I was honored to get to ride Tenor while I was in Florida. I used to own Tenor. I bought him from Teresa Osborn when he was one day old. He came home to live with me at 4 months. A new internet family came to visit me not too long after that. Ginny had found me on the internet because of my stories involving natural horsemanship and Missouri Fox Trotters.
Kevin and Ginny met me for the first time at my home. I had let Tenor come out into the yard so he could be part of the greeting crowd when they showed up. They drove up. We met and exclaimed with happiness at this meeting. They met and petted Tenor. We walked into the barn. Kevin sat down on the barn floor. Tenor wandered in and promptly went over to Kevin and laid down beside him. Kevin petted him and Tenor put his head in Kevin’s lap. We all knew that was a magic moment. Horses just don’t lie down like that. What we didn’t realize was that Tenor had claimed Kevin. When Ginny and Kevin got up to leave, Ginny told me that if I ever sell Tenor, they want him. I guffed at that. What a horse Tenor will make me is what I was thinking of how he layed down with Kevin.
Time goes on and I have many many horses to ride. Turns out, Kevin was looking for another horse and Jenny Vaught was involved in the process. Jenny called me and asked, What do you think about Kevin owning Tenor? The episode in the barn flew into my head. I blurted out, “It’s perfect! Tenor chose Kevin a long time ago!” I gave Tenor to Kevin and they have turned out to be best buddies. They love one another. Kevin has spent tons and tons of time playing with and training Tenor.
Tenor enjoys every minute that he is with Kevin. Kevin and Tenor live in Florida…that’s a far piece from Missouri! So here it is years later and I’m visiting in Florida and Tenor is there. Kevin offers me the chance and pleads with me to ride Tenor. I leap at the opportunity.
Tenor is a great horse. He’s solid. He’s got all the fox trotter gaits. He stops and goes at suggestions from my body. He turns where I want to turn, sidepasses over a barrel. He does it all.
And then there was the pedestal. Tenor loves to get on the pedestal. I’ve seen many pictures of Tenor on the pedestal. So I ask Tenor to put his front legs on the pedestal. But Tenor offers more than that! He puts his front legs on the pedestal and then his back legs. We are standing on the pedestal with all four feet. I’ve never been on a horse that managed to keep all four feet on the pedestal. I am super excited. I look around. Kevin is talking to someone. No one is paying any attention to me. Evidentially, no one in the arena is excited that I’m on Tenor with all four legs on the pedestal. I start screaming. I screamed something like, “I’m on the pedestal! Look at this! Someone take my picture!”
I know everyone is going to find this hard to believe, but again, no excitement has been generated. Kevin is still talking to someone else. I had to elevate my voice into super scream. Nichole, bless her heart, did come over and had her camera out. I had to yell at Kevin..specifically calling his name. I’m terribly afraid that Tenor will move and my moment of pedestal heaven will be over. Kevin saunters into the arena. I want him to take a picture with my phone so I will have it.
I pull my phone out of my…. well…. I keep my phone in a handy place on my upper body. And let’s not forget that this is Florida…just around 80 degrees and a little humid. I hand Kevin my phone. He takes it and then feels the sweat drips. His expression is one of horror and he is holding my phone like it has some kind of disease. Kevin knew from where my phone had come and now he’s holding the dripping phone in his pristine hand. His hand has become tainted with forbidden sweat.
All I’m aware of is that he is taking too darn much time to get my picture! I scream at him again. He whines and wipes the sweat off the phone and finally manages to take my picture! Kevin went through a tough time to get this picture of me and his glorious horse, Tenor!
Thank you Kevin for letting me enjoy this great horse! Sorry about the bra sweat drops.
