A Leg Up

      May 7th,  2024 marked my father's 96th birthday.  While this was a milestone, it was met with mixed emotions. 

 Over the last 4 years, I have become the reluctant guardian of my father's memories as dementia over takes him. Recently,  as I watched  the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby, I couldn't help but feel nostalgic and dug up some old photos from his days at the track.

    I inherited my love of horses from my father. The above photo is him putting me up on the back of one of his race horses.  Dementia has made him forget me, but I will forever be thankful that he gave me my my first leg up.

   Looking at these photos gave me an idea. A way to both honour my father on his birthday and celebrate his love of horses. With the help of a wonderful local organization, Windsor Essex Therapeutic Riding Association, I was able to let my father once again touch, feel and interact with a horse. 

    Horses  give us the gift of their presence and offer to hold space for us to feel and process our emotions.  No matter our age, humans have the innate desire to be seen and heard authentically.  While my father wasn't fully able to engage, Cody the therapy horse did nuzzle out a laugh and caused my father to smile, albeit briefly. The memories we created that day may be fleeting, but I will cherish them and hold them close forever. 

Hold on and lean in.