Life is unpredictable (wow! I am profound today!) 10 years ago, I imagined that my 15 year old QH and I would finish our horse journey together and ride quietly into the sunset. Then, for no reason any vet could determine, he developed ROA (Heaves) at 17 and I was told he would never be sound enough to hunt. I found a wonderful 10 year old QH who suited me (eventually I realized jumping was never something he would do well, but we had moved to second flight by then) --and amazingly-- he was a rock-star at Mounted Archery --so we did that in the summer and fox hunted in the winter --OH ROA horse never coughed again a month after I bought the new kid (eye roll).
And I imagined that between the two of them, I would finish my horse life and ride into the sunset ā
Nope. At 17, the new QH developed an arthritic knee ā for awhile I kept him going on 'bute and everything else the vet could think of . . .but in October 2023, he was waived for lameness at an archery meet --and he was never sound again. Although he blasts around the pasture on his own like a wild-man, heās off even at the walk, so no more riding (ever) for him.
And I was back to my now 25 year old hunt horse who can do Mounted Archery, but thatās a lot to ask an old fellow in the heat of the summer --I will hunt him out this season, though, probably the last one for both of us (many reasons --Iām one of the oldest members there, and the 90 min drive each way in the dark in the winter is not getting easier).
Facing the reality that Mounted Archery and Fox Hunting were ending for me at 72, I was resigned when (cue the music) Bob found ME!
A lovely 9 year old QH gelding (same lines as both my other horse on top: Hancock and (hold breath) Two Eyed Jack on the bottom! Nicely trained, beautiful ground manners --mounted shooting background --and will never need shoes!! Ticked all my boxes.
Now I have a new plan: For awhile I will continue Mounted Archery, but my shooting buddy is struggling (we travel together) with a new baby and her own horse issues. Usually I do 5-6 shoots year, this summer only 3 --and as I said, after 57 years of Fox Hunting, Iām moving on --but to what?
Oh, wait! A friend invited me to a Ranch Horse Retreat next spring --three days for total beginners to learn cutting, sorting, penning, and obstacle trail riding. Then three times a year there are one day almost āin houseā shows only two hours from my farm --all designed for people and horses who have never done this before!!!
Hey! Iām in! Bob is headed to a friends place early Sept. to see how he reacts to cows (I donāt want to spend time and $$ only to find out he flees in terror at the sight of a cow). Then I will sign up if Bob is good with it. Might be fun, might not, but something new for us to try!
Who knows? With Bobās breeding, he just might be good at it!
Bob a couple of days ago:
if all stays the same with my health and activity and finances. I come from a line of long-lived, healthy, active elders (as in slowing down in their 80ās). My mom is 90 and has just slowed down physically and mentally in the past 5 years or so, and I am more active than she was.
