|
When I visited with Mrs. Childs this past summer,
she took out a book which contained saved family history. From that
she handed to me a yellowed article from a 1929 paper with the title
"Girls Hope Lemonade Stand Will Open Way to Ponyland." The article
stated that little Marilyn Carlson was looking to raise enough money
to purchase a pony.
Child’s father, Carl O. Carlson, was quite fond of horses and eager to support Childs interests. When a Colorado cousin visited and the planned activity was a day riding horses, the stable manager pointed out "That little girl’s got talent." When Mr. Carlson nodded at the cousin, the stable owner agreed but corrected Mr. Carlson, saying that he really meant "the little one"… meaning Marilyn. At eight years of age she purchased her first horse, a Standardbred, and after three weeks of riding lessons young Marilyn found herself at her first show at Eastern States Exposition in a class of 24. Here she suffered her first fall in the show ring. When Childs tells that story it’s with a big smile and she remarks "What in the world were they thinking!"
It certainly proves the adage that "everyone’s got to start somewhere!" From that point on Childs quickly became a skilled horseperson. There were other equine challenges, and one that comes to her mind was a crazy Saddlebred that her father bought for $250.00 from the people that owned the Milkbone dog biscuit company.
|
|
|
