Final Ride

Yesterday was the day...the day our chapter in Steve Holt!'s life drew to an end, and his new life with his new owner was to begin. Before she arrived, we led him from his stall out into the barn, removed his blanket and began to groom him. That beautiful, long thick tail took some time, but when we were done, he looked like one of those show ring beauties who wears a tail extension!

Darling didn't really want to saddle him. It'd been a year and a half since she'd ridden bareback, but her goodbye ride was done just that way. An easy, slow walk around the arena on a horse who had magically transformed himself this week to a western pleasure pony.

Saying goodbye is never an easy thing to do, but we're so thrilled with Steve Holt!'s new owner. She showed up with a baggie full of sliced apples for him, and you know he was in heaven over that! She let us know we could come visit him any time we wanted...she didn't even need to be there...just come! She thanked us for putting so much time and effort into him, and made us feel so much better about him going to such a loving person. She'd ordered him a new blanket, she told us...one with a belly band to help keep him snug and warm. "I know, I know, I'm spoiling him!" she said. That's okay...Steve Holt! loves to be spoiled! He's going to be a happy camper, and that makes us happy.

And then he was gone...leaving us with nothing but photos and memories...