Remembering our horse, "Lady," who had a reputation for speed

May, 2020 - I have been here in Ontario since March 11. The world-wide COVID-19 pandemic that has kept me here had such an immediate effect on transportation that I wondered if we might even be reduced to walking.

However, Gail’s car has taken us on some lovely excursions and kept us from feeling too restricted. We have also had time to think of other means of transportation.

I have gone back to my earliest memories of getting from home to some nearby destination. We moved from Pine River to the farm on the Southline when I was two. Our driver, “Lady,” with the buggy or sleigh would have been our regular transport and Mum and I made the trip back to Elm Creek Farm many times.

We had a car from the time I was three; so, I don’t remember the rides behind “Lady” but my recollections include the winter expeditions in the sleigh with our light team, “Joe” and “Daisy.”



Mum and I ready for a ride with Eveline Walden behind “Lady;” photo courtesy of Ruth Anne Hollands Robinson

Eveline’s mother was Mum’s first cousin, Annie Pollock Walden. We passed the Walden farm on the Saugeen Road on our way to Grandpa’s; we likely picked up Eveline so that we could have some playtime together while Mum and Grandma were busy.

[I asked Aunt Evelyn the other day why she and Mum referred to Annie as “Cousin Annie” just like they called her sister-in-law “Cousin Sophia.” None of their other first cousins was honoured with this title. She replied, “Oh, but they were so much older. We would not have called anyone of that age by her given name.”]

Stories about “Lady” were told and retold in my growing up years. You can read some of them in Mum’s Book.
“Lady” had a reputation for speed. I know that Daddy showed her in classes at the Kincardine Fair and Mum’s notes say he won two first prizes at the Tiverton Fair about 1943. I’m not sure that he entered her in the races for roadsters. He did, however, like to boast about her speed.

His favourite story was of a trip to Kincardine on a Saturday evening to go to the show. This was an enjoyable outing that Mum and Daddy often took with John and Jean MacDonald.

On one particular evening, the fire siren started to blow just as “Lady” and her four passengers reached Lynden Hall. Realizing that a horse would be very difficult to control on meeting a fire engine, Daddy gave “Lady” her head and at top speed, they tore along Queen Street down and up the hill and passed the Fire Hall before the reels left the building. The next time you are in Kincardine, picture the scene!

Usually, the next stories would be about John’s horse, “Ginger,” who tended to live up to her name. Jean would be in the buggy waiting while John hitched “Ginger” between the shafts. As soon as the last snap was snapped, the horse would rare onto her hind feet ready for departure and John would hastily throw the reins to Jean and dive into the buggy.

In these days, when we are constantly being reminded of the abilities of women, it tickles me to think of comments made about Grandma Pollock: “What a fine driver she was with a fast horse and buggy!” (From Ben Ruttle who enjoyed, as a boy, getting a ride on the 12th); or about one of Norm’s Great- Aunties: “She was known at Edge Hill for doing a fine job of handling a horse!” (From neighbour Billy Anderson).

Maybe my next transportation story will involve flying an airplane.
   

• Mum’s Book: Part Two: Married Life - Lady: p. 8
• Vol. 2 Misc. Memories - Notes from Memories part 1 - Waldens: pp. 12, 13
• My Life Story: Picture