For the moms who make your horse dreams come true, but still have a few of their own.
Maybe she was the first person to sit you on a horse.
Maybe she led you around the yard on her old gelding, one hand on your leg until she knew you were okay.
Maybe she saddled that old sorrel gelding with a 10-inch saddle and top-notch stirrups for playdays, cringing when you broke the pole pattern, laughing when Sorrely grabbed a mouthful of oats from the flag race bucket.
Maybe she watched you ride out of the yard to gather cows behind your dad, by yourself on her horse, in her saddle, with a mix of pride and longing in her eyes.
Maybe she dried your tears when you got frustrated, reminded you to get back on and end on a high note.
Maybe she pushed calves, reset barrels, drew reining patterns in the dirt.
Maybe she raised her hand one more time, long after the auctioneer had flown past her intended high bid.
Maybe she woke you up early on Christmas because she couldn’t wait to see your face when you realized the saddle under the tree was for you.
Maybe she’s not in a single photo with you and her old gelding because she was holding the camera.
Maybe she hauled you to the colt-starting clinic you dreamed about, and threw square bales and made you muck out stalls.
Maybe she held you when her old gelding died, cut off a piece of his tail and looped it around your favorite photo of the two of you, grinning with your first buckle.
Maybe now it’s her turn.
Maybe now it's her turn to light up when she opens the gift that says, "Thank you. Now come ride with me."
Make this Mother's Day one she'll remember with a gift she won't forget, because it will be in the tack room, the trailer and on her favorite horse.