Origins. What triggered this dream of owning her own farm? Maybe a first encounter with a horse during a holiday somewhere? The person leading the riding-experience patiently repeated the instruction to sit upright - not gripping the top of the more stable saddletop. Holding the reins one in each hand was the first exercise the newbies had to internalise. The delight visible in Liezl's body and smile, when the riders returned is still imprinted in my memory. Also her tears when she was not allowed to stay on horseback for an immediate second turn...

Soon afterwards her pre-school Headmistress passed on the name and contact details of a farm running holiday-stays for city-kids to ride and take care of horses. Liezl and a friend went on the first of many holidays. She was as excited about the riding lessons as the entire taking-care rituals. Brushing, feeding, cleaning stables - all essential for the bonding-process between rider and horse she explained to us.

High school age arrived and we learnt about a farm in Midrand, Johannesburg, where horse owners stabled their animals. Lessons available to anyone.

Long story short, after the lessons, Liezl pleaded to have her own horse. The owner stepped in when we started talking about vet's costs when needed, etcetera etcetera. Liezl's disappointment was so visible, the owner came up with a sollution. "If you're prepared to ride any horse, not only the easy, behaved ones, then you could have a regular ride every day of the week. All the horses need daily care and exercise! Their owners cannot provide that."

It was as if she gates to heaven had suddenly oppened. Even weekends Liezl we enjoyed taking and fetching our child's happy place.

The owner couldn't stop complimenting her for how our Liezl conquer even the most "difficult" horses. Her patience, empathy with which she calmed and bonded with them. No wonder she earned herself a holiday-job (into her purse) when, after a first day's ride during one of our family holiday. As usual her first question, when we planned a place to visit was, "Are there horses?"

Do I still need Liezl's confirmation about the type of seed that rooted her?

SARALOOSA- A DREAM ACHIEVED