“Don’t forget Manure Patrol.”

Those were my dad’s parting words to me every morning as he went out the door for work from my tenth to fourteenth years.

To back up a bit, my dad never imagined that he would be making a life-altering move when he first set me on the back of a horse when I was four years old. A year or so later, my sister and I were taking weekly riding lessons at Cook’s Quarter Horse ranch. My horse-craziness did not abate, and when I was nine and a half, after years of pleading, cajoling, begging and wheedling, my parents made a bargain: if I could show that I was responsible enough for a horse by taking total care of our dog and cat for the next six months (feeding, grooming, cleanup, vet appointments), they would get me a horse for my tenth birthday. They never thought I’d do it. Six months and one week later, we bought our first horse, Duchess. I don’t remember exactly when Dad started riding her, but a few months later his first horse Bill joined the family, and the rest is history.

“Don’t forget Manure Patrol.”

Twice a day, every day, I mucked out the stalls and paddock for our two horses, to keep the flies down, and the horse hating next door neighbors appeased. I didn’t know at the time I was learning valuable life lessons that would stay with me.

“Don’t forget Manure Patrol.”

It means that no matter what, you take care of your animals and those who are counting on you. It means that you have to work for what you want, and that everything worth having requires ongoing attention and effort. And it means that you do the right thing, whether or not it’s convenient, whether or not you think it’s appreciated, whether or not it’s raining or hot or you just don’t feel like it.

“Don’t forget Manure Patrol.”

The most important job of a parent is to prepare their children to function independently in the world. I didn’t understand it at the time, but the sense of responsibility instilled in me was a great gift. My sense of independence and self-reliance that has served me well in good times and bad, I credit to Dad. Thanks Dad, for the horses, the love, and yes, for Manure Patrol.
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