Imagine going Christmas shopping for a teenage girl in this generation. Where do you start? The mall is always a good place since every teen girl loves a nice new outfit or a gift card loaded with cash. Maybe hit up a jewelry store and pick up a dazzling necklace for that lovely lady, or if she is the athletic type, take her Dick’s sporting goods and just offer up your wallet and watch her melt in happiness like that chocolate chip inside a fresh baked cookie. However, would you ever think to look for a Christmas gift in a stable? If you were shopping for me, I would say please do! A girl goes through several gift phases in her lifetime. The Barbie phase is first, followed by the horse phase; then the clothes phase; then the car phase; and finally the ring phase. Any girl understands what I am talking about, we all wanted a Barbie one year then a horse then we became old enough to ask for clothes then it was time to beg for a car and eventually we are old enough to hope and pray for a big ol’ diamond on Christmas day, presented by our Prince Charming on bended knee. For a few girls, myself included, the list is in a different order. In my case the list looks more like this; the horse phase, the horse phase the horse phase and the horse phase. All I want for Christmas is my own horse. Now, I don’t mean I want a cutesy wutsey wittle baby pony to dress up and name Midnight and get bored with it within a month. I mean I want a 5-6 year old saddle broke, female, brown leopard spot Appaloosa with 4 natural gaits and willingness to ride trials and deal with other animals….I don’t think that will fit under my tree. Fine then, I’ll take a dark bay male Morgan standing about 14 hands tall, easy to fit under the Christmas tree.  See, I know my stuff when it comes to horses. Actually, I’ll take both of them so I can ride trails two at a time; I have plenty of paths through our woods that are perfect to ride as well as thousands of acres of open fields just begging to have a horse gallop across them. I never outgrew my horse phase that much is obvious. I started asking for a horse when I was a little girl and several times my family was close to getting one, but with all the other livestock and activities I have to take care of, we never went through with the plan. Caring for a horse would not be a problem, I have helped a family friend care for his horses all summer before and we already have a fantastic barn and pasture set up for our sheep so caring for a horse wouldn’t be a problem.  However, no matter what argument I come up with for my family, I have yet to see any horse show up in my barn yet. My mom owned horses growing up and promises that someday I’ll get my dream present. I honestly can’t imagine anything that would make me happier than owning my own horse. Horses are creatures you can bond with for a lifetime. They can be a best friend, stress reliever, hobby and at times a challenge, but always so worth it. I plan on going to Ag school somewhere and definitely taking some equestrian classes. Most Ag schools have stables you can board horses in, so if I ever get my horse I could even take it to college with me! See, I have thought this whole thing out multiple times.  Now all I need is that dream gift to be waiting under my tree on Christmas morning with a bow on the saddle and ready to ride!