me!

    • J

      November 11, 2023 at 8:37 am

      Stephany, you are not wrong! Horses are VERY expensive. When I took lessons all those years ago, my husband was talking about buying one. I was horrified at the suggestion!