A Longing for Horses

How many of us have longed to be with horses? Or still do? When I was little and the opportunity arose to be around a horse, I was in absolute heaven. Many times I leaned on a fence, just watching them, breathing in that wonderful horsey scent, and wishing, wishing, wishing that I had one of my own.

A lot like this.

That's Pony Pal Mila yesterday at the Tippecanoe County 4H Fair. She's standing outside an exercise arena and watching the 4H kids work their horses. (The fairgrounds are undergoing major improvements and construction that were not completed before the fair, hence the temporary chain link fences.)

Vanessa snapped the photo and texted it to me, and I felt an immediate connection - I recognized that pose at the fence because that little girl was me many years ago. The text said simply, "Mila's loving the horses so much."

I may never know why that horsey pull, that longing for horses, is so strong, but I can recognize it when it happens. 

It happened last night. 

4H Horse and Pony - A Closer (and Nostalgic) Look

I so enjoyed walking through the old horse and pony barn at the 4H Fair yesterday, especially when I discovered that it was due to be demolished as soon as the fair ended. While it certainly needs updating, there are many memories of happy times in that place, and so it was nice to get a final chance to see a place from my childhood that meant a lot to me.

After some looking, I was able to find my former stall, or at least close to it.

A big change since I was a 4Her is that they have removed the hay and straw mow from above the stalls. We used to shinny up there and hang out, listening unseen to the comments people made about our horses and feeling very proud at the compliments. Every kid should have the opportunity to spend time in a hay mow!

 Tack stored in an empty stall.

 The cards the 4Hers fill out are still the same! 

This made me smile - I had a cob named Pokey! I don't remember bringing him to the fair, but my sister may have.

 I love how the kids decorate their stalls - that would be so much fun.

Lisa pointed out this next poster, and it made us both smile.

 I had a half-Arab, Indabab's Image, which I nicknamed Indy before I had Abby!

Upgrading the fairgrounds has been going on for several years. The arena where the horse shows take place has been moved to a nicer, more open location and is much bigger than the arena I showed in.

The rabbit and poultry barn is an example of some of the new construction. I am interested in seeing what the horse and pony barn looks like next year.

Tippecanoe County 4H Fair

One of the local "summer wind ups" is the Tippecanoe County 4H Fair. Running for an entire week, and complete with livestock, projects, displays, carnival rides, and a queen contest, there is a lot to see and do. Yesterday, our local family went to see the sights (sans Curt who had to work) and we had so much fun!

 Ian and Mila in the goat barn.

A young girl lets us pet her project horse. (I was in 4H Horse and Pony as a kid, and it was such a thrill when people wanted to pet your horse or paid you a compliment about it!)

 When I was in 4H, the horse show took place on Wednesday. Now it spans Monday through Thursday with a different focus each day. Thursday's was the English show.

Raven goes to my school and was in my Lego Robotics club. I hoped to talk to her, but only saw her horse and not her.

 My old stall is one of these, if I remember right. I am glad we went to the fair as this barn is due to be demolished and a new one built for next year's fair. I was glad to see the Horse and Pony barn one last time - I spent many happy hours here!

 Aside from a sign (like Raven's) we didn't decorate our stalls. I wish we had as it looks like fun!

 The rabbits and poultry (chickens, turkeys, ducks, and pigeons) were in a new, airy barn.

 These girls were lying in the hay with their cattle - oh, the memories!!

Lukas held up very well, finding his thumb when he needed it. Luckily the day was not nearly as hot and humid as it has been recently which made for a much better fair experience.

 We ate lunch in the Cattlemans'/Pork Producers' tent. My hamburger was an inch thick!

After visiting the animals, we went to the exhibit halls to see the other projects the 4H kids had done.

My student, Emma, won grand champion with her cake decorating and is moving on to the Indiana State Fair! I had to laugh to see the unicorn on her cake - that girl wore a unicorn on her shirt to school every single day!

 Erik, who just graduated from high school, is also going to the state fair with his cake.

 He's also a ten year 4Her, and so his photo was displayed in the exhibit hall.

 Another former student, Lacie, made an aquarium cake and won a blue award.

And Aly, Emma's twin, won a blue for her muffin.

I also had kids in sewing, photography, and electricity, but I could not find their exhibits even though Craig and Lisa both helped me look.

Such a fun day, filled with family, fun, and a nice dose of nostalgia for me.