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Nikki Wyatt Coeur d’ Alene, ID
Almost every little girl dreams of a pony. I did not. I wasn’t going to ride around on one of those nasty little things and call it my own. If I wanted to ride a pony, I could go to my friend’s house and ride one… I wanted a horse. A buckskin mare, named Dixie Cup. It would be a match made in heaven. We would gallop around the neighborhood and all of my friends would be jealous and I wouldn’t let my sisters or anyone else near my Dixie Cup. That dream ended with the reality of $250.00 chestnut mare. She had a big blaze, three white feet and was spoiled to the point of appearing wild…it was the first horse I had ever went to look at to buy, and I was scared to death of her. Of course a cowgirl, even at 10 keeps these things to herself…but WOW!! What would become of this horse? And would I ever get one for myself?
The mare would turn out to be my 11th birthday present, and the best gift a girl could receive. She spent the first summer with an old cowboy riding fence and keeping check on some cows. By the time I was 12 we were off!! Of course the saddle was pretty heavy, she was sort of hot, the winter was pretty cold, and the snow pretty deep but she taught me how to ride!! There were neighbor and family horses to race, deer and cattle to chase! A whole world for me to access without my parents watching or any other restraint- well in my mind anyway!! We also did a few competitive things such as 4-H, J.R. Rodeo, and High School Rodeo. Here I learned to be happy finishing just out of the Top 10 or even just out of the money.
If only we could have been Rodeo Queens…what a great Queen Buzz we could have done!!
The best thing she ever taught me came about the time I was 15. I had heard this saying over and over again… If you love something set it free. If it comes back to you, it’s yours. If it doesn’t, it never was. Well as you can imagine, a 9 year old mare, loose in a pasture that wasn’t hers with all of that room…. About 45 minutes, a descent walk, a brisk run, and a lot of harsh words mummered under my breath; I was able to reclaim what was mine. As I remounted and headed home, that lesson hit home…besides the obvious- don’t believe everything you read…If you love something, hold onto it. Not too tight, just tight enough for it to know you’re there and always will be. Hold onto it just tight enough that you can feel its breath on your neck and its gaze on the horizon. Hold onto it and know that if it could hold you back, it would.
Emily White Age 11 Kennewick, WA
A few years ago I had to say goodbye to my best friend. He was so old that he was suffering and we had to put him down. His name was Flash. I loved to just sit and talk to him and of course ride him. The vet said that he was in his late 30’s. I had Flash for six years. He was a very good horse. I never had to be afraid of him bucking or spooking. It always seemed like he was taking care of me. I was so sad to say goodbye to him. I thought I would never get over it. My mom and dad said I could get another horse. At first I didn’t want another horse. I thought there was no other horse that could be as good as Flash.
My mom and dad got another horse anyway. His name was Ranger. The first couple of months I didn’t like him and thought he was too spirited for me. But, after I started spending time with him I learned that he just knew a lot more than I did. Now I love him. Ranger is a senior horse too. He is only in his late twenties or early thirties. Ranger has been more challenging for me. He is trained well and capable of dong more than Flash. I have learned to use my legs more than my reins. Flash taught me how to ride and Ranger has helped me to improve my riding.
It takes a lot of time and hard work to care for Ranger. He is so old that he is missing all of his back teeth that help him to eat and digest his food. I have to mix up a special mush for Ranger every morning and night. I have to measure the right amount of senior feed and Taco and add corn oil and enough water so that he won’t choke. I also have to make sure I worm him because he can’t afford to loose any weight. My parents did most of the work with Flash because I was too young. But I am eleven now and old enough to take care of Ranger myself. It is hard work but it is worth it. That is probably the most important lesson have learned.
My senior horses taught me to love, to ride and to love to ride and also to say goodbye. I know the time will come when I will have to part with Ranger, but I will know I took good care of him and helped him to enjoy his life as long as possible. In return they have taught me that senior horses are the best. When I grow up and have kids of my own I will start them off with senior horses so they can have good experiences too.
Carol S Owens Bend, Or
Wow!! Where do I start? My senior horse.. Big Griz... has taught me so many things in the short two months I have owned him that I can't list them all.
I guess the three most important to me will have to do.
Griz has taught me to love, respect and trust again. These are three things that I have not done in quite some time.
