A Requiem for Bob
I wonder if you were aware of how much joy you brought to so many over your 32 years of life? I wonder if you realized how much the people on your back needed what you generously gave them over and over, day after day, year after year?
Your patience, the way you would stand still, so quiet for fidgeting children and doting women, baffled me. They braided flowers in your tail and painted pictures on your hips. Your placid acceptance of new people, young scared horses and confusing surroundings saved my bacon time and again.
Tiny Bob, with your world-class movement and steady gaits, you brought songs to the throats of kids, smiles to their exhausted parents, peace to unquiet souls.
And for what? For twice daily meals?
Did you ever think that there was something else for you? Did you look at the moon at night, swish your thick tail and think “unfair!”
How did you pull yourself together with such grace and poise to serve the suffering humans who needed to borrow your elegance, your strength, your power, time and again?
When you needed to roam, you simply let yourself out of your stall and wandered around the barn opening doors and eating weeds. I’d get to the barn in the morning and you would snort at me unapologetically and if I could, I wouldn’t put you back in your stall until just before people started to arrive. I’d go about my work and you would wander. I loved those mornings. I’d be doing my thing and you would be doing yours. You were not the kind of horse to seek me out and follow me around. You didn’t crave attention or praise. I often thought it embarrassed you.
Our last moment was later than it should have been. By the time we’d found you, your eyes were swollen shut and all the hair was missing around your ears – from the thrashing. You’d had a nightmare of a night. Colic is the beast we dread.
When I got there, I knew it was bad. Standing silently, eyes clouded with pain but ears alert your tail eerily still you submitted to my inspection of damage. If I didn’t know that stoic look you got, if I didn’t know that the extra wrinkles in your muzzle indicated pain, I would have thought you were just tired. Despite all this, I hoped for the best. A walk, a nap, some pain drugs and day after tomorrow, you would be right as rain, ready as always to work shoulder to shoulder with me as we had for the last eight years.
I took your heart rate. It should have been 40 beats per minute. Your gallant heart was pounding away at 80. I thought about taking it again, to see if I was wrong, but I couldn’t bear to hear your pulse banging in my ears at that frantic pain crazed pace. The fight had gone out of you. You were suffering.
I kissed the white star on your forehead. It was our last intimate moment.
Death is funny. In the movies, the dying hero exhales and passes on. In reality there’s an inhale and you wait for the exhale that never comes. It stays inside and life simply leaves.
Oh Beautiful Bob. I wipe my tears and pray that you knew the purity and essence your able spirit gave to so many. I am so grateful we knew you! ❤️
Oh dear Joell, my heart goes out
to you and the staff/students at Square Pegs! He was truly a special soul!! Loved that Bob! Hugs!!!
My heart goes out to you. Beautiful tribute to your Beloved Bob. I lost my Beloved Jazz a year to colic, and it still hurts. I miss him everyday. Horses are such a special part of our lives & hearts. He was fortunate to have a family that loved him very much.
Such a sad time for you all, his presence will be greatly missed but never forgotten. My thoughts are with you all xxx
Tears are flowing. Sending love to you all.
Joel, I’m in tears – your heart is so big and your love of these beautiful animals and those that ride them touches my heart. We will always miss seeing you every week. You were such a positive force in Rebecca’s life that changed her. She will carry that with her always
Monty: Where to begin with our dear friend Monty? He has carried us through chukkars, on first canters, and throughout our rolling HMB hills. Monty was a steady ride who would wiggle his nose right into your heart. At the ripe age of 34, Monty passed away after a day of rolling and eating green grass with his friend Tina. Thank you for the miles of rides Mr. Monty.
Monty, Rickie, Gigi and Stitch
Stitch(Forbidden Stitch): Born in 1984, Stitch made almost $800 on the track, but was quickly taken off the track and used as a broodmare then lesson horse. Stitch took a special rider to understand her need for speed as she flew around the arena and over fences. After about 5 years with the program she finally told us she was ready to join the greener pasture herd.
Gigi: Oh, the princess of the barn! Gigi was with with the program since the beginning and never failed to sass and impress us. Gigi was a favorite for long-line lessons, lungeing and first canters. She finally succumbed to building health complications in March of 2016. Gigi’s ‘tude with the adults and docile puppy-dog persona with the kids are incredibly missed.
Bob(Trots N Socks): There are no words to describe how much Bob had done for our program and each one of his riders. Wonderfully trained and never taking a day off, Bob spent his time giving peace to our students and solitude in his predictable ways. His canter was like a dream and the smiles he brought to our kids have not left us dry-eyed once. So this is a small tribute to Bob, the wonder pony—our wonder pony.
https://www.squarepegfoundation.org/2014/06/life-is-in-the-exhale/
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Fran(Fran’s Playboy): We miss our quirky and gentle dude everyday. Fran made $95 on the track and had a second career in the jumpers with Square Peg friend, Kelly Sika. Fran was best at giving kids a bouncy trot, smooth canter, and a good lesson to why you need to sit up before a fence! He was sweet and had such poise and care for his young riders. Goodbye Frannoid, we miss you.
https://www.squarepegfoundation.org/2013/01/endings-and-beginnings/
https://www.squarepegfoundation.org/2013/01/the-difference-a-horse-makes/
Jack: Ah, our amazing one-eyed horse! Jack was a racehorse and retrained to be quite the hunter before he came to our program. He was a tall, lanky gelding who taught our students confidence over fences. He had a sweet demeanor and was a great example of acceptance and understanding of diversity. Until the day he passed, Jack gave us such joy in his floaty trot step and love for all. We miss you big guy.
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