04/30/2026
I encourage you to be disobedient.
Today is a day of remembrance.
20-some years ago (2002), as I was graduating high school and on the brink of going to college, I wanted a horse and was told “no”. Actually, a lot of people said the word “NO”. Those people also said that they would not help me if I made that decision. I was on my own.
Have I ever told you how much I hate that word?
So, sure as s**t, I did it anyway.
I bought the horse.
And it was THE BEST THING I EVER DID.
He was a defiant, spicy little red horse that knew way more than me.
He was a dancing as***le on the cross-ties, a bully to his pasture mates (biting them and stealing all their food), screamed his head off when you removed him from his friends, wouldn’t stand still to mount, and screw your trailer- he wasn’t loading until the moon was shining down on us.
But once my ass hit the saddle, we were fu***ng magic.
Over the river and through the woods, we ran. The devil wasn’t after us. We were chasing it off. We ran fast, jumped a lot of big s**t, and went swimming in the lakes on hot summer days.
He was a real rat-bastard sometimes, but made me who I am today. My stubborn will out-stubborn ANY stubborn, because he took it to the next level….and then another mile. He is the reason why I have this life, this farm, and I would give anything to have one more ride on him.
And now my soul is searching. There’s a quiet unrest. I’m looking for that feeling again, to bring back the love I had for riding, the peace and safety of silence, and to know that for this fleeting moment in time, this horse is going to take care of me while we are on this trail. Like that little red horse once did.
There is no replacing him, but I’m hoping that there’s a horse out there that can fuel the fire that he once gave me.
So this is your sign. When you get a wild hair up your ass about doing something outlandish, “crazy”, completely out of character, and you’re feeling alone….don’t worry, I’m here in your corner. GO GET EM, TIGER. And don’t stop the good fight until you get what you want. Life’s too short to look back on all the could’ves and should’ves.
Happy heavenly birthday, Buster Brown- I hope you’re resting in peace.
04.30.1994 - 04.11.2025
