Val was my best friend,
hero, confidant, greatest joy, one who could always make me smile, take away
my pain, and put me back in my place (though I didn't think I needed it at
times). His passing has turned my world around and devastated me. I realize
with him gone how much of a part of me he truly was. Val shattered his pastern
bone going into his coffin joint during a normal lunge that led to the fateful
needle that had to come.
I have been riding horses
since I was 4. Throughout that time I can not remember all the endless names
of the lesson horses I rode. However, finally in 2002, my parents granted
me the thing every young horse-crazy girl desires; a horse of her own. This
horse was Val.
Mr. Val was special from
the minute he was born. He was abandoned at birth out in a field in the cold.
Lucky for me, the girls at Keno, against all odds, rescued him and bottle
fed him back from the brink of death. The vet didn't think he would make
it, but he amazed everyone and made a full recovery to grow into the great
spirit he was that brought countless kids and adults great rides and times
with him at Keno.
Val and I started our great
bond together at Keno that grew to unconditional love over close to the six
years that I owned him. I spent the next years learning what I had been missing
without Val and with one of my best friends Alisha and her horse Ellie, we
spent the next years being an unstoppable foursome. We knew no limits to
the joys our horses could bring and never got bored being at the barn 6 days
a week for at least 5 hours at a time. From countless trail rides, to barebacking
it, or galloping as fast as we could, to our sleepover at the barn
and that midnight ride, or just watching our horses graze for hours - those
were the best times of just being with the horses, taking them for what wonderful
animals they are.
I loved just the moments
of nothing but Val and me and open fields. However, under the support and
wisdom of Gary, I was introduced to the showing aspect of Arabian horses,
which I also grew to love. The last 3 years with Gary and then Jacque and
the Show Stopper group, Val grew into an amazing show horse that many thought
was not there in that chunky lesson horse. My last year as a youth, Val surpassed
all my dreams, bringing home two top fives and a reserve championship at
Region 17 along with numerous red and blue ribbons from other shows. It seemed
that anything I asked Val to do, big or small, he stepped up to the challenge
and tried his best for me. He constantly surpassed every judgement
and limitation placed on him by fate and people.
No matter what changed or what circumstances that came up, trying to pull
me away from horses, nothing could keep me from Val. I thank my parents for
supporting my love of horses and allowing me to give Val all he deserved.
I think back now on the impact Val has had on me, and it is not only during
his time here that he has taught me so much but also in death. He has showed
me the true value of never taking any moment with loved ones for granted
and death is not the end. Through all the tears, I can have comfort he is
away from the pain and free to be the wonderful horse he so
deserves.
There is just too much to
sum up the wonderful soul Val was and all he brought to my life. It is hard
to imagine how to pick up the pieces of my broken heart, but I know the comfort
of friends and family and cherished memories will help pull me though in
time.
Lastly to my beloved Mr. Freckles. I love you more than life itself.
Never once did you let me down, your strength blows me away, even with the
pain of your leg, you were your ever-cheerful self, searching me for treats,
bored in your stall and trying to escape through the open stall door. I want
you to know the memories you gave me I will never forget. You have no clue
to the extent you will be missed. I hope you understand my choice and know
it was only to give you the life you deserve I couldn't have you a cripple
the rest of your days, you are so much better than that.
It's goodbye just for now
till the day we can reunite again in a place of no sorrow or tears. This
bond between us can't be broken. You will be in my heart always.
Mr. Valentino 
