One of my more recent updates discusses the death of my nurse mare foal, Sansa. She was snall and weak and very sick, and it was horrible to lose her. We did end up adopting a second foal (you'll hear more about her later).
I had no idea that just a couple months later, I would be losing Newsie as well. Newsie, my completely feral foal who did not know what a human was and certainly tried to bite and kick at every opportunity. I named him after my favorite movie as a child, Newsies, because he looked like a homeless ragamuffin. There were times were he was too much to handle and I thought, what I have gotten myself into? But that little hose came around. He loved me, followed me everyone, so easy to handle, beautiful mover. He had a bright future ahead of him.
Unfortunately that all got cut short in June. Newsie was discovered in his field with a broken neck. I've never cried harder over losing an animal. I'm sure that I will - when my dog goes, or Roanin and Dudley, but I wasn't ready to say goodbye to him and it sort of ruined my summer. I was very depressed most of the time.
Over the next two weeks, Roanin hurt his eye and was out of work for two and a half months. He was sound otherwise, wanted to run and play and be ridden - but his eye had to be kept in the dark.
Additionally, Bowie went lame, and after a few days I had the vet com check. Torn suspensory, so Bo was also finished for the year.
I'd like to say that I believe things happen for a reason, but I am not sure I do. I will say that I believe things work out okay in the end. After losing Newsie I was very heartbroken. There was a school horse they were looking to rehome as he was 25 years old and doesn't need to do more than putz around. I was still hurting from losing Newsie and offered to take him. It was the best decision I've made lately!
Dudley is a saint. When I describe him to people, I tell them "This horse means as much to me as Roanin, and there's no higher praise than that." Dudley became my show horse for the summer until Roanin's eyes was healed enough to return to work. Duds and I went to small shows and played around and had a lot of fun.
Roanin was able to beigin under saddle again in August. We showed a lot and managed to finish the season in 4th in Adult Pleasure Horse. I'm absolutely thrilled with that. I also took him to VHSA Chmampionship horse show. I wanted to do pleasure as a last bid for a VHSA end of the year award, but sadly we did not get any ribbons. I'm still really happy with our year in pleasure. I also competed in Special Hunter as it went the same day as pleasure. We had two beautiful courses, finishing 2nd and 2nd out of many, and ended up Reserve Champion. At the VHSA Championship horse show! It was one of the best shows of my life. Roanin was a rockstar.
And we do still have a foal. Right now her name is Teeny. She is a chestnut mare, maybe TB cross, and very sweet. She came home just after Sansa died and was Newsie's best friend. She is a tall girl and very kind. Frequently lazy, fingers crossed that translates into a lazy adult horse!
I love my job dearly, training horses and riding horses and teaching my students to ride, but I've discovered that my passion is working with foals. We'll see where that leads us in the future.