I have been out of the horse arena for about 20 years and didn't expect to return to riding. My grandchildren and their mother changed my mind. They started wagging horses home and I started to get the itch again.
A year ago I purchased a very quiet gelding to start riding. Boy, was he ever a mistake. Being used to daily exercise it didn't take very long for him to become way to much to handle. I traded him off for what was said to be a sound, very quiet older mare. She too turned out to be opposite what I wanted. Unsound and no way could I handle her.
These two horses left me very anxious about riding and down right afraid. When my daughter called me on the phone and said she had found the perfect horse for me you can imagine my skepticism.
I told her to go ahead and get him thinking that it couldn't get worse. When I arrived home for my days off and found this scrawny, flea-bitten, sore footed overgrown monster in the round pen I just about said get rid of him.. Then, I looked into his wonderful eyes and it was love at first sight, for both of us..
Big Griz is my soul mate. I knew the second I looked into his eyes he would be perfect. We fattened him up a bit, got his feet done and I started riding.. How could anyone not love this big fellow, 25 plus years old and he takes care of me like I'm his kid.
I have learned that it is never too late for anyone to find what they need to keep their life going. Since I have had Griz I have developed a new lease on life myself. Instead of coming home and sitting around for four days a month I am learning something new everyday that I am with him.
I respect this big guy for being kind and considerate of me and my fears and needs. I trust him like I have no other, person or animal, in many years.. I trust him so much take a look at the picture. I am riding bareback for the first time in well, ever. Oh, how glorious it is to be back aboard a fantastic animal. I love my Big Griz
Jessica Goode Ferndale, WA
Perfect Timing
What happens when you put a novice rider on a unpredictable horse? Pure Chaos! I had made this mistake by putting my young brother onto a horse that just couldn't be trusted and by doing that I almost ruined his trust in horses all together. That was the beginning, but the future does get brighter when a sweet twenty-six year young mare came into our lives.
When I first heard about Teah, I pushed off the thought of owning such an "old" horse again, I had just lost my first horse a year ago after all. I continued to shop around, but each horse I looked at made this "old" horse look more and more inviting, so finally I broke and told my dad about her. A week later I was watching my brother and Miss Teah bond, he rode her with confidence that I had not seen in some time.
On June 6th Miss Teah arrived to her new home, we didn't know how she would be in her new surroundings but we were confident that she would do just fine. Two days after her arrival Jake was out riding her and getting her in shape for our quickly approaching show, we had a lot of work to do. One day we decided to put her through her paces and run her through the barrel course, she blew through it with ease as if she had been doing it all of her life, later we find out that she was a rodeo horse at one point in life. June 17th finally arrived, Jake was so nervous, only a month ago his old horse had shown her true side, but a nudge from Teah was all he needed to calm his nerves. Needless to say they did all the Game Class uneventfully, and made it into the Northwest Washington Fair.
During the fair Jake and Miss Teah took many Reds, and one Grand Champion in the Novice class, that is what I call a major improvement compared to what had happened before. One thing I have learned from owning Miss Teah is never pass up a horse because it is too "old" or because it doesn't have papers or a great pedigree because more then likely they will be your Champion.
Marie Brown Renton, WA
Lessons in Life by Ladea
What my senior horse has taught me or continues to teach me each day is nothing short of amazing.
Sugar Ladea Bey is a purebred Arabian horse, dapple grey in color and full of spirit.
Her history includes the oldest and purest of all horse breeds and is considered by many people to be the most beautiful equine animal in the world. Her expressive eyes, high spirits and unique personality continues to amaze me.
At any given moment she can be gentle, soft, soothing and loving. The next … her natural temperament kicks in. Just like real life … the unexpected. The history books say that her ancestors were endurance racers. I can believe that. I never know when her history may come present day and I can only stand in awe of this loving and affectionate animal that I’m lucky enough to share my life with.
Ladea, as we call her, was a rescue animal from an owner who loved her, but could no longer take care of her. Without any human handling for close to three years, we’ve become close friends in just a few months. This opportunity has been challenging, rewarding, humbling and most of all … one of the best things I’ve ever done.
I’ve been stepped on, knocked down and kissed by Ladea … just like real life. I have the sore muscles and bruises that have enabled me to develop a relationship with her.
