By: Jewel Olvera

Alone ‑
with my friend, my horse.
Alone –
together, in silence
Sharing thoughts and feelings.
Sharing the quiet ‑
Silence disturbed only
by the sounds of nature.
Crickets chirruping,
frogs croaking,
birds calling.
A chorus of song and sounds;
Music orchestrated by the Creator
A moment shared,
a moment given to each other.
A nudge and a pat ‑
love expressed, love shared.
Solitude ‑ not empty, not silent.
Solitude ‑ but not solitary;
Alone, but not lonely.

By: Jewel Olvera

In the Rocky Mountains
During the warmth of Spring,
There was a newborn colt
Such a cute little thing.

His coat was full
Of browns and golds,
And as he grew
He became playful and bold.

By: Stephani Reprogal

Hoofbeats pounding
Pounding down the track
Exploding from the gate
There’s no turning back
Nose to nose
The horses full of spite
Around the first turn
Tragedy strikes
The bay mare trips
Falls to the ground
The black continues
There’s no time to go around
The jockey rises to his feet
Fear unspoken
The bay lays quietly
Her leg is broken
An ambulance roars
Racing over the grass
Shock inside
On the faces behind the glass
The mare will not run
Ever again

By: Wendy Richey

Sometimes if you are lucky,and you listen with your heart,
you will find a love so special, you’ll never have to part.

A love so all consuming, you’ll never be the same.
I found that love, and so much more, in the thick of an ebony mane.

She means so very much to me, no one could ever know,
That on those dark and rainy days, she is my own rainbow.

By: Stacy Black

Your footsteps where a sound,
that we seldom ever found,
but the memories they left behind,
where always large in size.
And though you’ll never know it,
you always seemed to show it.
The sparkle in your eye,
made us wonder why
a horse as great as you,
would never show the feature,
just what you could do.

By: Stacy Black

In a moment of silence,
my world disappeared.
Tragedy had struck,
which was my biggest fear.

We had been together,
for so long,
our showing skills,
were very strong.

We conquered it all,
show after show
barrel racing was our best,
boy were you a pro.

I want to stop,
but I go on,
because I know
you want me to be strong.

You showed me our world,
and so much more,
now that your gone,
it’s like a closed stall door.

By: Stacy Black

The time has come,
For our good byes.
Your end is near,
Oh how I’ll cry.

Your life has been long,
But they don’t see,
Just how much,
You mean to me.

You’re fading now,
I’m starting to cry.
Please Bobby please,
Don’t you die!

By: Nicole Wiitala

The smoky terrain is lit with the repending melted sunset
The bronze and silver rush forth to their gloomy destination
The air shakes with the shrill cries of a fury-driven challenger
And the gnashing collision of entangled limbs and burly bodies
Racks the mountainous land and milk-specked skies
No thoughts of certain doom interrupt the concentrated brawl
The crimson stains which mar the prided beasts set aflame
The embattled stalkers as they lurch and spin
Visioned is one last churning clash of brawn
And while that victorious call expelled
One courage soldier fell.

By: Allison Stitt

I have hope, love, and faith
I have hope from the ones who love me.
I have hope from the ones who care.
I have hope in the ones who are not always there.
I have hope from the family that encourages me.
I have hope from the father.
I am loved by the family who is always there.
I am loved by the ones who care.
I am loved by the ones who are not always there.
I am loved by the father.
I have faith in the family who loves me.
I have faith in the ones who care.

By: Nicole Wiitala

Nocturnal sweepers of inky skies
Ignited breaths frost from flared nostrils
Great robust frames and thundering hooves
Haughty glares from the fiery eyes
Timeless artists painting the hillside
Mystic roamers, dominators of the twilight
Aura of sophistication surrounds the wispy herd