She was my first horse I ever owned. I learned how to ride on her and everything. I didn't go to a trainer to teach me to ride. I always dreamed of owning horses, so when I had saved up enough money I went looking.
She was older when I got her 8 years ago. She was 18 then, and up until last year she never once showed her age. She had a hard life when she was younger, before I got her the owner said she had been kicked and it cracked her bone, but she had healed and it only bothered her a little bit.
Last winter it was so hard to watch her, you could tell arthritis had finally set in. Then this summer I did everything my vet and I could think to do to put weight on her, nothing worked so we came to the conclusion her body was giving up. I didn't want to let go but it ended up today that I have to say my goodbye.
I remember one of the first times I took her out riding after I got her home. Being a new rider, I laid the reins on her neck to get on, but just as soon as I put my butt in the saddle, she took off, then abruptly decided to stop and drop her head...I went flying off. I was so mad at her I think I chased her for a mile before I finally caught her, then rode her butt back home. Even though I got thrown off I told myself the old saying, if you fall off you can't be scared to climb back in the saddle and try again. So I learned a very important lesson. Don't drop the reins, and hold on to the saddle if you do lose the reins.
Then I went to my military training, and I remember every time I called home I made my dad take the phone out so I could talk to her. He told me one time after I got off the phone he went to feed her and he bent over and I guess she was so mad that I wasn't home that she bit my dad on his butt. He said it left a mark and then she took off running and bucking like she thought that was funny. I used to, when I had to run in the military, imagine myself cantering to the finish line, just so I could get done and it always kept me going, pushing forward.
I have gotten myself in some pretty tight places out riding, that I have always trusted her to take care of me and get us out of the spot. One of the biggest things she done for me is she taught my husband how to ride and enjoy it so now I have him to take out riding with me. We had so much fun and really got to have good alone time when we went to a state park and camped and rode. It was a weekend that really made a great memory for the both of us. That was her last big trip she made. We had a couple small around the house in the field behind us trips. I was really hoping that she could make it till my daughter, who was born this year, could ride, but I don't want to see her in pain and struggling to live just for that. My daughter will have to have her own first horse experience someday.
I could really just go on and on about different stories and life lessons this horse has taught me. But the biggest thing she has done is show me that everything is possible and she was always there for me to just talk to and I didn't have to worry about her telling anyone, but just being my partner and best friend.
One of my greatest memories was when I decided to ride her to town. I had to go to the bank and the store, and where we live we have Amish that are close to us so they have posts to tie up horses, so I just tied her up and did my business. But then on the way home I was on a back street and I didn't stop her at a stop sign. There were no cars around for miles, but a police car that was about 3 blocks back and seen me walk her through the stop sign, and he pulled me over (I guess I should mention I live in a small (VERY SMALL) town,) but he was like, you know I can give you a ticket for not stopping, (just joking) but the person who must of been visiting from out of town (different state plates) drove by VERY, VERY slow staring at us. I know they had to be thinking, oh my gosh that poor girl. What kind of town is this where the police pull over people on horse back.
Like I said, I can tell stories all day about all the great and funny times we had, but I think I should close this tribute down. Thanks to all who read and please pray for us. I know this spring my husband is going to pick out his first horse (since she was actually still mine) and I hope he gets to enjoy all the things a first horse gives you, and all the lessons you learn from it.
Candace
Chealsea 
