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Chestnut Thoroughbred
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May 1987 - October 2010
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I was thirteen years old when I watched you born. I always got in on a foaling whenever I could. As I watched you struggle to your feet and greet the world, I fell in love with you. I didn’t know at the time what a beautiful, lasting friendship we would have. I didn’t know then of the best friend that had just come into my life. I spent a lot of time with you, and my grandparents, who owned you, decided that because I liked you so much, that I could be the one to do all of your groundbreaking. This formed the bond that would last for over twenty years. You were a wild-eyed and spooky yearling, but with patience and calmness, the whiteness of your eyes reduced, and you learned to trust me.
When you were two, my grandparents took you to the racetrack, and I had to say goodbye. It was really hard to let you go, in that year that we worked together, we calmed each other’s souls. But you were not mine to keep, so I had to let you go.
When my parents split up, and my dad and I moved from the Ranch, I thought that I had lost you for good. You went your way, and I went mine. Off to College I went, different town, away from you. What I didn’t know was that my Dad had plans to bring you back to me. You had become injured in my time away, and could no longer run. My grandparents weren’t going to let you go cheaply though, so my dad traded a Thoroughbred filly he had bred to run, for you instead.
When I moved back to my hometown, you were waiting for me. And our bonding began again. It wasn’t an easy road, the time away had been hard on you, and you weren’t all of the horse that I remembered. Your mind was scarred, and we were basically starting from scratch. Time and patience won out in the end though, lots of trials and tribulations along the way, but at the end of it, you had become the best friend that trusted me again.
I can’t even count the miles that we put on together, or all the people that have met you in these twenty years. The things that you have done, the people that have loved you. When you were 17, and my dad was 64, you won Cross Country Competitive Trail. It was funny, when my family was doing trail rides, all of the dudes wanted to ride you. You were always the prettiest one in the bunch, and they didn’t know that you were TNT when you were younger.
I left my hometown for my own farm when you were 20. Of course you and your stablemate came along. This is the place where you found eternal rest. Your health had started to decline slowly coming up here. For the last year I did everything that I could to save you. I read on the tribute page here from someone, “If love could’ve saved you, you’d stlll be here.” That is so true, my beloved Moatzie. If I could’ve saved you, I’d have done anything. Watching you so thin and having such a hard time last winter, I knew that I couldn’t put you through that again. You were always so strong, so brave, so full of life. And I saw this slowly being taken from you.
My mom always believed in giving animals their last summer, so I gave you yours. A summer full of treats, green grass, good grain, and lots of love. Even though you weren’t strong enough to carry me anymore, I watched my daughter ride you. It broke my heart because you should’ve been there for her to take over. But it was not to be, and I couldn’t bear watching your tired eyes anymore.
On a calm October morning, my daughter and I brushed you out for that last time, collected some mane and tail hair...and when the time came that day, you went so peacefully. A truly loving, gentle soul was laid to rest. We buried you in the top of the horse pasture, where the sun will always shine on you. You can see the whole farm, and I can feel your presence all around.
Thank you, Mozart, for the wonderful time of being your friend. I could never write all of the emotion that has been running through me, but suffice to say, you were special.
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Mozart 
