That’s right…just in time for Christmas, we’re going to have another first here at Our First Horse – a giveaway!
We have found another great CD for your listening pleasure. It is a compilation CD called “On Horses’ Wings” and features seven great artists on 19 vocal and musical tracks. Everything on the CD is horse-related, of course, but it’s one of the best CDs on any subject or in any genre we’ve heard in a while.
It is beautifully done. The tracks alternate from a spoken piece (think poem, or short story) to a song. There is a lot of thought put into the arrangement; each song fits the piece before it, and they all flow from beginning to end. Some of the pieces will make you laugh (“The County Fair is Over” followed by “Falling in Love in America,” both by Antsy McClain), and some will bring a tear to your eye (“He’s Gonna Run” by James Cain). All will inspire you, and remind you of how very powerful a horse is, in every way. I love the whole CD. My current favorite is “Hands” by Wylie and the Wild West (I think of it by the more complete refrain, “16 Hands Closer to God”), but I’ve only heard it a handful of times.
Oh, and one of the best things about the CD is that all proceeds will benefit Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center, an equine-assisted therapy center supporting children and adults with disabilities. Read about Little Bit here.
Check it out and listen to tracks here: On Horses’ Wings
Read about it and buy it here: On Horses’ Wings CD
Surely by now, the end of this post, you’ve clicked on the links, listened to all the tracks and know all about the artists and Little Bit. Maybe you’ve even bought a copy or two – we surely hope so! But maybe you’re still remembering the beginning of the post where I said you could win a copy. Never fear, I haven’t forgotten that either. Here’s how: Simply post a comment here, right here on this post. Not just any comment though – we don’t want a whole line of “I want it,” “Me too,” “Count me in,” etc. But we won’t make you write an essay or anything either…it is the holidays, after all, and we’re all busy people! Just please leave a little note telling us something dear to your heart that is horse-related. You could tell us your favorite horse activity, or how many horses you have, or your favorite song on “On Horses’ Wings,” or why you love Our First Horse! 
Make it as short or as long as you like. Post it by midnight EDT on December 15, 2008, and we’ll randomly pick a poster to win a copy!
Good luck to you all, and Happy Thanksgiving!
Update: Even though the contest is now over, the CD is available still at Ecletic Horseman Communications (no affiliation).
What fun! I’m going to write about why I love My First Horse.
I started reading your blog over a year ago, before I even owned my own horse (I was Twinville then). I thought it was great to find a blog written by folks who were new to horse ownership and were willing to share their experiences as they learned along the way.
It was so refreshing to me as someone planning on getting my own first horse, because most blogs seem to be written by folks who are ‘old shoes’ at horse ownership.
Anyway, alot of the information you all posted, I tucked away for future reference, for when my own first horse came home…which happened to be March 2008.
And one of my favorite posts on My First Horse was the tack review about the Eli Miller Saddles.
I just knew that’s what I wanted when I went saddle hunting.
And now, a year later, with my pretty paint mare, Baby Doll, we ride for hours, in comfort, on our mountain trails, with my lovely suspended, gel-pad seat, Henry Miller saddle.
THANK YOU, My First Horse!!
Happy Thanksgiving
~Lisa
New Mexico
Oh darn. I think my original comment got lost on the internet.
So I’ll try again.
I’m going to comment on why I love My First Horse.
I started reading your blog over a year ago, before I owned a horse. I was intrigued with the idea that you all were new horse owners sharing your experiences and knowledge learned along the way.
Most blog seemed to be written by those who were long-time horse owners.
So, I read all your posts from the very start and tucked away all the bits of useful info for later.
One of my favorite was a tack review on the Eli Miller Saddles. And I just knew that was the saddle I’d buy when my own first horse came to live with us.
Well, in March 2008, my pretty paint mare, Baby Doll joined our family and I went saddle shopping.
I’m happy to say that I could not be any happier with my Henry Miller suspended gel-seat saddle. And I ride my horse all over the mountain trails with comfort, for hours.
I can’t thank Mikki enough (and Bill, too!)
Thanks My First Horse!
And Happy Thanksgiving, too!
~Lisa
New Mexico
Ok..here goes. I’ve always loved horses, the bug bit me early around the age of 3 when I first sat on my Uncle’s horse. My mom has a photo of me in a sundress with cowboy boots and hat. Well that little girl grew up with only one thought, “I want a horse”. Every year I’d ask Santa for a horse and every year I received something horse related but never the real thing. So I spent my time reading about horses, drawing horses and dreaming of them. Years passed by and I had a family of my own, I took my daughter to ride at a local park because as with my parents, we just couldn’t afford a horse or have a place to keep one despite the constant barrage of, “he can live in my room, I promise to keep it clean”. My daughter too was bitten by the horse bug but unlike myself she outgrew the desire. So finally at the age of 36, my wonderful husband suprised me with my very first horse. A beautiful Tennesee Walker…I now have 4 horses! They are each special in their own unique way and I couldn’t possibly be happier! So thanks to my husband for making my dreams come true, thanks to folks like you who have wonderful websites in which to express our love for horses and to the wonderful musicians who let us travel there in our minds when that’s all we can or are able to do. LOL…sorry, it became an essay.
why horses?
I wonder this often, particularly when I’m pressed for time and can’t get everything done.
Then, I’m with my horse.
