By: Ashley Johnson

Flowing manes, tails of gold,

See them run, so strong and bold,

Muscular bodies, glistening eyes,

Roaming free, as butterflies,

Grasses and leaves, taste so yummy,

Helping them fill, a fat little tummy,

Roman nose, elegant dish face,

Saddle, trot, or fox-trot pace,

Neck held high, with lots of pride,

Patiently waiting, for master to ride,

Running of jumping, whatever the course is,

By: Chelsey Dyer

Simmering black almonds in the moonlight,
Stare deep,
Stare deep into my soul.
As I sit in his hay and lay all my fears upon him,
Words he doesn’t speak,
But words aren’t what I need now,

I need his soft graying coat,
And his sturdy frame to lean on.
His hoofs,
That step so lightly,
To carry me away from the world.
And I need,
I need,
His sweet gentle neigh,
To sing me a lullaby to sleep.

By: Amy Habak

Even though I just saw you last weekend,
I smile as if meeting an old friend.
When I swing onto your back,
I swing into another world.
It’s only you and me.

Sometimes we go down by the pond,
Scare the bullfrogs off the bank.
They plunge into the murky water:
Music to our ears.

Other times we follow the hillsides
Rolling gently like waves lapping the shore.
The deer run from us;
We are alone in the sunshine.

By: Victoria Babbin

Where do all the Beautiful Ponies go?
In the Spring, its in the Sun,
Where the sweet clover flowers grow.
When Summer comes, They seek the shade,
For this is where the day dreams are made.
After Summer comes to Fall,
They now need fat to remain tall.

The days become short and, the trees begin to change,
for now the winds bring a gentle exchange.

By: Sylvia Harp

Well done, my splendid red horse.
I am your guardian,
You are my prisoner.
You have no choice.

You cooperate
Without submitting,
A delicate distinction.

You simply give me the best
You know how to,
Something even I don’t always do.

By: Kathryn P. Bauder

Galloping across the land, sea and plain
Galloping through the snow, sleet, and rain

I made it across without a scratch nor a bruise
It was as refreshing as a relaxing cruise

I am a Nokota as you can see
But there is one weakness inside of me

I need an owner to love and to care
To make sure I’m ok, every little bit of hair

By: Edrie Bays

Old photos–those in color film that yellows and fades–
show a tiny blonde child in a frilly pink dress–
sitting atop a saddle–short legs bare
and barely long enough
to clear the seat
the tall palomino looks bored, but the child beams:
I am that child.

I begged to ride
on the wide-back draft
as daddy plowed
the garden plot:
the earthy horse-smell
is imprinted on my brain
the burning
of their sweat on my bare legs

By: Sonya R Coneley

Prancing along in the field after school.

Teaching new students to sit at the trot,

and pushing them further than they had ever
thought.

Saying, “Lets go, come on you can do it!”

She pushes you past what you think is

your limit.

Being a racehorse you sure couldn’t tell,

but there’s so much zip in her step you

By: Robin Bearden

Waking up one cool crisp day
Getting ready to run and play
I search all over for my trusty steed
This will be an adventure indeed
Barrel Racing is a girl’s dream
Turning those barrels being part of a team
Barrel racing looks like an easy sport
But you should be of the riding sort
It requires no nets, bulls or bats,
Just a girl and her cowboy hat
It requires courage strength and pride
And, of course the love to ride
Barrel racing is what I love
It was my gift from up above
It takes hard practice everyday
But in the end, I know it will pay

By: Jewel Olvera

Remembered~
Brushing, with long strokes
the warm sides and muscular flanks;
Stroking the velvet soft nose and
gentle face of my friend, my horse;
The nuzzling exploration of
my pockets and hands;
Carrots and apples received with
expectancy and gratitude;
The smell of fresh hay
and a clean stall;
The sense of adventure
as together we left the barn
to explore the fields and forest;
Love for your strength, beauty,
devotion and trust;