NORTHERN RUN CHRISTMAS POEM
Dedicated to Cindy Brooks

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through Northern Run
The horses were dreaming of having some fun

The saddles and bridles were hung with great care
Exhausted from training, Cindy was asleep in her chair

“Kiss”, “Mowgley”, and “King” were snug in their beds
While visions of tri-colored ribbons danced in their heads

“Aruba” had finished a twelve-pound snack
And fell asleep dreaming of an all-carrot Big-Mac

When out in the arena arose such a clatter
That Cindy jumped from her chair to see what was the matter

Away to his stall door “Eddie” flew like a flash
Tore open his blanket and knocked over his mash

The moon on the breast of newly groomed sand
Gave a luster of mid-day to this beautifully fenced land

When what to Cindy’s wondering eyes did appear
But a miniature sleigh and eight tired reindeer

 

With a little old driver so lively and quick
She knew in a moment he must be St. Nick

He jumped down from his sleigh, shouted out of the blue
“Dasher’s come up lame, Cupid’s thrown a shoe

Blixen’s got colic, Donder can’t fly
Prancer’s gone stubborn and Rudolph’s starting to cry”

“Cindy, please help me - - you’ve got the best horses around
Cindy, I must use them, you can’t let me down”

Cindy looked up and said with a nod and a wink;
“My horses can do it, but it will take more than you think”

So Cindy grabbed “Mona”, “Eddie”, “Mowgley”, and “Sly”
She harnessed “Dodger”, “Champ”, and “Sterling” to get ready to fly

“But who should lead the sleigh?” Santa profoundly inquires
Cindy quickly adds: “With a horse whose winning spirit never tires”

“He must be spirited, experienced, more special than the rest
By golly Cindy, this horse must be the best”

“No problem!” she said with a grin on her face
“I have a horse that is very used to first place”

 

“Herman!” she called, “Are you ready to go?”
“Now Santa, I’ll warn you this horse obeys – don’t say whoa”

“Now Ruben, Fernando; grab bridles and bits
Grab coolers for the reindeer, scared out of their wits!”

But Santa cried out with a voice of despair:
“We need one more horse, or we will never get there”

I have a solution but need help from one fella
Get “Light Star” to fetch my dear “Stella”

In one magic moment with dirt and rocks flying
Arrived “Light Star Transport” with “Stella”; now Cindy was crying

In a flurry of leather snapping and buckles
Santa ran to “Barbara’s” tack truck with plenty of chuckles

This woman has more horse treats than anyone could desire
We’ll need them all to get these horses to fly higher.

Cindy stood up straight; put her hand on her hip;
“Now Santa these are the best horses around, don’t give me your lip”

Now buckled and ready to take their first flight:
“Santa, pick up the left lead, you must do this just right”

 

Right rein, heels down, get them in front of your leg
Down the first line – over that oxer, but Santa started to beg”

“Cindy, I have done this for years, don’t make me start over
If I don’t leave now, I’ll never make it to Dover”

“Not with my horses, ‘til you hear a few things
My horses are special; I treat them like kings”

“Monty” can rear, and “Sly” gets jealous
“Mowgley’s” a brute and “Eddie” over-zealous

“Trix” and “Ty” love cookies, “Gus” is prone to dashes
And “Mona”, that beauty, has wonderful eyelashes

“William” and “Dutch” will be strong in the pack
But first, Santa is there something for me in your sack?”

“Well, now that you mentioned it, let me looses these flaps
I thought you might like these leopard print chaps!”

They are studded in silver, and embroidered Cindy Rella
“Now please let me go. Don’t you trust this ol’ fella?”

“Now Santa, a test: how many strides to the wall?
My horses don’t respond to just “dash away all”

 

Santa pondered a moment – “Well, you’re not at all fat,
But with a big coat we can fake it; tuck your ponytail in my red cap!”

“Now you’re talking, Santa” said Cindy with glee
“Give me a leg up, and don’t worry: this show’s on me!”

She sprang to his sleigh
To her team gave a whistle

And away they all flew
Like the down of a thistle

But she was heard to exclaim
As she drove out of sight,

“Happy Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!!”

And for all who love our horses,
No Christmas would be complete
Without dreaming that our mounts could accomplish this feat.

Sabina Hoskinson
December 2004