Everything falls away. I’m in a spiritual rhythm with some part of me that is more ancient, more real than almost anything else.
There are no long term plans in this circle with my horse. There is here and now. He looks at me, waiting. I ask him to turn and he does. He reaches out and I meet him. I lean on him and take in the smell of a horse’s world: grass, dust, mud, and of course, fly spray.
And I laugh.
That’s why.
Wow! A wonderful CD and such a worthy cause. I live at Mount Vernon WA, so not far away. I grew up on a ranch in eastern Montana and my first novel has just been released, Cowgirl Dreams, based on my grandmother who rode in MT rodeos during the 1920s.
Heidi
http://www.heidimthomas.com
I’ve loved horses ever since I was little, but when I started losing my sight, eventually going blind, they took on a much deeper importance to me then just companionship. Now, getting to ride, means I can forget about tripping or that constant apprehension of obstacles in my way. The horse knows their way and has always stopped us from running into anything, whether I’m walking at their side or riding. Horses mean a sort of freedom for me that I can’t obtain any other way, I can just relax and enjoy my time with such a wonderful beast, and the nature around us, with no other worries. There’s something so humbling about an animal with so much power and size, who is so careful to mind me, and litterally see for me, with noone having asked it to do so.
Your blog has really inspired me further (I’ve been reading it for a long time now), that someday I’ll be able to have my own horse, so that I may have these priviledges and joys anytime. Thankyou.
We have five horses, including a little filly born to us this past spring. All five are rescue horses, although my paint wasn’t a true rescue, she was simply given up to the rescue. The two of them, including the mama to our filly were true rescues who were on their way to slaughter in Alberta. Both were actually pregnant, one only being 2 years old, but she lost her baby a few months after she arrived. Our filly though, from the other mare, is now almost 9 months old and doing awesome.
We got our first horse not a whole lot of time before you both got your first horse.
About 3.5 years ago now. We’ve enjoyed following your adventures along with our own.
Thanks for all your notes everyone! I love reading your comments. I want to clarify that although we’re not counting simple comments such as “First!” or “I like horses”, we also want you to know there is no pressure to write something creative or particularly long. While we appreciate the effort, we’re not giving extra points. You’re either in or your not and the winner will be selected completely at random. This isn’t meant to be a hard.
Thanks for reading and participating!
That CD looks awesome!
Currently I own a gorgeous black gelding called Jack. He sat in a paddock for a year before I got him and went lame a couple of weeks after he arrived. He had an abscess in each back hoof.
When he first arrived he was incredibly scared about being away from his paddock. He would call and call and call and it was like I didn’t even exsist. It got to the point where if I went into his pen he would ram me into the side and constantly swing his butt towards me. I got someone to come help with his ground manners and they taught me how to get respect from him. Now he is calm and loving in my presence and has started to show his true personality. He is cuddly and loves affection.
He is one talented horse and I know we’re going to go far together!
I ride, not for competition or work right now, but to have fun. I see soon that I will need to use my horse for cattle work, but right now it’s just for fun. I get to ride to enjoy a relationship with another life not built on necessity, but for the joy of the relationship. Oh to be able to have this kind of “work” for all my chores. I hope you are having the same joy. Don’t forget to read my blog for my adventures.
I really love reading “Our First Horse” We got our first horse two years ago and I found this site by googling information about first time horse ownership. What I enjoy about this site is that it seems that everytime we go through something w/ our horses, (now we have 3!!)I can come on here and there is something relevant to what we are going through. I have had mine get out in the neighborhood and had to chase them down on one of the busiest highways in Alabama. And when that happened I thought of the ordeal y’all went through and it made me realize it can happen to anyone. I also have other things in common with your family from owning Jack Russells to having morton’s neuroma! Anyway it is just nice to have somewhere to get some encouragement and feel at home in the big “cyber” world. Thanks for taking the time to share with us.
Mary Ann
Thanks for the entries, everyone. Mikki and I are now going to find a random way of selecting a winner and we’ll announce who that is shortly!
And the winner is…d2cmom!
We assigned each post a number (sorry, Lisa – your two posts only counted as one entry) and had the Kid draw a number out of a hat. Number 8 was drawn, and the eighth post was d2cmom.
So congratulations, and contact us soon so we can send your new CD!
Thanks to all of you for posting. We enjoyed all the posts – they were some very good stories, and interesting thoughts. We hope you’ll keep them coming, even without a contest.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Thanks for the great contest – congrats!
Hey Mary Ann – small world. I’m in AL too! Close to the Speedway, where are you located?
Well hello there!
Thank you so much for your rave review of our “On Horses’ Wings” benefit CD and wonderful idea to give one away on your website. The spirit of your gesture fits perfectly with the messages in the CD. Kindness is surely part of the feel we wanted to put across and you are doing the same with your contest.
100% of the proceeds of the sale of this CD go straight to benefit Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center near Seattle, Washington. Miracles happen there every day and we’re thrilled to help get more disabled folks in the saddle and on their way toward healing.
With the help of people like you, the word is spreading and sales are happening. We sure appreciate it!
All the best to all of you for a wonderful holiday season. It’s not too late to order in time for Christmas! Thanks again.
God Bless,
Patti Hall
Contributing Artist and Executive Producer
“On Horses’ Wings” Benefit CD
Hi TC,
I am in south Alabama……..about as far south as you can go!