Post by Lorraine L on Mar 13, 2010 1:11:59 GMT 1
It only seems like yesterday that my sister Julie had to beg Joy to sell you to me. I had gone to look at two little young geldings who shared your field, but as Bob and I looked over the gate and i saw a beautiful bay with a white star looking back at me, i knew i had to have you.
You were 2.5 years old and as Joy said " Left alone to be a youngster " ... Walking you the 1/2 mile down the lane to your new field was a huge adventure. You spooked and jumped all over me and as i collected bruises, i can still remember thinking " I wonder if i could tell Joy i have changed my mind " !!
You immediately took charge of the field and Calypso and Flame had to toe the line behind you. Your early years of being bullied by Toby left you determined to force your place as Top Dog forever. In fact, if Joy had showed me this photo of you as a baby, i would have seen in those eyes, your sense of mischief:
You were very well bred and i knew that Joy had great plans for you. Your sire was a very handsome chap too:
Your life with us was never mapped out. Julie and I had spent many years horseless since loosing our childhood pony and after taking on Calypso for her children, we thought you would make good company for her and Flame.
You and I had many disagreements and misunderstandings which led to a regular assortment of bruises for me
It wasn't until we went to Cowdray Park on a sponsored ride that i really began to work where we were going wrong. Julie and i were horrified when the transport guy wheelbarrowed you onto the lorry. It upset you for the day and in your usual fashion, you decided to keep the moment lively when you tried to get down and roll 4 miles into the ride because you were irritable and sweaty. My brand new saddle escaped the attempt, but yes, my knees bared the scars later that day !
The next day, Julie was off to borrow a trailer and spent the next four hours, standing with you on the ramp until you felt comfortable enough to load on and off without the need of a huge man shoving you from behind. She excitedly announced " He is fine Lorraine: He just prefers to be asked rather than told what to do " Bless her, and that was where the relationship of a little brave bay pony developed into a truly loving, understanding one.
Your early years were a challenge. I still remember the disbelief when we dropped you and Katie off at Hickstead for Pony Club camp with her as a 9 year old novice and you with very little education but huge determination. They gave us regular updates of how you were the only pony who didn't like to stand tied up like the others and how Katie had been barged out of the stable regularly every morning The trot up for the vet saw poor Katie towed off into the distance rather than the ' turn and trot back ' ;D
As the parents and friends gathered for the prize ceremony at the end of the week, all of the children proudly collected their trophies and rosettes: Katie was resigned to the fact that just being in one piece was reward enough, so imagine how proud we were when they announced that the instructors had decided to present a new cup: The perservence cup awarded to Katie and Luke for overcoming every challenge during the camp. How wonderful that all the other kids and their parents stood up and cheered.
When Sunny came along as a little ginger 4 month old, you quickly put him in his place and he spent the following 19 years trying to rob you of your top dog title, but he was never really that brave was he ?
The memorial ride for our darling Flame saw you wearing the sash bearing her name when you led the sponsored ride to raise money for research into Laminitis over the sussex downs. Thanks to you and Flame, we were introduced to Kelly and IH. Sharon H came out to meet us all too. If it weren't for you, i would not have all of those wonderful special friendships that i now have from IH and the support over these last 10 years.
You and i dabbled our way around a few shows and events while Katie and Gemma took you around the more exciting side of things:
I can remember when the girls decided to ride out with 'old auntie' one day. I proudly donned my new bright red muckers which were the fashionable item of the day
The girls roared with laughter as you stopped abruptly leaving the lane: turned your head and sniffed my new red boots and immediately put your head down and chucked me over your head 
You settled into life at Julie's new home with the latest editions to your herd: Lou Lou and Floss were no threat to your status but Fella was always quite a puzzle to you. He tried to mimick your 'Victor Meldew' face but never had the strength and bravery of yours to pull it off somehow.
Life was peaceful:
As Kate and Gemma became mums themselves, you delighted in seeing their children come to visit and you were equally as gentle with them as you were when Kate and gemma climbed aboard all those years before.
We instantly knew whenever something was not quite right about you. The car and trailer incident has been a topic of many conversations You needed a tooth attended to but no one noticed. We left the car and trailer parked in your field one day and you spent the time while we were away eating the spare wheel cover and polishing the whole length of the car with your teeth ......... after that, we always paid more attention to your more subtle messages 
For my 40th birthday, you had a photo shoot done
and how beautiful those pictures were:
You faced your first battle with your usual bravery when first diagnosed with Cushings disease:
The battle with perontinitis some years later was the first time that you ever stayed away from us for any time but Katie, Julie, Gemma and i made sure that someone was always with you. You looked so vunerable at the hospital but still amazed the nurses by sneering at the neighbouring stable mates whether it be a donkey or racehorse worth thousands of pounds.
On February 23rd 2010, you were faced with similar problems but they were bad. You didn't have the fight left to be brave anymore and your eyes were empty. I knew that i had to let you go and despite desparating wanting you to have the chance to say goodbye to Bob, Julie, Kate and Gemma, there just wasn't the time. I prayed to god that you wouldn't feel my heart pounding while i held your head in my arms because you would know that i was scared. I coped because i know you are at Rainbow Bridge now with Flame and Calypso but more so, that you left me with so many wonderful friends and family. You were pretty famous you know, for a little bay pony Lots of people are devestated by your passing but i don't regret one day of those 20 years we had together. You rest in peace my brave little man xx
You were 2.5 years old and as Joy said " Left alone to be a youngster " ... Walking you the 1/2 mile down the lane to your new field was a huge adventure. You spooked and jumped all over me and as i collected bruises, i can still remember thinking " I wonder if i could tell Joy i have changed my mind " !!
