More on Lollipop

Here’s something I wrote about Lollipop when I was at the writers’ retreat in Wyoming:

“My horse, Lollipop, is the ugliest of the bunch. He’s the equivalent of a pale, thin, red-headed man. When I first saw him, I was sure he’d be someone else’s horse. When the wrangler called my name, I looked around to see if there were any other Anns, but I knew there weren’t. My name had to be called a couple of times while I dealt with my disbelief.

I finally stepped forward, trying to hide my disappointment, thinking about how this “mistake” could be remedied.

Lollipop, who I thought was a girl horse could sense my distaste and gave me a look like, ‘You’re not so great yourself,’ or ‘I’ve met snobs like you before.’

I instantly felt like I feel when I see an ugly child and try to pretend I like him or her and tried to make it up to him.

Lollipop had just come out of the rain and smelled worse than a wet dog. . . ”

That first day, as I brushed him to get to know him, he flinched every time I touched the bristles to his coat. He avoided my eyes and turned his head when I tried to pet his face. I felt like I had ruined everything. Then, I thought that this might be a learning experience and that the universe must be trying to teach me something about first impressions and appearances.

Over the next few days, I laughed at how Lollipop was so social with the other horses and would whinny for Comanche because they had been put in different skill-level groups. I was amazed at his determination to get out of the arena to find Comanche or to head in a different direction than we were supposed to go because his best buddy was headed the other way.

I never expected him to be so sure-footed and so strong. I was amazed at how fast he could run when he put his mind to it. After a day or so, as I showed him how much I appreciated him with little rubs and scratches to his body in front and back of his saddle, he seemed to forgive my initial rudeness and accepted my affections.

By now you know how much I grew to love Lollipop. Brent, the Vee Bar manager and head wrangler, told me that everyone who gets Lollipop has the same reaction, and everyone ends up falling in love with him by the end of the week.

Wyoming Trip 2009

Home to Davenport, IA (May 29, 2009)

Davenport, IA to Ogallala, NE (May 30, 2009)

Literature and Landscape Writers’ Retreat (May 30, 2009)

“Lollipop” (June 1, 2009)

Pictures (June 2, 2009)