Sorry, got nailed by lightening two weeks ago and it took over a week to get a new modem. Lost the TV and sprinkler panel too. The good thing about living in the lightening capital of the world is that you get to buy new stuff regularly. The bad thing is the lightening. Horses were in the barn, we weren’t home.
A friend sent me an ad for her hunt horse that is For Sale. She’s a Palomino Belgium/Quarter Horse. Really built, and quite a looker. A good age, mid teens, which is not young and stupid, but not old and arthritic. The mare gets strong when she’s in First Flight (first group on the Hunt Field) and wants to be up with the Master. Now the biggest sin in Fox Hunting is stepping on a Hound. The second sin is riding up, or flying by, the Master when not invited.
I’m not sure how old this friend of mine is, but I do know she’s not as old as me. I’d say somewhere in her late 50’s or early 60’s. She’s been hunting for many years and is a good rider. She shows this mare Hunter and Dressage. The horse is used for lessons and tends to be a bit lazy. However, as I’ve always told everyone, you can dig a horse up that’s been dead for years, you put him on the Hunt Field, and he’s going to be more horse than you ever needed. So she tells me that she wants a horse that she can Hunt for a few more seasons and then “Ride Off Into The Sunset” on. Well don’t we all?
People used to say – “As a horse gets older they’ll quiet down.” Ahhh, No. What I have found is that what they are at middle age is what they will stay, even when they are crippled. Once a Barrel Horse, always a Barrel Horse. If the horse was quiet to begin with you have a nice horse to teach younger or inexperienced people on. If they were a Hot Tamale, they will still remain the same. You got a strong Hunt Horse, he/she will go to their grave like that.
When are you too old? When sanity catches up in your brain.
People always ask – “Do you still ride?” Yes when I get the chance. My friend who rode with me the last time said – “How does it feel to be back on your horse?” My answer “Like I was never off.”
The only thing I can say is that I find myself being more careful. Not carefree and a little crazy like when I was young. The last couple of years have opened my eyes. When Bob’s back got real bad and I was doing all the mowing plus, there wasn’t time. Then last year when he had the operation, there wasn’t time. Now I realize that me not getting hurt is very important. There is no Cavalry coming to back me up. I’m it. He’s doing really great and able to pitch in pretty much like before, but I know he can’t do everything like he did, and if he gets body slammed by one of the horses, he’s done. I mean really done.
Would I like to still break babies? Oh my yes! Would I like to be out there in First Flight? You bet. But sometimes you just have to deal with what really matters when you have no back up and the “Cast of Thousands” to care for. You must be wise in your decisions. It’s not how I thought my life would go. I thought I’d be out Hunting into my 90’s on a big old Hunt Horse that I knew so well. Surprise!!!! my Old Lady’s horse died when she was 17. That was not supposed to happen. My 20 yr. old QH Hunt Horse is still a Bottle Rocket ready to go off at any given moment. I’m not even sure of my 27 yr. old Warmblood. Since her leg healed she’s ready to make up for lost time.
So bottom line is that we all want that horse to “Ride off into the sunset” on, but the hard part is finding it. Guess I’ll just have to keep riding them and working the bugs out “into the sunset” just with a measure of care.