I'm a Sambo Too by Michell Murphy

I'm a Sambo Too

by Michell Murphy

I cant really remember at what age I became acquainted with horses. I do know that it was from a very young age. As long as I can remember, I have been around horses. I grew up on 40 plus acres, two lakes and there has always been a barn and the horses. My grandmother said she has had a horse since she was ten. My mother use to barrel race and my aunt owns and shows Arabians. She taught me how to ride and I started to show and Arab named BA in walk trot. I have some of the funniest videos of me trying to make him canter. I remember that like it was yesterday. I have only shown Arabs and that is what we have mostly owned through the years. But my grandmother bought this quarter horse named Sam. She said he was the ugliest thing she had ever seen when she bought him. I asked her why she bought him and she said she knew he would turn white as he got older, and he did. He was the sweetest horse in the world. His demeanor was the best I have ever seen. Dealing with Arabs you know that sometimes they can get a little frisky. But Sam was different. He was so sweet and so kind. We had another quarter horse named Mel that was my aunts horse and he was just as sweet. He loved cheeseburgers and every year on his birthday, he got one. I remember one time; Mel had gotten into the lake to take a swim. There were people out at the house fishing and my grandmother noticed one of them was casting pretty far out and was close to the horse. She went out there and asked what he was doing and he said he was trying to catch the beaver that was swimming in the lake. She said that is not a beaver, that is a horse you idiot Sam and Mel went everywhere together. They grazed together. They would stand in the spill way together and drink from the lake. They were buddies. We had to put Mel down several years ago and that was hard. He was over thirty years old if I remember correctly. So that left Sam by himself so we put him with Burt (an Arab) and then they became good friends. They started hanging out together just like he and Mel would do. It is amazing to me the bonds that are built between animals and even more importantly, the bonds that are built between animals and people. The way that animals can touch you and teach you in so many ways. Compassion for an animal can not be touched. There is not a more prominent and innocent relationship that can be made than with an animal. My six year old son claimed Sam as his horse when he got old enough to ride and understand what was involved with riding. He has chaps and a show hat and shirt and the whole bit. I believe that Sam was the first horse he ever sat on. He would get up on him, bareback, and just sit there. I know that just recently, we put him up on Sam, no halter, no saddle, no nothing. Sam was eating and when he finished, he just started walking out of his stall and my son just sat there, held on to his mane and rode around. I even set my daughter up on him when she was six months old and thought nothing about it. That is how much I trusted him and knew him. There are a group of people that my aunt travels to horse shows with and I have always referred to them as the horse people. But they are not just horse people. They are extraordinary people. The time and dedication it takes to own and keep a horse is phenomenal. It takes that dedication 365 days a year. I have learned over the years that you will not find better people that people who deal with horses. Sam was diagnosed with cancer about two months ago. They told us he could live 10 days, 10 weeks, a year. There was no way to know, but at that time, he was doing relatively well. On Sunday, September 19, 2004, I got a phone call saying they were taking him to the vets office. His tumor had grown and was bleeding. It was blocking his bowel wall. He could not use the bathroom and there was a 100% chance it would set up infection. We were told we needed to put him down within 36 hours. At that time, he was not suffering or in any real pain. But we had to do something quick so that he would not be in pain. I think those were the hardest words I had to hear. I knew that he would come to this point eventually but I just did not expect it after only two months. But the thought of him suffering was so much worse than the thought of losing him. Monday, September 20, 2004 the vet came out to the house. We rented a back hoe and dug a whole to place him next to where Mel was placed. My entire family was there. Myself, my two sisters, my two aunts, my grandmother and grandfather and even my dad. It was by far the worst experience of my life. Part of me wanted to stay at work and not be there but I knew I would regret it. The vet was coming at 1:00 and I pulled up at the barn around 12:00. My aunt had him in the pasture, eating. He looked so innocent and so sweet. But you could already tell he was starting to go down hill. He did not feel well and it was showing. There is not doubt in my mind we did the right thing. The instant that the injection was given, my little sister Andi just fell to ground screaming and crying. Myself and my older sister Jenni, all huddled together and cried and wept for him. My entire family was crying. Even my grandfather; who does not cry. My aunt told me later that the vet was crying. She said to my aunt he must have been a great horse. My aunt told her that he was never a show horse; he was just our family pet. And she said it again. He must have been a great horse. He was. We buried him with a picture of my son, Brandan, in his cowboy boots and his hat. We laid a sheet over him that was my great-grandmothers. It had great sentimental value to all of us but especially to my grandmother. The fact that she brought that out to be placed on him showed what kind of horse he was and what he meant to all of us. We all left work to come out, my sister checked out of school. It was something we all dreaded but knew we wanted to be there for. I felt numb the whole way back to work. It was not real to me and I am not so sure that it is yet. But I know we did the best thing. Someone told me something the next day that made me feel a lot better and come to some sort of piece. I am grateful for these words and will hold on to them every time I think of him and cry. Every time I wonder. He did not suffer that day, we did. We did what we did for him, not to him. Even though I grew up around horses, I have always had some sort of fear around them. I was never totally calm and felt secure while riding. And horses could sense that. But Sam was different. He made me feel confident and safe. He let me get on him and go and just have a good time and find out what having a horse is all about. I am grateful for that. He will always be a part of me and a part of my life. I am proud to be able to tell people that we had the best horse God has ever made. I am proud to be able to tell my children that the first horse they ever rode was a great one and could never be replaced. I am proud to have known him and known such an innocent and pure love can exist. I am so thankful for him and to my family for allowing me to know that kind of love and affection. There is none other like it in the world. My final thought is that Sam is where he should be, happy in heaven with Mel. And he is waiting on me. I will see him again and when I do, I know he will be happy and healthy. He will not be sick any more or in any more pain. I absolutely believe that the two best animals, Mel and Sam, are together once again and they miss us. But they know they are where they need to be and they will wait for us.on the other side. Never doubt in the dark what God told you in the light I know I will see him. I want to see him so bad right now. But I cant. I still have things here to do. And part of my strength to do those things came from Sam. He taught me that sometimes you just have to get on..and let it ride!

Comments would be appreciated by the author, Michell Murph