My horse Topper passed January 22, 2010 at only 21 years old. We had his birth date at August 22, 1989. I had him for 17 of those years. We do not know the cause, most of all, he was my friend.
His show name was Heart Of Gold, but all of the kids that he took to blue ribbons knew him as Topper. He was a western Pleasure/Hunter Jumper champion for me and many children.
One of my funniest stories is, he used to play tag with my son, no one taught him, he just did. One day I was not paying attention to him walking from the halter arena to tack him up for riding and I was walking way ahead of his lead rope when I heard a bunch of competitors laughing. I couldn't figure out what they were laughing at until I turned around and found my horse rolling in the walkway, show halter and all. So much for the 8 hours of preparation the day before. I laughed so hard. It reminded me we were partners and I better pay attention.
I am 51 and when I became disabled with knee injurys I had to lay belly down on his saddle to slide off. It was hard on his back because I had to carefuly lower myself to the ground. He never budged...he just knew.
Karin Bailey
From Topper
I have moved on to greener pastures
Where the water is always running & cool
The sky is always blue
My hooves beat like thunder on the ground
My parents and their parents are here too
There are many horses here
I have no needs or fears
I shall wait patiently here for you
For one day you will once again join me, but not now
We rode together as one
We were joined as tightly as two can be
Every day I watched and waited to see you
Even better with those carrots
Or that extra bucket of oats
You swept my hair out of my eyes
Cleaned my hooves, brushed my tail
You knew what I liked
You are left to grieve alone
But one night look up to the stars
You will see one shining bright
That will be me smiling down on you
I will always love you
I will always remember
Just because you can not see me any more
I am there
I am that whisper you hear
I am that welcome gentle breeze
See me in the falling fall leaves
I have really never left you
I am just in a different pasture
You have not seen yet.
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Topper
