Lady-Spot-Blaze

 
    The three horses belonged to the Harris family who lived in the house at 5th and Oak.  They were penned on the opposite corner, but had access to a large open area up to 7th Street.  This was also a favorite area for the neighborhood gang.
    Old Spot was an aging pony that bore the markings of his name, and was blind in one eye.  Being youngsters, we (the neighborhood gang), would jump aboard Spot bareback, several at a time.  Giving him a swat he would reluctantly move a few feet.  More swats assuredly produce bucking which generally threw the unwanted riders to the ground.  If that tactic failed, he would move up against the fence and in the scramble to protect our legs rid himself of the unwelcomed guests.
    Lady was a beautiful palomino.  She once took a bite at this writer's back.  I was sure the wetness on my tee shirt was my blood spilling as she gave me a pretty good nip.  Luckily I found out that horses slobber a lot and no real harm was done.  I got to the meadow the afternoon of the birth of Blaze on Flag Day and witnessed his first attempts at standing.  I remember the huge (to a youngster) amount of afterbirth which was quickly drawing swarms of flies.  Blaze was the pride of the neighborhood.
    One of my final memories was the day Lady was hit by a bolt of lightning.  She was taken to the Harris garage where she finally expired.  I did not wait around for the rendering truck.  It was a very sad event for the entire neighborhood.  After that time, Blaze and Spot were moved and the land cleared to build a retirement home for the Stewarts. 

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