A Pony's Wish for Christmas

The name "Shakespeare" is synonymous with great literature. The Shakespeare of old is legendary. The Shakespeare quoted here is a legend in his own mind!

Join us as Shakespeare "The Equine" aka "Bear" reveals, through his meanderings of thought, an uncomplicated and somewhat cushy life down on the farm.

Welcome to Poet's Paddock

A Pony's Wish for Christmas

If I had one Christmas wish

To share with all the world,

It’s that ol’ Santa’d send my way

A horse-crazy little girl.

One who’d love and spoil me

With carrots by the score.

A little girl whose eyes light up

As I walk through the door.

She’d brush me oh, so tenderly

And scratch behind my ears.

Together we would grow in love

And overcome our fears.

Upon my back she’d lightly sit

Reins quietly she would hold,

To lead me in our pas de deux;

We’d dance til we grew old.

And in the fields we’d run and play

Our manes the wind would blow.

And when our frolic was complete

To a nice warm barn we’d go.

Then once again she’d curry me

Feed treats and lots of hay.

And tell me that I’m such a special,

Handsome, dapper bay.

I’d nod, then, in agreement,

Convinced she must be right.

And nuzzle her so gently

As we bid a fond good night.

Yes, that’s my wish for Christmas,

A little girl my own to call.

I’m not sure where I’d keep her --

Maybe in my stall?

I received my Christmas wish -- on March 17, 2006 -- and she’s a keeper! Even though she’s an adult, the horse-crazy little girl in her recognized the little girl-crazy horse in me and that was it. The dream came true.

And as so often happens, I got even more than I could have dreamed.

She is my human “mom.” She nurtures, cares for and loves me in ways that make me feel like I am the luckiest horse in the world. And we have a lot of fun together.

I’m stabled near her home so she can easily visit me every day. Five days a week we practice our dressage and then I get two days off to muse. On these days she’ll hang out with and fuss over me for a little while, and this just deepens our bond.

She spoils me with carrots and apples and other tasty treats; grooms me til my coat is shiny and conditions my tail once a week. She’s constantly telling me how handsome I am, and does little things that make me smile. For instance, I love when she wipes my post-workout foamy mouth with a nice soft towel. That always gets my “Shakespeare grin of approval.”

My favourite part of our routine is a lavender aromatherapy facial ... a soothing touch of heaven before she releases me to the rest of my day. It’s a little thing she started the day she brought me home so I would relax and always associate her with something lovely.

Not that I need that to know she’s lovely ... and that she’s mine. I knew the moment I saw her she was the girl for me. And I knew she needed me. Besides, she’s a writer and my name, which was registered before we met and thus mine before we found each other, is Shakespeare. You could say the cosmic hay bales all fell into place in Poet’s Paddock -- I had my scribe; she had her muse. Some things are just meant to be.

And as for keeping her in my stall? Of course, that makes about as much sense as keeping a pony in your urban backyard. But I can dream, can’t I?

May all your dreams come true this holiday season ...

Catch you again in Poet’s Paddock!

Shakespeare “The Equine”