The Magic of Pepper
Posted by Dr. Deb on November 18, 2008 under Horse - Main, Horse - Stories | 
Be the First to Comment
I don’t remember exactly what age I was when I became “horse crazy.” The “bug” must have bitten me when I was around 5-years-old. The first symptom was that I started collecting Bryer Horses. My collection grew quickly and the circular green rug that was in my room at that time usually doubled as a pasture for my herd.
By the time I was 6-years-old I was taking weekly riding lessons at a pony farm in Temple, NH. My first favorite pony at the farm was a Welsh pony named Jelly Bean. Once I outgrew Jelly Bean I fell in love with other larger ponies including Star, Pumpkin, Lance, Marquesa, and Honey Suckle, to name a few. As the years went by my love of horses didn’t wane. I don’t remember begging my parents for horse, but I’m sure that from time to time I must have at least given strong hints at how wonderful it would be to have one.
In the forth grade my dream manifested in the most amazing way. One day my dad called me into his room. With a twinkle in his eye he asked, “How would you like to get a horse . . . for free?” My heart leapt and I jumped up and down several times shouting, “Yes! Yes!” The horse was being given away by a family who lived about 10 minutes away. That was only the beginning of this amazing miracle. We lived next to a field and the owners of the land said that we could keep the horse on their land, free of charge. Across the field was a magnificent old yellow barn, built in the early 1800’s, that was empty and used only for storage. The owners, with whom my family really only had a friendly acquaintance, said that we could keep the horse in their barn – for free.
My new horse was a 14-hand, 28-year-old Morgan mare, named Pepper. I rode her to her new home one crisp day in October. I was so excited and felt like I was in a parade, as my parents followed slowly behind me to make sure that I was okay during our first ride trail ride together. For a year Pepper lived with me. She taught me so much as we rode through the woods of Wilton, NH. She was gentle, patient, kind and showed me unconditional love. I grew up a lot that year and learned about responsibility. The barn didn’t have running water and I had to pull the water in milk jugs, in either a sled or wagon, across the field from my house to the barn, twice day. By the end of the year I was jumping more and more at the farm where I still took lessons. Pepper was no longer light enough on her feet to jump. I made a decision that it was time to say goodbye to Pepper and find a new home for her. I found a new home for Pepper in Northeastern New Hampshire where she could retire and spend her days munching grass in a field. I must admit that when we parted I felt a mixture of sadness at saying goodbye to her and a sense of relief at no longer having to haul water twice a day across the field.
I’ll never forget Pepper and the special time we shared together. The way she came into my life, and the ease with which everyone in the neighborhood welcomed her, were magical. It was the kind of experience that little girls dream of and I was fortunate enough to live the dream.
Deborah Barnett, Ph.D.
Manifesting Well Being for Health and Success
