第13章生活的拯救者（1）
HorsesSavedMyLife
佚名Anonymous
I’mstandinginmyrag14-year-oldMiarideherhorse，Leo。Ashertrainer，I’mgratifiedtoseethewaysheectswiththehorse，thewayshesehismoodsanddivinehiscapabilities。Toridewellmeanstohaveaninnerradar，anabilitytouandwhattheanimalfeels。IseeitwithMiaaeengirlswhorideatmyranch，becauseI’vealeewithhorsesmyself。Tome，they’rekis。Infact，disgthissixthsehinmyselfdidmorethanhelpmebeeanaplishedhorsewoman。Itsavedmylife。
Iwasbornin1961withararefaality。Mylowerfacewastotallydisfigured。Mychildhoodwasdifficult，markedbytsurgeriesaivityofotherkids。Butatagefourmyparentsputmeoohelpmewithmybalangonlyoneearalledpeopletobelievebalanceroblemforme），andtodayIseemybirthdefectsasagift。ItforcedmetoreaysoulaofowhatIlovetodomorethananything：ride。
Fromthebeginning，Ifoundthatbeingaroundhorsesprovidedmygreatestsourceofsolaygramealittledoan。AlthoughSultanseldombudged，Ispentmanyhoursjusthappilysittingonhisback。IbeganridinghorsessooagesixIstartedpeting。IjoihePonydtookasmanylessonsasmyparentscouldafford。Ibecamealmostobsessiveab；itwasmygreatestescape。Aroundhorses，Iself-sciousordifferent。
Meanwhile，schoolwasaory。Ien，oftenbandaged，Iesofridicule。Irememberkidsmakingfuaring。I’dbegmyparentsnottomakemego，buttheyalwaysstandamazinglysupportive，theydidn’twantotherpeople’smeaodrivemeintoisolation。ThoughI’msureitbroketheirheartstoseemeeiheyalwaysmademefeelthattheyuoodmypain。
Bythirdgrademyclassmateshadlearbeyondmyaearaoacceptme，bandages，wiresandall。Fromthenon，Idon’tthinktherewasohdaypartyIwasersixthgrade，mysurgeryscheduleslowed。Mypeerssawmeasjustohem：Iresidentofmyclasseveryyear。InnierIhadmylastmajorrestructivesurgery，doctorsstillwaobuildupmydfibythesomewherebetweenfortableaaboutthewayIlooked，andIdecidedagainstanyfurtherprocedures。I’dhaveanobviousasymmetryiIhaddetermiwouldinnowayaffecthowI’dlivemylife。
Thatattitudelyhelpedwhenanewboy，CharlieWhite，traomyschool。CharlieclaimedthatImadehimchasemeforayearbefooutwithhim，andhesaidhecouldfeelsofortablewithmebecauseIfeltsofortablewithmyself—aogethereveawaytoMontanaStateUyonafootballscholarship。Ifittome，mypost-graduateplanswouldhavebeenallab，butmyparentsbelievedcollegewascrucial。AftergraduatingfromtheUyofiaatSahdegreesinbiologyandhistory，Iwasraduatefellowshiptostudyhisteetowy。ButCharliehadotherideas：Hesuggestedthatwestartahorseranyparents’landinstead。
WeopenedDiamondMountainStablesin1983。Ibegaingprofessionally，butalsogivinglessonsandgdcamps。Almosttweer，Istillteapete，andtenpeoplenowworkforusfulltime，astrainers，groomersandadministrators。Fortyhorses，mostofwhigtots，resideinourstables—wejokethatDiamondMountainislikeabschool，with40littlekidswhoaretlygettingsiglhurt。