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Anchor Hill Rhama
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Registered Arabian mare
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April 16, 1985 - April 26, 2010
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I can remember the day I brought Rhama home. I saw an ad in the paper and hooked up the trailer, you should never take a trailer because you're guaranteed to bring a horse home when you do. I was looking for a horse for my daughter, she was just a toddler. I had bad experiences with ponies as a kid so wanted a small horse. Arabians tend to fit that bill nicely. I don't agree that Arabians are too spirited for kids. Anyway, I got to the place and the seller didn't have any tack. I was told he had bought her at an auction because she looked too good to go to slaughter. I rode her around the yard in just a halter and lead rope. She was so laid back I really had to work to get her into a trot.
Once we got home and she settled in, she became a different horse. Although I still felt safe with my daughter on her, she had lots of go. The first time I tried to ride her I learned she had been taught to a side-pull type hackamore not a bridle and bit. She hated a bit.
Rhama was ridden on the trails and in parades, but her main job became having babies. She had wonderful bloodlines, conformation and attitude and she passed it on to all her foals.
As time went by, she started to get up there in age and I worried about loosing her. I didn't think it was something I could deal with so I found a wonderful woman to love her and she went to her new home at age 19. I always wished I hadn't sold her, but I knew she was being taken care of and loved. The buyer and I became good long distance friends and I was kept up to date on how she was doing all the time.
A couple of years later my friend had major back troubles and was no longer able to care of her horses. By this time she had managed to acquire another senior mare estimated to be even older then Rhama. Fearing the outcome if she tried to sell such old mares she asked if I could take them. Even though I am trying to downsize my herd there was no way I could say no to bringing my girl home.
On Thursday evening we finally pulled into the drive and unloaded our newest/oldest members of our family. Of course we let them acclimate to the other horses by keeping them separated a couple days. She never got to run in her fields before she passed. The girls were very skinny because of their age, so I bought special supplements for them. When I told my daughter to go get them as I went for feed pans to measure the feed, I heard her say that Rhama was colicing.
Sure enough, she had been rolling so much that the mud and dirt was just caked in her mane. She wouldn't eat or drink. I was able to give her some oil and a shot to help relax her muscles. After hours of walking her and no relief, I called the vet in. Her organs had started to shut down and he said it was best to let her go. She didn't act like she was in pain but did want to lay down.
We walked her up the small hill to the tree where her first born was also buried at age 6. The vet gave her the shot and she went peacefully to the rainbow bridge to be with her son. Although it was heartbreaking to have to let her go only days after getting her home, at least she was home and with her family, equine and human alike.
Rhama, you will forever be remembered by all those that knew you.
Michelle
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Rhama Mama 
