In Loving Memory

Cutty Water (Cognac x Baskettell) AHA #153192

1977 Arabian Gelding

Canadian National Champion Park

"Nick" was my first horse... well, the first horse I Care Leased when I was 10 Years Old. He taught me how to ride as he would stand completely still unless I used the correct cues.

Unfortunately, his real owner would not provide Alfalfa during the winter months and the Timothy hay was not adequate enough. Additionally, the Shetland Pony "Star" that was his pasture mate, would not allow him to eat all of his food and there was no way to separate them.

So I did one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I called Meadow Wood Farms (formerly located in Snohomish, WA) and told them that the woman they had given him to was not caring for him properly and he was emaciated. They came out and got him immediately and I said my tearful goodbyes. The man from Meadow Wood Farms told me I could make appointments and come see him any time!

I did on multiple occasions and the first time was after he was healthy again. They told me,"He's out with his herd of mares right now, so I'm not sure if he will come to us." I called out to him, he whinnied and came galloping over to the fence line, just like he always had when I got off the School Bus. The man at the farm said,"He must really love you because we always have to bring all of his mares in before he will allow us to catch him!" He did, I loved him enough to let him go to save his life. I will never forget him or all the things he taught me.

And that's how I was introduced to Rescue Horses.

"Albert"

1965 Tennesse Walker

We didn't know very much about Albert as he was a Rescue Horse. He was 32 when I got him for my 15th Birthday. I had only ridden Western before him and so I decided to show him in Western Pleasure. As soon as he stepped foot in the show ring and saw the Judge, his head shot up, he started trotting BIG and began snorting and blowing. The Judge informed me in the line up that he was a Saddleseat horse. Albert and I compromised with Huntseat.

When he was 34, I was at a horse show when someone complimented how good he looks. I mentioned that he was 34 years old and suddenly the woman started ridiculing me for showing a horse his age. I felt awful and tried to retire him after that, but he got very depressed and almost died. So we returned to the show ring he loved to show off in so much. I should have known he wouldn't want to be retired. After all, he would colic if I left him for more than two days at a time. But that lady made me feel so awful. If she only knew how well I cared for my Senior Horse... I would massage his legs to expel the pitting edema in the mornings, warm him up well, apply liniment and massage him again after riding.

He was an awesome horse who taught me patience and instilled in me my willingness to learn no matter how much I thought I knew. I loved him very much, and he loved me too as he once chased a Cougar off for me!!!

Gamblin' Rose

Appaloosa Mare

Gambler was a Rescue Horse who had been malnourished as a two year old which stunted her growth. By measuring her cannon bones, she should have matured at 16.2 Hands but was only 15.2 Hands. She taught me more about patience, perseverance and commitment as she demanded her riders work as hard as she did because it was only fair.

At our first Horse Show, she didn't like another horse passing us on the inside so she reared up. I took my crop and popped her on the top of her head between her ears and then sent her back into a trot. In the lineup, I was sure the Judge was walking over to me to disqualify us. Instead, she said,"I saw what you did and I thought you handled it very well. You didn't let her get away with it and you didn't make a big deal out of it, so I actually ended up placing you higher." I was blown away.

Years later, she punctured her abdomen while rubbing her belly against fallen tree branches out in her pasture. The Vet had to put in a drain tube and I had to give her three shots morning and night for two weeks. That whole time, she never got nasty with me. In fact, she was antisocial with both horses and humans. Yet during this time, she moved toward me when I was standing near her head and put her head in my chest as if she were crying on my shoulder. I began to stroke her forehead for a few minutes. Then my sister Jessica came walking in the barn isle and this funny mare quickly moved her head away as if she didn't want anyone to see her cuddling.

I always dreaded the day I would have to say goodbye to my tough, standoffish mare. She had broken her coffin bone and was in a lot of pain day to day. We had dug a hole with the back hoe and she had been around long enough to know what that meant. As I led her to the hole, our perfect ground manners horse practically drug me to each and every horse and touched noses with them as if to say goodbye. When it was time to put her down, she freaked out each time I tried to walk away. She wanted me by her side until the very end. And I was.