rainechyldes
Jul. 2, 2008, 07:13 PM
I'm Able too,
I've mentioned him in passing off and on here, and today I had to say that final goodbye to a horse with a great and generous heart.
He came to our family 20 years ago, a former combined driving horse. He was my first real horse, first hunter jumper, my first CTR , my first endurance horse.
He then passed to my father who rode him many miles, CTR and endurance, and went to the nationals here in Canada. He was a popular horse with everyone in our endurance club, a 1/2 arab 1/2 percheron giant - who was always the epitome of what a true gentleman should be.
After several years of unhappily forced retirement due to an injury we never thought he'd come back from, my much younger sister took him up. He was her first pony club horse, and even went back to competing in LDs with her, taking her through many more miles with the utmost care and grace.
His knees unable to handle the distances, we retired him again. For a short time.
He then became my youngest sons pony club horse, and carted him through lessons, and won a a few ribbons last year. This year, he became officially retired. My son stating emphatically, that Able needed a rest, and was NOT doing pony club this year, and he would only go for walks on the property. My 9 years old son chose to miss pony club this year, rather then take Able into town every week. I agreed with his choice, it was his to make.
Today, the huge kind heart that made this horse such a treasured member of our family, through 3 generations of riders - gave out, and he could carry on no further.
Goodbye old man, you'll forever be a legend to us, and always in our hearts.
I've mentioned him in passing off and on here, and today I had to say that final goodbye to a horse with a great and generous heart.
He came to our family 20 years ago, a former combined driving horse. He was my first real horse, first hunter jumper, my first CTR , my first endurance horse.
He then passed to my father who rode him many miles, CTR and endurance, and went to the nationals here in Canada. He was a popular horse with everyone in our endurance club, a 1/2 arab 1/2 percheron giant - who was always the epitome of what a true gentleman should be.
After several years of unhappily forced retirement due to an injury we never thought he'd come back from, my much younger sister took him up. He was her first pony club horse, and even went back to competing in LDs with her, taking her through many more miles with the utmost care and grace.
His knees unable to handle the distances, we retired him again. For a short time.
He then became my youngest sons pony club horse, and carted him through lessons, and won a a few ribbons last year. This year, he became officially retired. My son stating emphatically, that Able needed a rest, and was NOT doing pony club this year, and he would only go for walks on the property. My 9 years old son chose to miss pony club this year, rather then take Able into town every week. I agreed with his choice, it was his to make.
Today, the huge kind heart that made this horse such a treasured member of our family, through 3 generations of riders - gave out, and he could carry on no further.
Goodbye old man, you'll forever be a legend to us, and always in our hearts.