Comanche was the most amazing horse that I ever got the pleasure of knowing. Originally, he was a wild mustang somewhere in Mexico, but when he was young, he was captured and moved up to New York. He was the first pet that was entirely mine, so obviously I considered him family. I first met him when he was a lesson horse at the farm where I started taking lessons when I was 4. I took lessons on him for about 5 years, and he was a great teacher. His nickname around the barn was "Eeyore" because of his donkey-like looks and laid back attitude.
Because of economic troubles, the barn had to shut down and sell the majority of their horses. When I heard this (at age 12) I was devastated! I cried and cried to my parents until finally, they told me that the owner of the barn wanted to give Comanche to me, because of the bond we had. I don't think there is anything you could tell a 12 year-old girl that could make them happier than "You are getting a horse."
Although he was already about 26 years old when he officially became mine, you would have thought he was 5 by the way he acted. "Eeyore" became a bucking, galloping, and playing young horse. My favorite memories of him are when I would throw his halter on, grab his lead rope and jump on his back. We galloped through the open fields next to the barn, swam in a pond, and of course he had to stop to graze (laying on his back was the best place to get a tan!). I never needed a bit, or even reins to ride him, he was completely willing to listen to me without them.
Sadly, his health declined extremely quickly. He stopped eating and drinking, and our vet told us that his kidneys had failed. The next day (1/20/12) I held my amazing man while he was put to sleep. His two companions, KC and Sumo, still neigh or wait at the gate for him to come back.
I am comforted by the fact that he lived a long, wonderful life both teaching children, and being in "retirement" with me. I will think of him and miss him every day, and I know that he will be missed not only by the other horses, but by everyone who got a chance to meet him.
-Alyssa
Comanche 
