Sunday, March 23, 2014

There Was a Young Cowgirl ....

                                           
This is me when I was an aspiring cowgirl.  Do any of you have pictures like this, taken by a photographer who travelled around with his pony and a set of western duds and took photos of horse crazy kids?

I remember hearing the clop of hooves and running to see where the horse was and why it was coming down my street in a town that normally had no horse traffic.  I may actually have been whinnying while hunting for the horse.  I ran inside and badgered my poor mother until she came out to supervise the shoot, make sure I wasn't being kidnapped, and pay the photographer.  We moved to this house in 1961, so I'm guessing the photo was taken in 1961 or 1962.  

I still shamelessly throw myself at any horse I find (actually, any species I meet, equine or other), despite being stepped on, thrown, and kicked in the chest.  I don't think I've ever been bitten.  I used to know the names of the police horses in Boston and will never forget the thrill of seeing palomino Cassidy galloping across Boston Common.  

I'd love to hear from you if you have a photo like this stashed away.  Were you bewitched by horses?

10 comments:

  1. I loved the huge Clydesdale horses which you used to see in streets years ago. One came around where I live now, pulling a cart full of fruit and veggies, it saved you a trip to the supermarket. I think your photographer must have been in the US only - great photo though!

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    1. Those horses must have been impressive to little girls. The stable where I used to ride had a Clydesdale and a Clydesdale colt. The huge little guy was so sweet, but he didn't realize his size and often tried to lean on us.

      We had a man in a van who came around with produce and odds and ends. I can still remember how his van smelled, a combination of bananas and other fruits and veg. When we first moved to Beacon Hill, there was a similar truck for a short while. That astounded me because I thought that sort of thing had gone the way of a doctor's house call!

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  2. A very fine aspiring cowgirl you were! No photos like yours. I did love horse though and there are photos of me and my sister on a big horse at my uncle's farm when we were about 5 and 7. There are also photos of horseback riding afternoons at local stables and again when I was 13 at my uncle's farm. I got to have "my" own horse for 2 weeks. It was heaven.

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  3. Yes, girls and horses. You only had a horse for two weeks? Because you were visiting your uncle's farm? Several of my relatives had horses when I was growing up. My grandfather only had a cow, but I remember being put on her back, too!

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    1. Yes, girls and horses. You only had a horse for two weeks? Because you were visiting your uncle's farm? Several of my relatives had horses when I was growing up. My grandfather only had a cow, but I remember being put on her back, too!

      (Sorry, I first put this in as a 'Comment'. I'm still getting used to blogging.

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    2. Yup only for two weeks at my uncle's farm. He lived in Oklahoma and I lived in San Diego. It was two weeks of bliss :)

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  4. Yes I do have photos like this! I grew up in rural Florida and my relatives had horses and they got me a pony. I just wasn't cut out for the cowgirl life though. I was afraid of the horses. Of course I had one bite me on the shoulder, run away with me on its back and watch my dad on a stallion that reared straight up. I love to watch them run but I'll leave the riding to others:)

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    1. Was your photo taken by a travelling photographer? As much as I love horses (and all other animals), they can be dangerous, mostly unintentionally, though.

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    2. No, my photo was taken by family. I'll have to dig some out and post. I had never heard of those traveling photographers.

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    3. You should definitely post your old photos and blog about them. I love looking at photos, mine and those of other people. I've talked to a few people who know about those travelling photographers. Maybe it was a Pennsylvania / New York thing in the 50's.

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