Knotty
I swear I have the most random bruises ever. I have no idea where they come from and I almost look like a dalmation. I think I just run into things so often that I don't even remember anymore, and I'm then surprised why I have so many bruises.
Anyway, I promise I will be posting wedding pictures soon! We got the DVD of all the images in the other day, and I have to go through them all. But right now I have to write about something before I forget it.
(Knotty & George)
There was a show at my barn last Saturday. I didn't ride for a number of reasons, mainly having to do with the both of us being incredibly ill-prepared. So instead Adriana and I manned the gate & the ribbons. We had a blast, and I'm seriously considering doing that and not showing anymore, lol! But the main reason for us being there, was that Jen retired Knotty that weekend. He was her old school horse who is worth his weight in gold. He was hugely instrumental in getting a lot of my confidence back. To that I owe him SO much. He had been getting less and less comfortable in his work, so Jen made the best decision for him. He will be 23 on January 1st. She had found his old owner recently who made it clear she wanted Knotty back when this day came, so he left for North Carolina yesterday. We had a ceremony for him at the show. Jen told his life story over the speaker while his long time rider George (who is 74 and still jumps) rode him around the ring. Knotty had taken a girl to walk-trot champion that morning. A fitting end to his last show! In his life Knotty raced until he was 9, and started 76 times. He was bought off the track and retrained as a hunter by the woman who asked to have him back. Then his owner got into fox-hunting, and after a few too many instances of Knotty "winning" the hunt (very unacceptable), she sold him. He made the rounds on the hunter circuit and eventually landed at Jen's as a lesson horse. All of his old riders at that show came into the ring with him and George, and we un-tacked him for the last time. Most of us were crying. It was so sweet and so sad!!!
(Adriana (x0arkadia0x ) in brown, and me in blue)
On Tuesday, after my lesson, I was the last one to leave as usual. I turned Finn out in his pasture, and even though it was really late and I was really tired, I picked through the boys field in the dark to find Knotty. I knew I would regret it forever if I didn't. Thankfully there was a full moon, so it wasn't too hard to find him. He's so affectionate, and he let me hug him and scratch him and cry into his mane. When I turned to leave he followed me for a good ways too. I made a promise to myself to remember that moment forever. It's so rare to know when the last time you see a special horse will be, and then have the chance to say goodbye.
(Knotty and me, a really long time ago)
So goodbye Knotty. You did more for me than you'll ever know. I hope your old friend gives you lots of carrots, rubs your face, and remembers to scratch you behind your withers. I love you old man. Good luck.
Anyway, I promise I will be posting wedding pictures soon! We got the DVD of all the images in the other day, and I have to go through them all. But right now I have to write about something before I forget it.
(Knotty & George)
There was a show at my barn last Saturday. I didn't ride for a number of reasons, mainly having to do with the both of us being incredibly ill-prepared. So instead Adriana and I manned the gate & the ribbons. We had a blast, and I'm seriously considering doing that and not showing anymore, lol! But the main reason for us being there, was that Jen retired Knotty that weekend. He was her old school horse who is worth his weight in gold. He was hugely instrumental in getting a lot of my confidence back. To that I owe him SO much. He had been getting less and less comfortable in his work, so Jen made the best decision for him. He will be 23 on January 1st. She had found his old owner recently who made it clear she wanted Knotty back when this day came, so he left for North Carolina yesterday. We had a ceremony for him at the show. Jen told his life story over the speaker while his long time rider George (who is 74 and still jumps) rode him around the ring. Knotty had taken a girl to walk-trot champion that morning. A fitting end to his last show! In his life Knotty raced until he was 9, and started 76 times. He was bought off the track and retrained as a hunter by the woman who asked to have him back. Then his owner got into fox-hunting, and after a few too many instances of Knotty "winning" the hunt (very unacceptable), she sold him. He made the rounds on the hunter circuit and eventually landed at Jen's as a lesson horse. All of his old riders at that show came into the ring with him and George, and we un-tacked him for the last time. Most of us were crying. It was so sweet and so sad!!!
(Adriana (x0arkadia0x ) in brown, and me in blue)
On Tuesday, after my lesson, I was the last one to leave as usual. I turned Finn out in his pasture, and even though it was really late and I was really tired, I picked through the boys field in the dark to find Knotty. I knew I would regret it forever if I didn't. Thankfully there was a full moon, so it wasn't too hard to find him. He's so affectionate, and he let me hug him and scratch him and cry into his mane. When I turned to leave he followed me for a good ways too. I made a promise to myself to remember that moment forever. It's so rare to know when the last time you see a special horse will be, and then have the chance to say goodbye.
(Knotty and me, a really long time ago)
So goodbye Knotty. You did more for me than you'll ever know. I hope your old friend gives you lots of carrots, rubs your face, and remembers to scratch you behind your withers. I love you old man. Good luck.