It's Hard to Say Goodbye

This past Thursday I had to say goodbye to my first Equine love. I didn't own him all his life, but I knew him all his life. He belonged to dear friends of ours, and she showed him in Western and English Pleasure. And he was a winner. In his early teens he had some leg problems which required surgery, but his show performance declined. She asked me to "adopt" him because she knew he would have a "cushy" life with me.



We had moved to our place "in the country" about a year before he arrived. My "free" horse required a barn, a horse trailer, and riding lessons for me (yes, he could still be ridden for pleasure). I had to take lessons to be able to communicate to him what he already knew how to do! I was so happy, and I think he was too once he got used to the fact that 24 acres belonged to him! He had horse neighbors on one adjoining property, and it wasn't long before a buddy came to join him, yes another free horse, a miniature. Over the years, 2 more horses would join his herd.




Did I mention he was a character? I call this his "Mr. Ed immitation."



He loved to rest while "guarding" his barn.



He was always the "King" of his pasture. Three other horses shared that pasture with him and he was always the General of his herd. Over his years, one by one, they went on to the Rainbow Bridge. He outlived all of them even though he was the oldest. He now rests in peace with his other brothers in HIS pasture.


El Visto Nino (aka fondly known to me as Neener)
April 25, 1977 - August 26, 2010
33 yrs, 4 mo., 1 day