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Ruiner of great things

Pirmin Nohr
I may or may not have inadvertently killed what I love the most for someone else.  This week, I had parked my car out by the arena and in closing the trunk, spooked a little pony trotting by and who subsequently threw the girl off its back in the process of running away from LOUD NOISES.  Ponies are such bastards, aren't they?  The girl stood right up but I could tell, even from a distance, that she was struggling mightily not to cry.  She wobbled a few steps and her trainer came over to see if she was okay.  I felt so terrible and walked over, apologizing profusely the entire time.  The trainer waved me off and said that everything was okay, but I couldn't help but think that karma was going to come back and bite me in the butt on this one.

A day later, the trainer came over to chat and also kindly reassure me that I should be allowed to close car doors within hearing distance of the barn, without people falling off their mounts.  The little girl had complained to her trainer after she fell, "Why does the pony get scared?  They should never get scared!"  Indeed my dear, would it not be lovely if no one got scared?  After she caught her breath, she got back on again (it's almost a rule, you have to immediately get back on **barring serious injury** after you fall off).  Because that's what happens in life.  You get scared, you fall, and you get back on again.

Although I've officially been pardoned, I still can't help but feel guilty that I ruined horses and horseback riding for her forever.  To quote Ben Stiller: I killed the thing I love the most!  At least her bank account will thank me for it later.

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Comments

  1. EmmylouFriday, March 28, 2014

    Aaaaaw...I understand feeling guilty, but I'm sure a thing like that won't scare the girl off riding especially if she really loves it. Kids are more resilient like that:) And it would be lovely if no one gets scared:)

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  2. nishaantishuFriday, March 28, 2014

    Ponies ARE such bastards!!! Cute little bastards. Nah, you won't have ruined riding for her. We all fall off, it's part of the fun! It's all fun and games until someone falls off - then it's a sport. It's a right of passage!

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  3. LaurenFriday, March 28, 2014

    Our beagle is scared of loud noises. And cardboard on the floor where it shouldn't be. And shadows. And feathers drifting gently to the ground. I think she and that pony would be friends.

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  4. trishieFriday, March 28, 2014

    Ponies and horses tend to get spooked quite easily so it's hardly your fault! Glad the little girl is ok

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  5. RicademusFriday, March 28, 2014

    It's funny how being pardoned can deepen the guilt. If her parent had started yelling at you for startling the pony, you'd still feel a little guilty, but it likely would be overshadowed by other feelings. Want me to yell at you??? :)

    Happy Friday!

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  6. ameliaFriday, March 28, 2014

    I'm just gonna go ahead and say 'ditto' to the comments above . . . because, so true.

    Also, that photo--it slays me! :)

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  7. JaneFriday, March 28, 2014

    awww. i'm sure you haven't ruined it for her. if she was startled, i hope she can become stronger! and i hope that pony becomes stronger too and not get scared of noises. wishing the best for both! :)

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  8. ErinFriday, March 28, 2014

    The Modern Family quote-a-day calendar I have on my desk just had a quote very similar to this anecdote! "You cant get back on the horse if you never fall off." Wise stuff! I hope that girl doesn't rest all her hopes and dreams on one skittish pony, though. xo

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  9. Christine D. | The Plumed NestFriday, March 28, 2014

    well, it was just a pony, they are short. not far to fall. i once stole a horse when i was, (long story) i don't know 4ish, and it took off running and i couldn't control it because i pretty much only rode my pony up to that point. i don't know how far we went but i remember looking back and seeing several people riding behind us chasing us. i remember barely being able to hold on, in the end he bucked me off for some water, but i was just happy he stopped. i think i went back and got on my trusty old pony but i had a new respect for horses after that too. sometimes we all need to fall to get a new perspective. you're fine, she's fine. no guilt. xo

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  10. StephanieFriday, March 28, 2014

    Maybe you didn't kill it for her though. Maybe you made her more resilient and more determined to be a great rider. Twenty years from now, she might tell the story of that time she literally fell off a horse and had to get back on and how it made her a stronger person because of it. I'm taking the glass half full approach to this one. :)

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  11. AlyxFriday, March 28, 2014

    Hahaha, I'm sure you didn't ruin it for her forever. If she loves it, she'll keep on keepin' on.

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  12. KatrinFriday, March 28, 2014

    The poor little scared pony! But it was definitely not your fault, so don't feel bad about that! That picture made me smile by the way!

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  13. DianaSaturday, March 29, 2014

    I echo everyone else's sentiments. :)

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  14. UnknownSaturday, March 29, 2014

    Oh, I understand how you feel, but it's not like you could've controlled the pony's reaction! I'm sure the little girl will love riding again.

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  15. AnonymousSunday, March 30, 2014

    I understand you feeling guilty, but she'll be fine. and you know, everything happens for a reason. who knows why you had to knock a little girl of her pony - which, putting it like that, really sounds bad ;)

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  16. tinajoSunday, March 30, 2014

    I´m sure you didn´t - though you are right about the bank account..! :-D

    http://tinajoathome.com/

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  17. SarahSunday, March 30, 2014

    I don't think accidents factor into karmic retributions. If anything, she owes you for the experience. She'll be tougher for it! ;)

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