You immediately took charge of the field and Calypso and Flame had to toe the line behind you. Your early years of being bullied by Toby left you determined to force your place as Top Dog forever. In fact, if Joy had showed me this photo of you as a baby, i would have seen in those eyes, your sense of mischief:
You were very well bred and i knew that Joy had great plans for you. Your sire was a very handsome chap too:
Your life with us was never mapped out. Julie and I had spent many years horseless since loosing our childhood pony and after taking on Calypso for her children, we thought you would make good company for her and Flame.
You and I had many disagreements and misunderstandings which led to a regular assortment of bruises for me
It wasn't until we went to Cowdray Park on a sponsored ride that i really began to work where we were going wrong. Julie and i were horrified when the transport guy wheelbarrowed you onto the lorry. It upset you for the day and in your usual fashion, you decided to keep the moment lively when you tried to get down and roll 4 miles into the ride because you were irritable and sweaty. My brand new saddle escaped the attempt, but yes, my knees bared the scars later that day ! The next day, Julie was off to borrow a trailer and spent the next four hours, standing with you on the ramp until you felt comfortable enough to load on and off without the need of a huge man shoving you from behind. She excitedly announced " He is fine Lorraine: He just prefers to be asked rather than told what to do " Bless her, and that was where the relationship of a little brave bay pony developed into a truly loving, understanding one.
Your early years were a challenge. I still remember the disbelief when we dropped you and Katie off at Hickstead for Pony Club camp with her as a 9 year old novice and you with very little education but huge determination. They gave us regular updates of how you were the only pony who didn't like to stand tied up like the others and how Katie had been barged out of the stable regularly every morning
The trot up for the vet saw poor Katie towed off into the distance rather than the ' turn and trot back ' ;D As the parents and friends gathered for the prize ceremony at the end of the week, all of the children proudly collected their trophies and rosettes: Katie was resigned to the fact that just being in one piece was reward enough, so imagine how proud we were when they announced that the instructors had decided to present a new cup: The perservence cup awarded to Katie and Luke for overcoming every challenge during the camp. How wonderful that all the other kids and their parents stood up and cheered.
When Sunny came along as a little ginger 4 month old, you quickly put him in his place and he spent the following 19 years trying to rob you of your top dog title, but he was never really that brave was he ?
The memorial ride for our darling Flame saw you wearing the sash bearing her name when you led the sponsored ride to raise money for research into Laminitis over the sussex downs. Thanks to you and Flame, we were introduced to Kelly and IH. Sharon H came out to meet us all too. If it weren't for you, i would not have all of those wonderful special friendships that i now have from IH and the support over these last 10 years.
You and i dabbled our way around a few shows and events while Katie and Gemma took you around the more exciting side of things:
I can remember when the girls decided to ride out with 'old auntie' one day. I proudly donned my new bright red muckers which were the fashionable item of the day
The girls roared with laughter as you stopped abruptly leaving the lane: turned your head and sniffed my new red boots and immediately put your head down and chucked me over your head 
You settled into life at Julie's new home with the latest editions to your herd: Lou Lou and Floss were no threat to your status but Fella was always quite a puzzle to you. He tried to mimick your 'Victor Meldew' face but never had the strength and bravery of yours to pull it off somehow.
Life was peaceful:
As Kate and Gemma became mums themselves, you delighted in seeing their children come to visit and you were equally as gentle with them as you were when Kate and gemma climbed aboard all those years before.
We instantly knew whenever something was not quite right about you. The car and trailer incident has been a topic of many conversations
You needed a tooth attended to but no one noticed. We left the car and trailer parked in your field one day and you spent the time while we were away eating the spare wheel cover and polishing the whole length of the car with your teeth ......... after that, we always paid more attention to your more subtle messages 
For my 40th birthday, you had a photo shoot done
and how beautiful those pictures were:You faced your first battle with your usual bravery when first diagnosed with Cushings disease:
The battle with perontinitis some years later was the first time that you ever stayed away from us for any time but Katie, Julie, Gemma and i made sure that someone was always with you. You looked so vunerable at the hospital but still amazed the nurses by sneering at the neighbouring stable mates whether it be a donkey or racehorse worth thousands of pounds.
On February 23rd 2010, you were faced with similar problems but they were bad. You didn't have the fight left to be brave anymore and your eyes were empty. I knew that i had to let you go and despite desparating wanting you to have the chance to say goodbye to Bob, Julie, Kate and Gemma, there just wasn't the time. I prayed to god that you wouldn't feel my heart pounding while i held your head in my arms because you would know that i was scared. I coped because i know you are at Rainbow Bridge now with Flame and Calypso but more so, that you left me with so many wonderful friends and family. You were pretty famous you know, for a little bay pony
Lots of people are devestated by your passing but i don't regret one day of those 20 years we had together. You rest in peace my brave little man xx
