Saying Goodbye to My Ole Friend

Little girls often have a love affair with horses.  I certainly did.  Across the road where I grew up lived a pinto mare in a pasture that I visited often.  My girl friends and I 'played horses', often galloping through the fields and I dreamed of one day owning a horse.

Well, my dream came true.

Holy Scat

And I must say I have loved every moment with my precious girl.  She is a feisty one and quite frankly  that is one of the things I have loved most about her.  (Maybe she and I are a bit alike in that department.)  They call them the alpha mares and believe me that title fit her to a tee.



What did I know about training a horse to ride.  NOTHING.  I took a few spills and we spent many hours in the round pen and trails but together we learned and worked it out. I was fortunate that I could ride right from my place down to the river or the miles of fields in front of my house.

 She  loves to give rides.  I could always count on her patience and safe delivery of precious riders.  It was as if she knew how much they depended on her.

 

There were many more rides upon her back than pictures.

My Granddaughter began her love affair with horses at a very young age.

 I hope someday she will have a horse of her own.

When the economy changed it became clear to me that changes were coming in my life as well.  Without a job it was difficult to finance my dream.  I really held on to the dream longer than I should.  A severe back injury ended my riding days and left me with constant pain and worries of what one more fall from a horse's back could mean to my ability to walk.

My girl was getting older too with aches and pains and a limp when trotting. I worried that I would not be able to find another forever home who would love and appreciate her as I have.

One of the first people to answer my add was a 4H leader.  She also has a business that provides pony rides for children's parties.  She has a big caring heart and she has many horses that she provides for the 4 H children to use, love and care for. One of those kiddos lives in an apartment and is unable to have a horse of her own at this time. Scat is now her special horse.
Another girls dream fulfilled.

I know she will be happy in her new home.
For anyone who has ever loved a horse, they know how deeply that love is.  It becomes a way of life and a way of being in the world. Life brings us many changes and we go forward having been changed by the experience forever.  I know I have.  
Saying goodbye is incredibly difficult.

Today, of course I am wishing there were many more rides in our future.

Good-bye ole friend, you will be forever in my hearts memory.