Samuel

Hi everyone.
I noticed my friend and neighbor, Annette, said that my first blog should be about Sam, my first horse.
So here we go... Sam was the best first horse a girl could ask for. The only thing I would change about him was his age-Sam and I didn't get enough time together. Sam came from a woman who lived in Sioux Falls, SD whom had found him about 8 years prior "half dead" in a pasture near their home. The original owners moved and left him to starve. They opened their barn and hearts up to Sam, and gave him a temporary home, until I came along. The woman from Sioux Falls we knew, because my mother had previously done business with in her career as a decorating consultant, and she remembered that she had horses, and called her to ask if she knew of anyone with a well broke horse for sale for me. It turned out-she did know of someone-herself! I took a big horse stuffed animal that I thought was good luck, and rode with it all the way to Sioux Falls with my parents to go meet Sam, to see if we had a connection and to see what I thought about riding him.

When I got there, I'm not going to lie-I thought Sam had beautiful markings (he was a bay Paint) but was quite frankly a skinny, malnourished, awkward looking horse. His foster mom, as I like to call her, asked if I wanted to ride him and I said yes, and when I climbed on Sam, my whole view of him changed-and no, I don't mean my view from three feet higher. I mean my personal view of Sam himself changed in a matter of seconds-from thinking of him as simply a beautiful heart of gold rather than a skinny horse.

I rode Sam for quite some time then cantered up to my parents with a huge smile, almost sliding into them, as they asked, "well, what do you think?" "Are you kidding?!" I asked them. It was undoubtedly love at first sight.

Not long after, Sam's foster mom delivered him to us, all the way from Sioux Falls. I remember walking him out of the trailer, and him having what looked like blood all the way down his leg. My eyes about fell out of my head, until I realized it was just red paint that rubbed off of the trailer. She told me it would be wise to wait at least a few days to a week to ride him since he just traveled. I agreed, but back then I still believed in crossing fingers behind your back. :) I would never do this now, but I rode him that day (shhh).

We were told that Sam was in his early twenties, and that he would probably need his teeth floated (this is when the teeth are filed down so they can more easily chew), but when the vet came to float them, he looked in his mouth, and said "Well folks, he's got no back teeth to float..I'd say this fella is closer to thirty than twenty" I was shocked, but the vet said to keep doing what I was doing. He said to "Let the old man have some fun. Keep riding him. You ain't going to hurt him any. He's got good strong legs." We had a horse nutritionist come to our house, and give us some advice on what to feed him, since he had poor teeth, and he really put on some weight.

Sam and I had a few great years together. We had countless rides together, and did I mention how quick he was? I could race my friends with horses fifteen years younger, and he'd leave them in the dust. I always laughed about it, but I believe he had a larger heart than average, I really do. I recently learned that Secretariat's heart was three times a normal Thoroughbred heart, so it's not that crazy to believe is it?

Sam had a stroke three summers ago, and I had to make one of the most difficult decisions of my life. I chose to have the vet put him down...he didn't know who anybody was, nor did he move, eat, or drink. I could see in his beautiful soft eyes my reflection of tears streaming down my face, but I knew it was the right thing to do...he wouldn't have wanted to be a vegetable.

Sam will forever be in my heart. Now I am blessed to have a Thoroughbred named Mercy that reminds me much of Sam, though he can Never be replaced.

Somewhere in time's own space
There must be some sweet pastured place
Where creeks sing on and tall trees grow
Some paradise where horses go,
For by the love that guides my pen
I know great horses live again.
~Stanley Harrison

Hope you enjoyed reading about my first love :)

Jess