My horse's full name was
Morning Star, but we all called her Star. She was pitch black with a
white star on her forehead that developed a tail on it the older that she
got. She was part Quarter Horse/part Thoroughbred, but was not
registered, not that it ever mattered to us. I got her April 4, 1984. She
was born in 1981. I lost her on December 7, 2006. I could not believe that
when I went to feed her for the day, that I found her laying dead in the
pasture. She had been getting along very well for her age. In fact, my nieces
and nephew had ridden her about a month ago.
Star was a very special
horse whom we were blessed with having in our lives. There was not one person
that ever sat her back that she did not take care of. She took special care
with all children. My two sisters and I learned to ride on her. When I first
got Star, I would put a halter on her and she and I would go down the
road. Sometimes we walked, sometimes we ran, it became second nature to us
that if I started walking fast or running, she would automatically match
what I did without me once having actually asked her to do it. My younger
sister has a son, Jonathon, who is now 12. He learned to ride on her. We
began putting him on her when he was really small. My middle sister has
three kids. The oldest, Brooklynn who is 9, learned to ride on her, in fact
you could turn them out loose together without ever
worrying that Star would not take care of her rider. Her
youngest two children, Matthew (3 years) and Emily (nearly 2 years) have
been receiving horseback rides on her since they were little also.
Star was not just a horse
to my whole family, she was part of our family. Every member of our family
is grieving over her sudden loss. Not once did she ever fail to greet me
with a nicker when she saw me. She could stand for hours patiently while
you groomed her. She was the best horse that we could have ever asked for.
I know that I was extremely lucky to have had her for as long as I did
and I would never trade any of the time or memories with her. She holds a
very special place in all our hearts and we know that she is now running
free and happy where she is.
I know that one day, I will
see her again. She has all of my love along with all of my family's
love.
Melisa Hill and the whole
gang
Morning Star 
