India






Thoroughbred

1996 - 2009


The four-legged love of my life died two weeks ago from a severe colic. I had to have her euthanized.

At 50 yrs old, I found her and she changed my whole life. My family has never, ever known me happier. The person I was with India is gone, and I am afraid will never return. I am really struggling with it, and hope this will help me.

Her name was India. She was a rescued race horse. She stood 16.3 hands high and was 13 years old.

She was born in Canada from Secretariat's line, was not competitive on the track and was sold as a brood mare. She was left for dead in a backyard and seized by a rescue organization.

I found her in a lesson barn and took lessons on her for one year. After meeting India, I never rode another horse. It was love at first sight. I adopted her and we became soul mates.

I was new to riding and India would literally look at me as if to say, "Don't worry, I've got this.". I have a wall of ribbons that she won. I just held on and went for the ride.

She taught me to trust, and trust her I did. She always took care of me and I was never afraid on her, no matter where we went. She gave me the greatest gift of happiness, a passion I wanted everyone I know to have.

She gave so much to so many, many people. She was a therapy horse that carried disabled children and adults in weekly sessions. It brought them unexplainable joy to ride such a large and strong animal. She taught them to be happy within themselves. She gave them strength that no one else could.

I knew every inch and every hair on India. She was a magnificent animal and we all felt she was a woman in a horse body. She died so young and was such a gift to me. She knew she was saved and gently gave back.

Many people have told me that you were "just a horse". I tell them you were most certainly "just a horse". It was you, "just a horse", that comforted me at my most difficult time in life when humans did not know what to say. It was you, "just a horse", that listened without speaking or interrupting. It was you, "just a horse", that taught me that though sometimes humans hurt us and treat us poorly there is always another to give a new chance to. It was you, "just a horse", that pushed me to new limits and knew just when I needed to be carried along the way.

Yes, to some you were 'just a horse"but to me and all those that knew you...well...you were just a horse with angel wings. You will always live in my heart and be more than "just a horse" to me.

I will always love her.

Dorothy














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