Thirty years ago today my beloved horse Flash, “Fuzzy,” was born. He was foaled in Tennessee, lived the first half of his life in Oklahoma, then lived out the rest of his years in Colorado. I knew him from 2003 till his passing in 2017. His birthday, on Cinco de Mayo, I always celebrated, by giving him plenty of treats covered in molasses. To remember my friend today, below is the transcript of a commemorative speech I gave in March 2012, for Speech Class. Reading this piece for the first time in years, everything I wrote still rings true…Miss ya Fuzzy.
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My “boyfriend” is a cute brunette with big dark eyes, is outdoorsy and enjoys running. He has been a vegetarian for all of his 23 years, has never gone to school and weighs, oh about, 1200 pounds…This “boyfriend” I talk about is my horse Flash, and today I will speak about my furry friend that I have known for nearly a decade. This horse, Fuzzy, as I also call him, deserves to be praised as he has truly been a great friend.
I first met Flash in 2003, the year I began riding him, and received full ownership of him in 2005. Right away, I knew how well behaved he was, (and still is), and he truly helped me improve my riding skills. Any excuse to be at the barn, I took. I brushed him, washed him, and gave him way too many treats, all of which I still do today. He is the best friend a girl can have, as I have told him all of my secrets and fleeting crushes, and he has never told anyone (to any humans, at least). He never talks back, which is nice, especially when I went through the awkward tween phase, to the “I just noticed boys” phase, etc. So, as you can see, having a furry companion like him is very comforting.
The first blue ribbon I ever won, the most exciting trail rides I ever experienced, are because of Flash. I love to introduce my equine pal to all my friends, and I always enjoy the look of awe they get when they first look him in the eyes. I know 100% that Flash enjoys this too as he is the most sociable, friendly pony; he is kinder than most humans, I can say. All the superficial worries I have, always melt away when I’m with him, especially when I go for a ride. If you’ve ever ridden a horse while they gallop, then you know the sense of freedom, the adrenaline rush you get as hear the rhythmic clatter of their hooves and feel the wind whip your hair back…Some of the best days of my life have been with Flash, and I’ll remember these times till the very day I die…
Being at the barn with Flash is the essence of my childhood. I have always said, a barn is a good place to grow up. Horses teach you responsibility, make you focus and reveal what true relaxation is. They teach you to live in the moment, to live in the present. So, what better babysitter than a horse? For the next few summers that followed 2003, we rode almost three times a week, until high school really started to crunch down on my riding time. Despite that, Flash and I have maintained a bond that has never weakened. Even though I am away at college right now, I know that Fuzzy is in good hands, as my parents dote on him as if he was their other child. Plus, I know that Flash is providing the next generation of kids with his company, and is helping such youngsters familiarize themselves with equine etiquette and riding finesse. In truth, Flash has helped “raise” many kids throughout his lifetime, and I am grateful to know such a fine creature. Animals, especially horses, are a positive influence and help humans really appreciate the finer qualities in life: responsibility, humility, hard work, and best of all, friendship. So, girls, if you want a drama free guy, then hanging out with a horse is the way to go!
–LMC