Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, in a land far, far away (well, maybe not too far) there was a little girl who begged her mother mercilessly for a horse of her very own. It was the mother's own doing, you see, as she had taken the girl trail riding at an old farm (that's now a condominium park) just for something fun to do together.
WARNING TO PARENTS
HORSES ARE HIGHLY ADDICTIVE
ESPECIALLY TO LITTLE GIRLS
Just one ride was all it took and the little girl became entranced by the sweet smell of horses (no matter how dirty they were), and the wonderful feel of these soft, furry creatures.
So after much begging and trying of her patience, the mother finally gave in and bought her daughter a horse. (See kids, sometimes it works.) You see, the mother had secretly loved horses all along, and the little girl really was a sweet and compliant child (most of the time), and the mother thought that this just might be a worthwhile adventure for them to embark upon together. Little did she know where this adventure would lead them.
Now, this horse was not the kind of wild creature or noble steed you hear about in most stories. She was a scrawny, little, untrained two-year-old Appaloosa filly with no spots, and a mane that stood straight up in the air. But the little girl loved her, just the same. And the little horse loved her right back. She must have, for this whole arrangement worked out beautifully. You see, given the limitations of the mother's understanding of horses, and her budget, she could not buy a well trained, experienced horse for her daughter, but only this little filly who knew close to nothing and cost only $200 which was dirt cheap even then. And, had the sweet little horse not loved the little girl, she could have promptly dumped her on the ground and scared her away like most other young horses would have done , and this story may never have been written.
But the story goes on. And the little girl and the scrawny horse began their adventure together. And, oh what an adventure it would be!
They learned together and they played together and the pair became inseperable (well, almost, as the little girl still had to go to school, no amount of begging could get her out of that). The mother was right that it was a worthwhile adventure as the little girl learned many things from the time she spent with this little horse (who became less scrawny and more beautiful as she grew). She learned things about true friendship, and hard work, and the value of learning over winning, and sacrifice, and determination, and pure joy. You see, all was not simple in their happy arrangement, as the best things in life do not usually come easy. The little girl and her sweet little horse had their share of trials and tears and what her mother called "learning experiences". But, as the girl's wise grandmother often said,"You keep on keepin' on", and they did. And with this attitude, they accomplished much, and won some, and loved always.
The little girl and the horse grew and grew (but horses grow faster). In high school, at a time when somebody always liked somebody else who didn't like them and then that somebody liked somebody else, the girl was happily oblivious to this as, "Jill still had a horse named Etta".
Eventually the girl did find someone else that she loved, but he was content to share her love with a big furry creature and he shared many of her dreams. They talked often about all the things they would like to do together "someday". After a while it was time for the girl to go to college and the three of them were separated for some time. All was not right with the world at this time and they were all very lonely. So the girl (a young lady by this time) married the boy, and moved the horse and took them both to college with her. (Who says you can't have it all?!)
They all lived happily in far off Ohio for some time and learned many more things. When the time was right they moved back to Michigan and got right to work on those dreams they shared. Those dreams grew and developed into what is now known as Stepping Stone Farm. The mother and the horse are gone now, but the dreams live on, and they are remembered as stepping stones in the life of the little girl as they are where this story began.
Now this place called Stepping Stone Farm, that started as the dream of one little girl and one little horse, has become the beginning of many dreams for many little girls (and some big girls, and some boys) and many horses.
And if all goes well, they will all live...
HAPPILY EVER AFTER!