Forever Parys (Paris) was the
love of my life. He was a 7-year-old Arabian gelding. Three years ago I began
my search for a new horse by e-mailing every Arabian horse barn in the state,
asking if they might have a reasonably priced dressage prospect. I got only
one response, and it was the only one I needed. Normally I would have asked
for a photo first, but because the barn was only 10 minutes from my house,
I gamely decided to go have a look. When the trainer brought Parys out of
his stall, I almost dropped over. He was the most beautiful horse I had ever
seen!
To this day, I'll never forget the feeling of love at first sight. It was
magic. I excitedly called my husband and said I found "The One". Not a day
went by when I wouldn't kiss him on his white nose and think, "How did I
get so lucky?" Parys's beauty was equal to his great heart. He was reserved
and quiet in his demeanor, but I know he would have jumped the moon for me.
He was kind, honest, and so smart.
While dressage was his main
job, he really enjoyed jumping and trail rides. He was curious and brave;
nothing seemed to frazzle him (except for horses pulling a cart!). He was
such a willing show partner and in our first year of showing together, we
had several wins. Parys had the talent and mind for a very promising dressage
show career. Losing him was like losing a child. I had so many hopes and
dreams for his future. I mostly hoped he and I could grow old
together.
Parys lived in a pasture
and got along with all the other horses. He especially loved to play with
his gelding friends...he always had little bite marks on his neck. It was
his love of play that took his life. He was running and playing on a rainy
day and slipped and fell. He broke a rib and punctured a lung. We were able
to get him to the horse hospital, but the reality was that his recovery was
very unlikely, and I made the gut-wrenching decision to end his suffering.
I wish I could erase the memory of seeing him injured and in pain.
I don't normally remember
my dreams, but that night I had a dream that I saw Parys running in a
field...with a white horse...I think he was telling me he was free and happy.
A few days after his death,
I went out to visit my mare in an adjacent pasture. Pary's two best buddies
left the feed trough to meet me at the gate. I could have cried. They too
were missing their friend.
It seems my great fortune
to have found Parys is equal to the great misfortune of his sudden loss.
I have an unbelievable emptiness in my heart. I don't know if I will ever
recover from his loss. He was everything I could have wanted and more.
I love you my sweet boy.
You will always be in my heart.
Love,
Jodi
Forever Parys 
