Like most people that pass on, horses leave an impact on your heart. My
best friend was suddenly taken from me on July 10, 2006. He was born on April
13, 1989. His short seventeen years of his life were filled with many memories
that will touch and be remembered by numerous people. After years together
with him, he touched me, and taught me more than anyone I have ever met.
I started as a small girl dreaming of owning her own pony. Instead, I ended
up with a nearly 16 hand high sorrel. Desi was not an easy gelding to get
along with at times, he liked to push his boundaries, and in that he taught
me how to really ride a horse. He had such a personality, and sometimes I
would find myself forgetting he was a horse and not a human. His heart was
as big as anyone that I had ever known, he would give and give, no matter
the circumstances. Also as big as his heart, was his stomach. Desi loved
food, and his food groups ranged from hay to hot dogs.
Des could do whatever was asked of him. He was roped off of, ran barrels,
reined, did trail, and could make a world class horse look bad in the pleasure
ring. He was ridden by countless kids in 4-H who had little to no horse
experience, and brought them the same pride he brought me in winning that
first place ribbon. Those who had the pleasure of knowing Des truly knew
his magnetism. His ability to look you in the eye and let you know that
everything is going to be ok was a quality that no human can possess.
I wondered to myself after Des passed away, why it is that horses live such
a short life? Perhaps it's because if our horses lived any longer, we wouldn't
be able to bear losing them. Or, perhaps it's because God wants to ride.
I believe that God looks down on the wonderful horses we have and decides
when it's His turn to ride. He gives us a few good years to care for
and learn from them, but when the time is right, it's up to us to see them
off gracefully. In the end, we're not certain if God entrusts us to our
horses or our horses to us. Does it matter? We're grateful God loaned us
the horse in the first place. And so we pray...
Dear God,
After You've enjoyed a bit of riding, please give our horses the best
of care.
And, if it's not too much, might we have at least one more great ride
when we meet again?
Amen
I will always love and
miss Desi, and when I look to the clouds, I see his soul and hear his hoofbeats
in heaven.
Alyssa Bonertz
Desiertoes Money 
