Thank you , to those that have sent
condolences, stories, ..
I felt need to write and send this - it probably applies to alot of
us that have had and lost
"That Special Horse". ( Though Lyric,
was not 'Famous', or well known, except maybe ectra. some noththeast
rides/riders,AERC; about 4500 combined miles, nothing outstanding,
just, 'been there, done that, and kept on trucking' over 8 -9 yrs
competetively)
** To others - hit the Delete key
now**, and I will go away - for awhile,... seems ironic,.. I posted about the
'first aid kit', night before last..(ride camp)........... best care can not
prevent, or cure.
I was
only looking for ?a horse? ; and I found you ...
One,.. to care for..., ride,( and care for
me). To possibly... compete, and love.
It wasn?t til after I had you. I found out - you were
"branded" -
?a rebel, unrideable .?
"Unseated everyone, or were ?a plain runaway, - not good
for anything?."
They said ,.. ?Get rid of him, he?ll never amount to
anything.? " No Good ."
They were wrong. You were ?strong?, and did run away
once or twice, but quickly figured
out, that it was not to your advantage, when I
pointed you back up that hill, and said,
OK, RUN.
I never really found you ?hard to
ride?, or ?dishonest?. I guess, we bonded,
at the start. You tried two bucks, I rode you forward,
and that was it... you wanted
a person, an honest job, someone who could keep up with
you, keep you
interested. Be honest with you and Love and trust, and
take care of you. And
you would do your part of ?the deal?.
Strong,
forward, and.... ?bombproof".
I think you would have walked
through fire. If, I had asked. But,
you
knew,.. I would not put you in a dangerous
situation.
We had alot of
miles, pleasure, conditioning, and competition - and most
all successful........ No, we did not Win, by other
peoples? standards; but a
couple times. ( CTR ) But we most always did win,
(endurance) ? By our own agenda?. - To
do the best we could that day, without ?pushing the
envelope?;
For it was more important for me, to keep you around and
healthy and
happy, than to WIN. .And who can complain with top 10.
And you were not into the
?Happy, Halter Horse? / BC . even less then I,
Trot outs, HA?!, How dare, I or
anyone, ask to you to - "play games", and be the
?spirited pony?, when it was
your rest time. But, Put my foot in the stirrup and
get seated and point you back on trial,
and not many!! could keep up with your trot,
for miles. [ We did what we could, on any given day. And I will savor
those memories. ]
And you were
always ! ? willing?. I was more a passenger, than rider.
( navigation, and brakes). Though we sometimes argued
about the trail, especially, if it had changed
from previous years.
I felt as if we
were ?ONE?, when I rode you. I understand the ?Centaur?.
?The wind beneath my wings?. For riding you felt like a
physical bonding; I was part
of you - and you a part of me. No matter the speed or
terrain. We were like the
perfect dance partners, each knowing the others moves
and counter moves,
physical, mental or spiritual.
I will miss you more than words can describe..........
a part of me is gone. We were
partners.
My only regret is that I did not have ?One More Day?, as the song goes, or
One more ride . Though our last one was just as you
always were, as good as ever,
I thought we may compete a few more. If only
I had known,.. we had no time left.
I
am grateful you did not suffer, but briefly, for I knew immediately that
morning, that when you came up, That you were not ?right
'; subtle signs, some
might have missed, or dismissed. But, I believe, you
were already, looking toward the path ..
(I knew somehow in my heart,) ' To The
Rainbow Bridge ', then, though as I say, it was subtly and
stoically;....
I had to agree after the vet
arrived, to help you along, and find the way .. and
I am so sorry. ..............
Run free
my steed, you were one that would have been invited into the tents. .
IF, I never have another, I can say I
had 'one of the best'.
* Of note, we did use water
and alot of, sometime, we were generally crewless. I set stuff up ahead
usually, when could, maybe not ride I did with Ami,- ty, for your
post;( I remember that first ride for your horse). and did have "old"
blankets/towels, etc, people alot less likely to walk off with.
StephanieM
