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 Left Out
Posts: 6797
    
Location: Silex Missouri | Ok, this is a happy/funny/sad/uplifting post and I hope you enjoy.
well you all already know I lost my child/best friend/1-D barrel horse Miss Gold Promise in August. Well I lost all desire to ride. I mean ALL desire. Darrel (for those who don't know Dr. Luv on here and my husband) started riding with me because I didn't want to ride. AND he rode anything he could think of even one of the studs to get me to ride. Well, I didn't have anything AT ALL going and have had to start from scratch.
All we had of age was our stallion, Cartels Feature, and one mare, an orphan, old enough for me to really push. Well the orphan got the pick because I knew with breeding season around the corner I would be out my ride if I picked Cartel. So, in October I started with Olive (the orphan) She was 4 and green track broke at the time. She is uncoordinated, clumbsy, awkward and a complete dork. Regardless she is smart, very smart, and picked it all up in less than 30 days. And by all I mean leg work, rein work, barrel pattern, all of it.
So, let me remind you I live in Missouri and our winter weather isn't exactly condusive to riding. We went to our first barrel race (first everything for her). They were supposed to have open arena and I got there early so I could get her into the arena and hopefully over most of the boogie men. And so that hopefully if she was feeling fresh I could get the edge knocked off.
Well they ended up NOT opening the arena early as advertised so Olive went into the big indoor arena eyes wide open and on her toes. SHE SAW EVERYTHING! so our first three exhibitions were a waste of money. You know the typical non-straight line, didn't ever see the barrel, saw all the people, the banners, the tractor, the people in the concession stand, the people sitting/standing/talking/not even moving people. The trot/walk/trot/breaks/trot all without any warning gait changes.
But by #5 she was looking where she was going and tried to work a decent pattern. I was so happy with her and I am honestly looking forward to going again. I miss Miss Gold Promise A.K.A. Dede every day. I talk to her at night before I go to bed to thank her for everything she taught me and hoping she knows nothing will ever replace her. But for the first time in a long time I enjoyed being at a barrel race and on a horse. And for that I must thank Olive. I don't know if she will ever be a 1-D horse but I know she will try regardless of where we end up. And if anyone wants to look her up her registered name is Valuable Gold
http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/valuable+gold |
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 Expert
Posts: 1218
Location: Great NW | Congrats! Getting back in the saddle is sometimes the hardest thing to do. Kudos! |
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  Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | This post made me smile, Willy! I'm tickled for you! It's sure not easy when we lose a horse like you Dede was. I hope that you will continue to keep us posted with Olive and the best of luck to you both!
Edited by Herbie 2014-01-21 12:49 PM
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 Expert
Posts: 2258
| Happy for you ! I loved your story I lost a broodmare 2 yrs ago she was the first horse my husband and I bought and we loved her so much. There are days when I go to feed that I still look for her . Miss her all the time but am lucky enough to have a granddaughter of her that is as close to being her as I could imagine. It is almost freaky how much they are alike. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 806
Location: Arkansas | I can totally relate to losing the loved horse. It is a heartbreak and I lost my desire as well. Throw in a few bad apples, birthing two children, and I finally now feel my competitive drive coming back with a four year old that has made it all fun again.. And, I finally feel attached and in love with my horses again. You have been through a lot with your back and the loss of your good horse. I am glad that you are making a comeback with your Olive. May this be a blessed road for both of you! |
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Left Out
Posts: 6797
Location: Silex Missouri | Thanks for the kind words. I do not wish the loss of a loved animal on anyone. But I have felt the blessing of being on a horse that while not the most....talented of animals she has a big heart and tries. And that gives me hope and more often than not a good laugh.
We have had snow on the ground for about a week. It finally warmed up for two days and melted most of it off. I trail rode her yesterday and she saw snow in the ditch and was seriously spooking at it. Not like she hasn't been walking in the snow for a week but that is how she is. She wakes up on a different side of her stall every day that's for sure. |
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 Dancing in my Mind
Posts: 3062
Location: Eastern OH but my heart is in WV | Enjoy the ride, Willy! Enjoy the ride!!!
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Big smile, glad Olive is helping mend your broken heart. |
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 Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12708
| I'm so happy for you!! 
But for some reason I thought you were in KY. Hmm, shows how well I pay attention to things.
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 I Am Always Right
Posts: 4264
Location: stray dump capital of the world | My friend's daughter lost her once in a life time horse the day before Thanksgiving. Her second horse, which was basically ridden sporadically because her main horse was so nice, has really kicked it up a notch. It is amazing to see the other horse blossom to the point that he has filled out physically, mentally and his coat shines like a new car. He just simply glows. I hope he brings her years of happiness. I think that my friend's horse that died is somewhere inside the back up horse pushing him on. He has a fire that we've never seen before.
I am so glad that you are finding happiness in riding again. There truly is no other relaxation that I can think of than on the back of a horse. Wishing you all the best and looking forward to more post on how you and Olive rocked it at a barrel race. |
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 IMA No Hair Style Gal
Posts: 2594
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Expert
Posts: 1543
Location: MI | So glad you can find joy in riding again!  |
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I'm a Cry Baby
Posts: 3781
Location: n.c. | So happy for you. It's the hardest thing ever. I'm going on 10 years now since losing my fav. I "think" I may finally have
one that will be the "one". Still early, but we are having fun so far. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 504
Location: Illinois | I don't know you, but please know your story has given me some hope. I lost my son in 2008 then a year later lost my most favorite horse I've ever owned in a foaling accident, foaling her third foal. I had kept her first one and sold the second. I haven't had any pleasure with the horses since. We switched gears and showed driving horses. My heart just wasn't in it. We had 5 horses and I hated going to the barn. In a few more weeks I will be down to 1 horse, that first foal. He is 7 and pretty much green broke because I just haven't wanted to ride. Going to try and get on him this spring after me not riding in about 4 years. I'm just going to try some fun shows and go from there. I've finally gotten to a point I miss riding a little bit. I'm glad you are having fun again and I am hoping that I can have a similar story this summer! |
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Left Out
Posts: 6797
Location: Silex Missouri | Cruisin- I have no human children of my own so I can't even come close to imagining the pain of losing a child. But my horses are my children and it was a horrible loss. The worst of it, if there is even a way to state it, was watching her die and not be able to stop it or fix it. Being totally helpless to her when she was the horse that gave me the confidence to ride again after I broke my neck. She is the one that pampered me and baby sat me until I was confident again.
The emotional loss you have gone through isn't something I am sure anyone who hasn't walked in your shoes can truely understand.
I hope you find joy again on the back of a horse. The old saying of "there is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a woman" is more than accurate. I pray that your horse brings a healing to you that will enable to you smile from the inside out. |
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