I was born and bred in South Philadelphia. The only thing I know about horses, I learned from watching movies and TV shows. In my world horses never lay down, or so I thought.
Years ago, almost 40 to be exact, when I moved to the suburbs and started selling real estate, I was driving north on Airport Road in West Chester when to my horror, there were several horses, lying down in a field!
I was panic-stricken so I drove down the long driveway to alert the farmer that his horses may be dying! I got out of the car and ran to the front door. Running in heels isn't ever advisable and of course, I turned my ankle. As it reached the front door, a large muggy dog ran up to greet me by sliding his wet muddy paws down the front of my dress (in those days, a dress, pantyhose, and heels were just about mandatory).
Knocking frantically on the farmer's door, I was so upset that no one was home. This was in the days before cell phones. I raced to a pay phone to call a friend I knew who worked with animals at the SPCA.
Her name was Jacquie Stanke and she was one of my dearest friends, now gone for many years. Jacquie answered the phone and I rushed into my story about these poor horses, lying down and maybe dying in the field on Airport Road.
"Oh Susie, horses lay down sometimes". Was Jacquie's answer to this ridiculous city girl. In my world, horses on TV slept standing up!
I now live 2 minutes from this farm as the crow flies, horses no longer live there, and likely the farmer, who I am very grateful was not home that day, doesn't live there either. I laugh every time I drive past that farm and so does my ex-husband who still talks about that story.
Just recently, comedian Nate Bergatze told a story about going to Mount Rainier and seeing a dead horse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJgSm3xy3LA. If you've never seen it, it's worth your 5 minutes. So happy to not be alone.
Cover Photo by Claire Nolan on Unsplash
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