By Esther Ware
Minka, or Wylye Honey Mink, is not only the most gorgeous 13.2hh Grey Mare, but she is also my Best Friend. I am thankful to the Lord for gifting her to me. You’ll wonder why I say that, I’m sure. Here’s Minka’s story – or at least the most I know of it!
When I first set eyes on Minka, I was a naïve completely inexperienced 11-year-old girl delighted to be spending time with her friends’ ponies on her birthday. The plan had been to ride out together, however when Minka was led in from the field she was lame. So, I happily set to work grooming her before being invited to ride my friends 14.2hh Bay Mare.
I think we all expect to meet the perfect horse and ‘just know’ but with me and Minka that couldn’t have been farther from the truth! She took no particular notice of me – nor I of her – and I certainly didn’t have the excited fizz of knowledge that she would be mine like they describe in Horsey books. The time passed and I left with a renewed passion to pray for the pony of my dreams.
To back track a little, when I was seven years old, I decided that the only way for me to achieve my dream of owning a pony was to take my pleas to Jesus. I simply asked him whether I could have a pony one day, and I felt him very strongly say yes. I asked my parents if it was ok, and they said as long as Jesus provided the horse they didn’t mind. Well, this might not seem special, it’s important to point out that at the time we were living in a small house above a town, with a garden made of concrete slabs. Hardly the ideal living quarters for the enormous, glorious, Arabian mare I dreamt about. I remember feeling that the Lord told me my pony would come in April time, but April came and went. As time went on and we moved out to our smallholding, my faith leapt, only to be discouraged after three years of consistent praying. It was 2020, and my pony was still nowhere to be seen.
I even had a large stable on our property mucked out and ready for my dream horse, complete with shavings, hay, and rubber matting. But it was not until March the 20th 2021 that I found out that the pony of a lifetime was heading my way. A few days earlier I had been at our local agricultural store, where we were stocking up on chicken feed and I was browsing in the equestrian isle, gazing enviously at all the headcollars and bridles. Since my birthday I had started collecting grooming materials in faith for the horse who was to come. I had amassed a decent collection of different brushes and even a navy-blue lead rope – the prize of my collection – when my dad handed me a headcollar and said:” You should buy it” …… That day I came home with a teal headcollar with sparkling buckles. That was an act of faith that I will never forget.
On the 20th March 2024, I was in the paddock with my new headcollar and lead rope I was pretending to ‘bring in’ an imaginary pony. I saw my mum looking at me out the window. I remember thinking for a split second “what if I she is going to tell me I’ve been given a pony” but even that didn’t prepare me for the excitement I felt when they called me into the kitchen and Dad showed me a photo of Minka. I burst into tears understanding immediately what it meant.
My long-awaited dream had become reality.
At the time Minka was being borrowed by my friends, so when they had to move house and could no longer keep Minka, they contacted my parents and suggested that they talk with Minka’s owner, who visited us and was ecstatic about the wonderful home Minka would have with us. We agreed to take Minka on loan as a trial, and on the Saturday 27th March 2021, Minka arrived on a shiny red lorry. I watched as she walked into her stable, snatched an enormous mouthful of hay, and let out an ear-splitting whinny – as if to say “I’m Home!”
I got to work busily sorting the saddle and bridle in preparation for a little sit on her in the afternoon. Within a week, on the first of April, we called Minka’s owner and asked to buy her. She was delighted and suggested that we could have Minka for free if we bought her tack.
She named an exceptionally low price, and Minka became ours! It was truly a gift from God that she was gifted to us in such a way, and we felt so privileged to have her.
The last four years have been such an incredible experience! As a rider I went from a girl who had only six riding lessons in her life, to a competent rider, happily galloping across fields, and even riding over a little ‘jump’ consisting of two large flowerpots with garden canes balanced on top! From buying our second pony Buddy in 2022, to galloping across Exmoor, getting eliminated at our first show, to coming third at a chase-me-charlie jumping competition, on the smallest, 26 year-old, half blind pony, who did her best. I’ve fallen countless times, but Minka taught me to get back up. Riding over moor, through forests, and across sunny (or not so sunny!) beaches, it’s all incredible, and I’m so blessed to be able to experience Minka, and share the joy of her with others.
She’ll never be as chilled as Buddy, but she’ll always be my favourite. After four years of being her rider and best friend, caring for her through her (very few!) injuries, and recently learning to trim her hooves myself, it’s hard to admit that I’m too big for her. This is definitely not the end of the story for Minka and me, but I will be riding her less this year. Less jumping, more hacking and time in the field.
As much as I love the moments we already have – her biting my number off at the shows thereby evidently displaying her boredom, and her hilarious excitement when she sees a banana (her favourite treat) – I look forward to making more memories with her this year, and I am so thankful to Jesus for giving me such a wonderful Pony.
Poem about Minka:
Minka My Friend
The Greatest Friend I ever had –
Slight and pretty not a bone of bad.
My darling Minka with only one eye –
she stands still and listens to every sob and cry.
She for years has carried me, atop in blessed reality
– I know she won’t be here forever, –
so each and every neigh I treasure!
Every ounce of Love I poured in
Has been thrice re-payed in her everything.
From her eager whinny that wakes me each morning
to the spot of a fox and her galloping warning
The jump that she cleared at that small village show
up up and away from the clouds below
But also I see as sure as can be
The beautiful trust between her and me
– Esther Ware
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