Random Ramble about My Dad & Chester

I went to visit and old family friends this past weekend and had a GREAT time. I loved hearing stories about my dad. Dad wasn't always perfect. He struggled to be happy in his life, but he would give someone the shirt off his back. He was a bad ass with a heart of gold, but sometime that is not enough. I have learned, very recently, that it's okay to be upset with him. Its okay to be upset with someone and still love them. I know at times he tried his best to be the best and sometimes he sucked at being a dad, but he never stopped loving any of us. I also realize sometime loving us wasn't enough to get him to clean up his act, but the last year of his life was the happiest I had ever seen him. He had a steady job, he wasn't drinking as much, had real friends, he was acting like a dad and he was HAPPY!

May 3rd, 1984 - My Parents Wedding.

My dad LOVED Chester. They were like two peas in a weird pod. Haha. They would poke at each other and just be boys. They just made a connection. I could look at them and see the love in there eyes. They seemed to understand what the other one was thinking.

After my dad died there were some tough times, there still are. I know that my dad had all these plans for him to be a mounted shooting horse, on the mounted posse and put putting down the trail. For now he is just going to be my little baby. I am spending a lot of time with him, tons of kisses.

He has been in and out of training since he was three. He spent 90 days bucking and after 6 months he finally launched my trainer. We had long talks about what I wanted to do with him, how safe he would be for me, what my expectations were. I never gave up hope that we would be the best at whatever I decided to do with him. Go Big or Go Home. Right?

Our first Wild Horse Show was October 2007. We got second place in halter and fifth in trail. I messed up the pattern. We did get extra points for him walking on the bridge while I walked beside it. I got complimented on my beautiful mare. I would just laugh and let them know he was a gelding.

I was also offered $5,000 for him, I politely refused. He is priceless to me.

Last year I took him to the Wild Horse and Burro Show in Reno, Nevada. We were entered in 3 classes. We didn't place in the halter class or in the trail course, but we got fifth place in the gamblers choice. We had two minutes to run around and go over as many obstacles as possible, each obstacle being worth a certain amount of points. But we went and we had an amazing time. We even entered the cotume class, he was Captain Chester and I was his first mate. It was so hilarious.

and then there was today. I just pulled him out to play around. I ended up refreshing some of his ground work. I played around and laid him down and crawled under him. We played with the barrels and he drank some of my Mountain Dew. And then at the end I decided to get on him bareback!

As I rode him around I remebered all the good times I spent with my dad. All the horsie adventures we had together, not only with chester, but back in the day. I remembered why I love him so much. I remembered why I got him 7 years ago. I remember the importance of an amazing friendship and why the connection is so important.

Chester was my first mustang. Chester is the reason I love the mustangs. He helped me meet people and build friendships. He has been my partner in crime for seven years. Its easy for me to say I wouldnt know as much about horses if it wasnt for him. He challenges me everyday. I am a better person for knowing him. When we are together there is no Judgement. I know him and he knows me.