The Santa Hat

As I dug through our Christmas boxes a few weeks ago, pulling out decorations and trying to keep all things breakable out of Baby Blue Eyes' grasp, I ran across an old Santa hat with holes cut out of it.

I had to pause.

This hat holds a lot of memories.

The first Christmas I spent with Sultan, I bought him this Santa hat. I cut holes out of it so it would fit over his long horse ears. It was ridiculous and he hated it. I can't count how many times he tossed it off into the dirt.

But I made him wear it every year.

I remember our first Christmas together. It was cold (for Phoenix) and we rode to a nearby Baptist church to take pictures.

That was the beginning of a Christmas tradition.

Humiliating my horse became one of my favorite pasttimes.

 

I was always sure to give him plenty of Christmas treats--carrots, ginger snaps (his favorite), or a warm bran mash with candy cane pieces.

To make up for the Santa hat.

I think he was grateful.

I will keep the Santa hat with our Christmas things, to help me remember.

Missing him,
The Brown-Eyed Girl