I believe that I’m a better person for having to take the time to slow things down, to learn something new and most of all…open my heart up to something that is bigger than me. I’m learning that you just can’t walk away with things don’t go your way. And most importantly, there are many ways to the finish line. The most important thing in life is to get to the finish line and be open and receptive to the many paths and challenges along the way.
I guess I would have to say that my senior horse has taught me a deeper appreciation for diversity, temperament, curiosity, affections, devotion, varying levels of intelligence and attitude. Ladea has also given me new opportunities to be humble and what loving really is.
And … she taught me that it is never too late to have a happy childhood. Giddy up!
Diane Mentz Roseburg, Or.
What my Senior horse has taught me:
Having a horse for 24 years (or more) is a long term commitment. Through all the years there is teaching.
When it comes to the senior years, however, you start to realize that time doesn’t stand still, that neither you nor your horse can handle the same amount of work or exercise.
My senior horse taught me a new way to look at nutrition (and to save more money for thicker blankets).
I must say that there were so many lessons that came on a daily basis, but I think the biggest lesson was dignity/pride a lesson in Nature’s basic instinct and the ability to know when to KNOW when.
I got my Morgan when he was 11 mos. Old. He was going to be sold to the rodeo, yes my friends he COULD buck! We grew up together, I was 15 at the time. He was an “easy keeper” and LOVED his food! So I always had to watch his diet or he’s gain 150lbs in a heart beat.
As my Morgan (Satan’s Blackshire or “Black”) got older he was still ornery, could still buck at 20 years and try to dismount me, of course when he did he would just stand there and look at me. He got to ride many trails in many different cities and states as we moved around a lot.
But no matter how old he got that stubborn streak was a live and well. He was 1300lbs of big black Old type Morgan and he had attitude to burn.
Then one fateful day while he was running in the pasture, it had just sprinkled and his life was spent in a pasture, he slipped and fell head over heel, I heard the most horrific whinny he’d ever let out, I knew something was wrong. I ran to him and checked him out, I had worked as a vet tech for 6 years and looked for various things. Then a vet was called when I found nothing. The vet also could not see any problems and , well Black had got up and walked around, no swelling of the legs or anything out of sort. This was in Nov. of 2002. I did not ride him through the winter as the ground was slick on the trail. Come late April of 2003 Black started to limp, Senior horses require quick and proper care. His right pastern had swollen. I did as the vet ordered and it seemed to get better and then the end of May2003, his fetlock fell to the ground!
The Vet said it’s a ruptured Suspensory ligament, common to his breed. I was devastated as I was told he was too old for the surgery it would take to repair it and that he, because of his age, would not have the elasticity to pull it up again.
So I chose to treat him, I got a heavy duty sports boot for the leg and wished that the fall had never happened as I am sure it had something to do with this. Just like senior humans, seniors horses that fall usually hurt something.
He went on well with the boot and ate and ate like a trooper. Then the middle of June saw a turn for the worse, he was eating, but started spending more and more time lying down as it was hard for him to get up, trims were down while he was lying down to help keep him in balance. He started dropping weight like crazy, due to pain the vet told me. It was June 20th when the vet came to look at old Black lying in the pasture. He said “do you want honesty” I of course said yes. He then told me. He is not in good shape and will not get better, Black was lying there as he was being examined, and everyone who has horses knows that horses will run to the end of the pasture if they even sense that the vet is there. The Vet said, he’s saying “Momma, it’s time for me to go, please let me go with some dignity” of course I’m thinking a mile a minute for an out, “he’s eating” I said. And the vet replied “that’s the interesting thing about nature and the horse, it is the mechanism of repetition that makes them continue to eat” I waited for the sign of him not eating to signal he was ready, but he would lay by the hay roll and eat away and not gain an ounce.
The day I called the vet out July 9th 2003, Black had somehow moved himself under the only tree we had inside the pasture. He had a pasture buddy, who he watched be foaled, and that buddy “Shatir” used to help him stand, steady him, and guide him through the pasture.
So he is now buried in a nice cemetery in Texas, but we live in Oregon.
So I would say the biggest thing I learned from my Senior horse, was how to let go with dignity, as much as I selfishly wanted to keep him around for as long as I could, it was better to let him make the journey while he could still stand. With Black he was THE ONE, I have tried other horses to no avail. Having a senior horse, is a lot of work, worry, amazement, and fun.
Enjoy yourself and your horse! Happy Trails, We Miss You Black!
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