Lady’s Gift
by Hilda Born

For years the children begged Dad for a horse, but he would have none of it. “Horses are not toys,” he’d say. He knew, from working with them while growing up. They need a lot of pasture space. Besides we were trying to establish a dairy farm.

The boys kept hoping, and praying, too. One summer Dad relented to the extent that we boarded our friend’s horse while they were on vacation. The first Sunday the horse was with us, Bobby, a young visitor, fell off and broke his wrist. Well, that finished the horse talk for a while.

Eventually we moved to a larger farm on Matsqui Prairie. One day, Cliff, the cattle dealer, stopped by to haul some of our cattle to auction. On the back of his truck was a fine brown mare. Now Dad had always said that if he’d ever relent, and allow the children to keep a horse, it would definitely be a gelding. He had enough breeding problems with the cows, and he didn’t want to break in any more colts for others to ride.
Cliff assured us that Lady, the brown mare, was very friendly and probably not in foal. Gentle and patient she was, and Johnnie just loved her. For Christmas we bought him a saddle and he claimed responsibility for Lady’s care. Together they would round up the cattle from the far field.

Well fed, Lady gained considerable weight. She looked pregnant. As her girth increased, Johnnie was reluctant to cinch up the saddle. Sometimes while riding, the loose saddle would slip to one side and Johnnie would lose his balance and land on the grass. Lady stopped immediately. She’d allow him to put everything back in place, and together they’d continue their ride.

Because she supposedly was an open mare when we bought Lady, nobody knew if or when the great event should take place. That there was to be such an event, not even Cliff contradicted.

In February, Johnnie was tripped during a floor hockey game, and spent time in hospital with a badly broken arm. Lady, too, became lame and we hoped that boy and horse would get well soon.

When Johnnie came home from hospital he faithfully exercised his injured arm to regain strength. With his other hand he’d lead Lady around to make sure she’d be okay, too.

Across the road lived our postmaster, whose son Stan liked to come and visit Johnnie and his horse. Sadly, Stan came to tell us of his Dad’s job promotion, and their impending move to Harrison. But before leaving, Stan would be allowed a night’s sleepover with Johnnie, as a boyhood farewell. The boys finally settled in after evening chores and chatter. Before breakfast they went out to feed the calves, as usual. However, prior to mixing calf formula, they looked in on Lady. She had the most beautiful surprise for them - a perfect chestnut colt.

Glowing with excitement the boys could hardly swallow their food. They were so eager to share their discovery with all their classmates, on this their last day of school together. Lady couldn’t have timed the birth of her baby any better. It certainly helped to ease Johnnie’s loneliness at losing his dear friend, Stan.

Even after Lady foaled, her leg didn’t improve much. Although she limped she was as friendly as ever, and just loved company. We tethered her in the front corral so we could keep an eye on her. A class of primary school children came to visit the farm and gave Lady lots of attention. They patted her wherever they could reach and she tolerated their efforts at bareback riding.

A physiotherapist passed Lady’s corral every day on her way to work at M.S.A. Hospital. She noticed Lady’s need for special care. One day she stopped by and offered to adopt our ailing pet horse. With sadness and gratitude Dad quietly hauled Lady away for further treatment. By this time “Prince”, her handsome colt was independent and ready to receive all our family’s attention.