C++

More than any letter in the alphabet except perhaps "S", I have known a lot of horses whose names started with the letter C. 

Yesterday I wrote about the most important "C" horse, Cinnamon. However, I can't move on to "D" until I've shared a few words - and more than a few pictures - of two other C ponies from my past - CB and Coconut.

Like Cinnamon, CB and Coconut belonged to Tom Sawyer Day Camp, where I worked for four summers in the mid-1980's.

Cinnamon was attractive, comfortable and fun to ride, making her popular with staff and campers alike.

CB and Coconut were none of those things.

They were so unpopular, in fact, we started calling them "I Don't Know" and "I Don't Care." If a camper answered the question, "Who would you like to ride?" with either of those statements, they got to ride CB or Coconut. 

I didn't ride either of them that first summer. Despite evidence to the contrary, I fancied myself an accomplished and serious rider. I did not think either of the "white weirdos" was worth my time.

It might have stayed that way forever, but then CB ended up being one of the eight horses who was not leased out over the winter. 

That group of eight was sent to a low-end stable in Duarte, and my friend, Laura, and I were given free rein to ride.

And ride we did! All of them, including CB.

Named after the fun-if-you-don't-die, eighties era, camp game, Chubby Bunny, CB was an extremely narrow, little horse with a big overbite. It was common to see long ropes of drool hanging from his pink chin. 

His eyes were pink rimmed, too. It's hard to tell from the pictures, but he was actually a greyed out, medicine hat pinto. He looked cool when he was wet, but most of the time he was just a skinny, white rat of a horse.

He was not athletic or attractive, but he was very kind.

He put up with all our nonsense...

even when the other, more assertive, ponies said no.

Because of that, he became my go-to horse for friends to ride.

Sarah on CB

Lori with CB, Cindy with Cindy

By the time camp started up again, I'd developed a real fondness for the awkward, little guy.

The following year, Coconut was among the un-leased. The stable in Duarte was no longer an option, so he and the other unchosens ended up at a small backyard stable in Altadena. Once again, I was granted riding privileges.

Sugar Chips, Pat, Navajo, Coconut, Snickers

And once again, I ended up learning to appreciate a horse I'd originally pegged as not being worth my time.

Coconut, Baby Chelsea, Snickers

That was a good life lesson and one that's served me well. Never judge a book by its cover, and never dismiss a pair of white weirdos.