Biff’s Story

Adult Senior Horse Essay
By: Cathy Thackeray

In 2001, we began searching for the “perfect horse” for my husband. It wasn’t until one Friday night in the fall of 2002 that a friend invited us to visit a local livestock sale. It was there that we first laid eyes on a sorry looking bay gelding with no name. My husband was taken with him from the start, but I did everything I could to try to change his mind. We were told that this horse had spent the past eight years on a feedlot. He was obviously underweight, and had a large lump on the top of his withers. It was obvious that his previous owners had used ill-fitting tack because he had (and still has) several white spots on his sides. In one small area, the hair never has grown back. All this and no pre-purchase vet check!

We bought him anyway and the following Monday we found ourselves at the vet office for a post-purchase exam. Needless to say the vet wasn’t real happy with us. After a thorough exam, he told use that the gelding was approximately 200lbs underweight and that he was a little unsure of the outcomes of the lump on his withers. Other than that he seemed to be in good health. He was given all his vaccinations and we were told to take him home, don’t ride him, give him lots of groceries and the vet would see us again in the spring. We did just that in additional to calling a local equine message therapist since he had some muscle atrophy in his hindquarters.

By spring the lump had gone, the weight came up and our gelding had been given the name of Biff. We quickly learned that Biff’s spirit/heart is as big as he is. He became a trusted trail horse giving even the most timid rider confidence. In the spring of 2006 both my husbands and Biff developed a passion for the equine sport of Cowboy Mounted Shooting. That fall they both met their goal of competing at Worlds held in Las Vegas. They placed 10th in their class.
Biff continues to love being out and about. Last year a friend asked if she could use him for sorting on the high school equestrian team, of course he was up for the challenge. This summer he was used as a therapy horse for a three year old with some physical challenges, and just this month, along with some of his equine friends, he gave “pony” rides to raise money for our local museum and horse rescue. He also helped me achieve my goal of winning a buckle in the sport of Cowboy Mounted Shooting.

At 22, and starting to grey, he still enjoys doing it all. I can’t help but wonder what’s next….maybe a trail challenge?

Active, or not, Biff will always have a warm place in our hearts as well as in our barn.

-NWHS

Thanks to all those who submitted a senior horse essay. We loved them all! Please feel free to comment here, or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with questions and comments. Also share other horsey stories with me.

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