A Photo And Story

                                   
Once upon a time a young boy looked at a white fence surrounding
an arena filled with sand.  He sat on the fence watching as the tractor moved around loosening the sand just right to provide the perfect footing.  The sand had to soft not firmly packed.  Slightly deep.

The boy watched and dreamed of one day being the one riding the tractor getting the arena ready for the rider.  

It wasn't his only dream.  He had much bigger dreams than sitting on the tractor.  He dreamed one day he would ride a horse.  Not just any horse and not just any kind of riding.  

He dreamed one day he would train a reining horse.  He dreamed of going to a futurity.  (a special competition for young horses)

So he got off that fence and he began to work.  He worked hard.  
He mucked stalls and filled a truck with horse manure and hauled it away.  Everyday after school he went to the barn and cleaned up. 

Everyday he watched other teenagers riding horses while he cleaned the stalls.

He built a library of books and magazines with information about reining and breeding.  And he studied.  Soaking in the knowledge that he hoped he would someday be able to use.  

He made it to that futurity with his horse. (which he had bred and trained himself)  He worked hard with that little filly.  They were constant companions.  

And then one day his eye wandered.  He noticed a filly of another 'sort'.  She captured his eye and his heart.    And then his dreams began to change.   

He never forgot his first love.  Even  though he began to chase two legged youngsters.  He never forgot his dream of  sittin' on that tractor. 

And then many years later.  It happened.  It wan't expected.  
Someone remembered that young man and the horse he rode in that futurity.  

The opportunity presented itself.  And now he's sittin' on that 
tractor.  Makin' that dirt just right.  

       And now his little girl is walkin' in that dirt and dreamin'.  
                           (photo taken by that filly that stole his heart)

Linking with Wit and Wisdom and Warm Heart Wednesday, 
Welcome Home Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday ,Sunlit Sunday, Blue Monday,Good Fences